A Philippines Funeral

 A Philippines funeral 

·      Funerals are part of a business package within the service industry.

·      The package is often arranged within a short time span that commences after an unexpected death; such arrangements will interrupt all other scheduled activities. This is known as an “at-need” funeral arrangement.

·      The arrangements are affected by and consist of the following:

o   1) the circumstances of the death - whether calm, natural, an unknown or tragic cause is involved - as each will dictate its own course of action;

o   2) the availability of correct information on the place and cause of death, body’s location and condition, lapse time between death and start of body preparation, who will be present during body preparation, viewing/wake details, whether a cremation or interment will take place, whether the body (remains) or ashes (cremains) are to be viewed, transfers from and to different sites, timeline, announcements, burial sites, documents and contracts initially required, settlements and necessary relevant documents and permits during and after the service; PERT/CPM for all or a portion of the package will lessen the burden in making all the arrangements;

o   3) approximating the viewing/wake requirements such as convenience and volume of people expected to attend;

o   4) knowing early if arrangements are wholly at-need or if a pre-need contact is involved;

o   5) being circumspect when comparing, on one hand, the service defined in the pre-need contract as detailed by the pre-need company’s service representative and, on the other hand, with the service requirements of the bereaved as offered and detailed by the funeral home representative; service upgrades will entail additional cost and are particularly important in such cases to the funeral home;

o   6) identifying and contracting other suppliers of items in the package; the rigor of canvassing will definitely be offset by savings;  

o   7) having the presence of a trusted person whose judgment is not overly affected by the loss and who has experienced a funeral arrangement versus a person who is ‘well versed :(’ in funeral arrangements;

o   8) identifying the person whose decisions and opinions override others as funerals seem to be a magnet for all sorts of criticism;

o   9) funerals normally contain many social, religious and cultural considerations to which special importance can not be over stressed; in this regard, a good professional planner will promise delivery of good memories at minimal stress;

o   10) in the event of tragedy or when death occurres in the absence of an attending physician who certifies cause of death, authorities and an autopsy will be involved; often a ‘favored’ funeral home takes immediate possession of the departed; the presence of an “in-your-face” type lawyer/personality is highly recommended to deal with the 'favored' mortuary since unethical, dubious conditions will need to be addressed; also, although ‘easily arranged’ waivers of an autopsies will be available, an autopsy is important measure in deciding if criminal intent was involved; the wish of not subjecting the departed to an autopsy requires serious thought; and

o   11) funerals cause much emotional, mental and physical stress; tasks and decisions assigned and distributed among the bereaved lessen the burden and add to the meaningfulness of the event; but may also become a source of issues.

While the author belongs to an early generation (circa writer-author Gilda Cordero when she was Associate Prof assisting Prof Roberto Ongpin during the author's pursuit of a post-graduate degree; and later, Chit Roces, his once Mahikari roshi), it may help to digress and mention a change in the sport of boxing from when the author was in his teens. Then, boxing gloves were large and heavy to minimize damage to the fighters. Today’s generation is into UFC or ultimate fighter competitions where lightning elbow and knee blows to the face and body are par for the sport. Yet, fighters confirm sportsmanship after each bout through forms of touch to one another, despite a broken nose and hits to the body never allowed in boxing.  In disclosing industry practices that give funerals a bad image, UFC standards may apply.

In 2010, the author sought productive, off-the-record sessions with the Non-Traditional Securities Department of the Securities and Exchange Commission [SEC] to address a problem. The SEC quietly, quickly and permanently (with the participation of the Insurance Commission [IC]) resolved the problem. Republic Act 9829 was signed into law on December 3, 2009. This first-ever Pre-Need Code, after years without legal safeguards, designated the IC as the industry’s principal regulator. Thereafter, the author continues to seek similar sessions with the Pre-Need Division of the IC, sessions that are preventive in nature.

(July 5, 2014 ….8pm moon 1^st quarter )

Post #2

More to follow ….