10/11/2025
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Filipinos often say, βMahal mabuhay, pero mahal din mamatay.β But for many, it remains just a saying until reality hits hard.
Thatβs what happened to Lois Eunice Salazar, who lost four family members in just one year. Her father passed away in March 2023, followed by her uncle in June, her cousin in July, and another uncle in May 2024.
βIt was one of the hardest seasons of our lives,β she shared. Losing one loved one after another was heartbreaking enough, but what made it even harder was the financial burden that came with every goodbye.
βFor every loss, we spent around β±150,000 to β±400,000 for hospital bills, medicines, funeral, and burial. Everything added up so fast,β Lois said. βWe really werenβt financially ready for that kind of pain and cost.β
The hardest part was not being able to grieve freely. βInstead of mourning, we were calculating. Instead of resting, we were figuring out where to get the next payment,β she recalled. βItβs something no family should ever go through.β
And sheβs right. Funeral costs in the Philippines continue to rise every year. What used to be a β±25,000 lawn lot back in 2017 now ranges from β±70,000 to β±102,000. Family estates that once cost β±600,000 now reach β±2.5 million to β±2.65 million. In some areas like Marikina and Sucat, lawn lots start at β±230,000 to β±240,000.
This is the reality many Filipinos face. We want to give our loved ones a proper farewell, but we often end up drowning in debt and emotional exhaustion.
But it doesnβt always have to end that way.
As one expert said, βSaying goodbye will always be painful, but being prepared can make the road a little less heavy.β
Planning ahead through life insurance, memorial plans, or savings can make a world of difference. Because the truth is, love isnβt shown by how grand a funeral is, but by how much peace you leave behind for your family.
Life is uncertain, but preparation gives you power. While death may be inevitable, being ready is a choice, and itβs one that shows love that lasts beyond goodbye.
