The Filipino people are one of the most family-oriented around the world which is evident in their household and upbringing. In western culture, parents let go of their children once they are of age to let them figure out life on their own. Here in the Philippines, people mostly move out only when they marry and have their own family. Even then, some stay at their ancestral place or somewhere close by. The culture where letting go of loved ones is so strong that death is marginally discussed, when it is one of the most important preparations we should make.
Death is a painful experience both to the ones leaving and those who are left behind. As the family mourns their loss, they also need to deal with wake and burial preparations, which frankly are not cheap. For some, these expenses are on of top medical fees. It's indeed very taxing not only emotionally and physically, but also financially. But financial-wise, we can control through memorial investment.
Memorial lots fall under real estate property, so it is in their nature to appreciate gradually. Thus, it is better to invest as early as you can. Pre-need investment saves you from two things:
20% annual price increase
40% additional charge for at-need purchase
Right now, memorial lots start at PHP 86,000, which you may avail for as low as PHP 1,150. That is very cheap compared to when you need to cash out PHP 131,600 at once for at-need acquirement. Death, may it be ours or someone close to us, is truly terrifying, but the fear does not make it any less real. It's not an 'if', but a 'when'. May we be more open to the topic and prepare as much as we can, so that when death comes, we shall only let go of our loved ones and not our financial stability. How and when we die may not be in our control, but we can for sure take charge of how expensive it could be.