Themed casket sample. Forest Lake

MANILA — Wakes and funerals are no longer confined to usual plain white caskets and simple themes from lights to carpets, some Filipinos can now also go for customized set ups.

A local memorial park is offering customizable memorial care services, allowing their customers to add creative elements to the wake designs of their deceased loved ones.

Undas observance generally peaceful: PNP

Carlos Locsin, manager at Forest Lake Memorial PArks, said that their concept is often misunderstood because it challenges traditional practice.

“Memorial care is often seen as strictly sad and solemn," Locsin stressed. "...[But] people would [also] like opportunities to celebrate life and the memories of their departed loved ones."

The customizable options at this park include themed caskets, modern urns, and digital features like QRonicle, which lets the bereaved view memories and photos of their loved ones through mobile devices.

The themes for customized caskets are designed according to the requests of bereaved clients, while modern and floating urns are options for families of cremated loved ones.

Floating urns.

QRonicle

Locsin said Filipinos are slowly becoming more accepting of these options, as conversations about death and memorial services are now more common.

However, he acknowledged that changing traditional attitudes is still a challenge.

“The challenge is always the mindset of Filipinos regarding death.”

Last October 31, the memorial park launched UNDASKO, a nationwide Christmas lighting event to celebrate ‘Undas’ and to welcome ‘Pasko’, or Christmas season.

All 37 Forest Lake sites across the country simultaneously lit up their trees along with clients, employees and agents.