The Rising Popularity of Columbarium Properties in the Philippines
If you take a trip through your local cemetery, you’ll notice that there are many different types of headstones and memorials. You’ll see upright structures, lawn level markers, and even large, elegant mausoleums. Among the many types of memorials is the columbarium–often shown as a type of wall structure where the urns containing the ashes of the departed are kept.
Although their popularity might not exceed lawn or memorial lots–at least here in the country–columbarium properties have been around for thousands of years! Now, we’re having a resurgence in their popularity due to their environmental and financial benefits. And we’re talking about this and more, in this article.
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Reason for the Current Popularity of Columbariums
The overwhelming volume of deceased infected bodies surpassed the capabilities of embalmers, casket builders, and gravediggers during the 1918 Flu Pandemic. This paved the way for the emergence of the cremation burial practice, as well as the notion that burning the bodies of afflicted people would prevent the disease from spreading further.
Similarly, in today’s time at the height of another Pandemic which is Covid-19, rapid cremations started to rise once more. To prevent the spread, domestic regulations in the Philippines have called for expeditious cremations of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 victims within 12 hours postmortem.
One reason why columbarium facilities increased in popularity recently can be attributed to the high demand for a repository to house a deceased loved one’s remains stored in an Urn.
Cremated remains require Ash Urns to store them. An Ash Urn is a vessel that is typically an ornamental vase on a pedestal and that is used for various purposes such as preserving the ashes of the dead after cremation. Although a small fraction of society prefers to keep the Urns of their loved ones at their own home, many choose to leave them a lasting legacy and give them the resting place they deserve in a much-respected setting.
Columbarium in Las Pinas
In commemoration of the Spanish Augustinian priest who served as parish priest of Las Piñas from 1876 to 1879, the Santuario de San Ezekiel Moreno Church rises tall along C-5 Extension Road, Pulanglupa, Las Piñas City, Philippines.
One particular site that has gained massive attraction is the Columbarium Facility beneath the San Ezekiel Moreno Church that sits at the heart of Las Piñas City. It is one of the hidden gems in the south that shouldn’t be missed!
Moreover, the area boasts plenty of advantages! And this is all thanks to the constant expansion and development along Villar Sipag C-5 Extension Road.
You’ll find a variety of amenities scattered around the area. Restaurants such as Chowking, Jollibee, Giligan’s, Coffee Project, and a few others are nearby so families can dine comfortably after they visit their departed loved ones. Strategically placed within close proximity to recreational and lifestyle areas such as Mella Hotel, The Global Market, SM Sucat, SM Mall of Asia, All Home, The Tent, and many more, this development has a huge advantage when it comes to location.
Furthermore, the place is highly accessible to southern provinces and other cities in Metro Manila via C-5 Extension Road, Manila-Cavite Expressway, and the ongoing construction of LRT-1 along the main road.
The church is inspired by architectural elements from the Spanish colonial period and is located along the Old Town Las Piñas Historical Corridor. The 700-seat church, designed by the world-class firm of Architect Claude Edwin Andrews and master-planned by DQA Design and Planning, Inc., is a column-free edifice with a large adoration chapel.
The immediately conspicuous columbarium facility underneath Santuario de San Ezekiel Moreno offers a grand array of columbarium units. Masterplanned with meticulous attention given to every detail–from the location, architecture, layout, landscaping, facilities, to the amenities–this masterpiece is geared towards providing people with a natural, serene, and blessed environment for their departed loved ones.
What You Need to Know About Our Columbarium in Las Piñas
The facility contains 3 Phases with each phase housing approximately up to 7,000 units amounting to 21,000 ash units in total. The place is an open area with ample parking space. It’s also surrounded by lush green trees providing ample shade and plenty of fresh air. As you enter the premises you’ll see a multitude of tall standing walls extending all the way up to the corners of the facility which are called galleries classified by roman numeral numbers.
The galleries are shelves made out of luxurious materials of aluminum and steel directly exported from China and Korea. Each vault is completed with a memorial plaque and a flower holder for visitations. Despite being located fairly near the main road, the place does give a calm and solemn setting to provide any visitor the privacy and tranquility they need.
A single vault can house up to four standard-sized ash urns (9 x 6 inches). The cost of a vault is typically determined by its location. Prime locations or units positioned at eye level, are often priced higher than high-altitude columbarium vaults.
Columbarium as an Alternative to Traditional Burial in the Philippines
A lot of Filipinos still consider the traditional way of burial as their preferred option. However, citizens are slowly opening up to other more practical alternatives such as cremation and columbarium properties. The convenience and financial advantage brought about by these options as opposed to traditional burial are truly unparalleled. Now cremation is a popular option among Christian denominations around the country. Even religions that used to insist on “in-ground” casket burials are now accepting cremation and columbarium inurnment as valid burial options.
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