Philippines Funeral and Pre-Need Trivia

Philippines Funeral and Pre-Need Trivia          

        

·   During the 1970s, a discord in the relationship between some funeral homes and a funeral pre-need company surfaced.   A bitter emotional conflict resulted.  The pre-need company began to set up or make arrangements to operate its own funeral homes in reaction to continuing servicing problems. In effect, the pre-need company directly competed with its former contractual servicing funeral homes.  In the provincial southern Philippines, proprietors who supported years of growth of the pre-need company felt betrayed.  Today, that pre-need and chapels company belongs to the handful of companies that have increased its popularity nationwide, testimony that their business model was and continues to be a success. 

·   The pre-need business model attracts the investor who values: a) an education for their children, b) a retirement fund for themselves, or c) funerals that will someday be necessary.  The investor plans, sets aside funds in affordable installments over a 5-year period, entrusting a pre-need company and its sales counselor.  Many pre-need companies had to stop operations over the past 50 years, leaving their investors with the same feelings as those scammed by PONZI operators.  

·   Cremations have increased in popularity for a number of reasons.  New technologies have reduced the crematory’s equipment investment. This option offered safety from loss of or damage to the interred loved ones in private, public cemeteries and memorial parks damaged  by floods, lahar, landslides which are presently more frequent following climate change.  
With today’s normal, local residents arranging a funeral should take into consideration these weather factors as some  facilities are repeatedly  affected, not to mention the damage to vehicles parked during viewing.  Add the benefit of improved annual maintenance and visiting convenience, as well as the modernity that a columbarium offers.

·  Cremations are considered environment friendly.  They are also more than financially practical.

(July 18, 2014)

Post # 9

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