A Proposed Vertical Memorial Park - The Urban Memorial Park Reinvented

MAPUA UNIVERSITY
School of Architecture, Industrial Design, and Built Environment
A PROPOSED VERTICAL MEMORIAL PARK
BY
FONG, ALAN S.
2012150318
6/12/2019
ABSTRACT:
The increasing rise in people migrating to cities all over the world, paired with the
quickly depleting open space in urban areas, has caused the gradual alienation of burial
developments such as cemeteries, memorial parks, and columbaria. The Philippines, with rich
cultural practices surrounding death and burial, features the densest metropolis in the world,
Metro Manila. The rapid urban sprawl and the developmental obstacles caused by the
exceeding of the region’s carrying capacity continue to constrain the urban environment,
hindering many solutions from being effective. Meanwhile, with over ten-million people living
in the metro, death in the city has quickly become a burden to families, with what usually is a
week-long string of rituals, ceremony, and burial, becoming a massive unforeseen expense that
costs a lot, is difficult to do, and spans over long distances through the crowded city. New
developments have sought to the sky, building vertically in burial developments, but without
including many of the features and spaces that are crucial and distinct to local burial culture.
The study aims to formulate a new building typology, the vertical memorial park, including
many of the things that make Philippine burial developments significant, and combining
multiple different key features in an appropriate and innovative manner that both addresses the
local culture and effectively eases many urban development issues regarding the matter. The
study will be rooted in studies of local developments, with integrations of relevant proposals
from around the world, and will seek to serve as a pioneering basis for future developments of
similar nature.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Embarking on this journey was not easy, but it was never meant to be easy. I coined the term
vertical memorial park because I wanted to do something new, that the world had never seen before.
It was not easy, but for me I felt that I had to try because this is something the world really needs,
especially in the Philippines. Growing up, I had the unique experience of going through a few deaths
in the family, each in different places and each with different kinds of ceremonies and burial types.
I believe everything happens for a reason, and all my past experiences allowed me to do this thesis
fueled by genuine passion and inspiration. I thank God every day for everything that has happened
to me and for the continuing guidance.
I have encountered plenty of instructors, and although I have learned from everyone that has
crossed my path, very few have I seen as a true mentor. Among my many professors at Mapua, one
of the first to truly impact my entire career outlook was Architect Ramon Bizares, who helped light
the fire for my early drive towards success, and now in my final year at Mapua, my thesis adviser
Architect Carlos P. Sauco helped me bring my idea to fruition. Initially, my idea was admittedly
wild to explain, but I greatly appreciate the patience, the mentorship, and the trust to see even a
glimpse of the vision for my project that I saw since day one. People say design is domesticated
chaos, a storm of ideas tamed by the designer, translated into tangible ideas and later communicated
to make sense to everyone else. Thank you for bearing with me, and listening until my inventive
ideas made sense.
Furthermore, thank you to everyone who was always there by my side providing support,
inspiration, motivation, and company. I understand keeping me sane can be a full-time job, so thank
you especially to my partner, Jane Soriano, as well as my family, friends, and acquaintances. Your
expression of support for me, in any capacity, will forever be remembered.
This thesis is dedicated to my mother. Perhaps one day a project like this will be built, and
other happy souls can rest in peace in their own mausoleums too, even in the city.
The study was quite a task involving some often overlooked issues and a number of uncommon
questions, aimed at innovating a sensitive structure to solve problems of the future. The unrelenting
support, assistance, and guidance of everyone made it all possible.
Alan S. Fong
B.S. Architecture
2012150318

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
APPROVAL SHEET………………………………………………………………………………i
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT………………………………………………………………………..ii
LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES……………………………………………………………...v
Chapter 1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………..………1
1.1 Background of the Study…………………………………………………………………...1
1.2 Statement of the Problem…………………………………………………………………..2
1.3 Assumptions and Hypothesis………………………………………………………………3
1.4 Significance of the Study………………………..…………………………………………3
1.5 Definition of Terms…………….…………………………………………………………..4
1.6 Scope and Limitation………………………………………………………………………5
1.7 Goals and Objectives………………………………………………………………………5
1.8 Conceptual Framework…………………………………………………………………….6
Chapter 2 Review of Related Literature……………………..…………………………………7
2.1 Review of Related Literature………………………………………………………………7
2.2 Review of Related Studies……………………..…………………………………………..8
Chapter 3 Methods of Research and Procedure………………………………………………10
3.1 Methods of Research……………………………………………………………………...10
3.2 Research Instrument………………………………………………………………………10
3.3 Population Universe and Subject of the Study……………………………………………10
Chapter 4 Presentation of Data…………………………………………...……………………12
4.1 Overview of Data………………………………………………………………………….12
4.2 Case Studies…………………………………………………………………………….…13
4.2.1 Local Case Studies…………………………………………..…………………..…13
4.2.2 International Case Studies…………………………………………..…………...…27
4.3 Undas Study……………………………….…………..…………………………………..35

4.4 Market Prices…………………….………………………………………………………..45
4.5 User Preferences…………………………………………………………………………..48
4.6 Mortality Rates…………………………………………………………………………....50
4.7 Discussion of Findings and Analysis…………………………………………………...…53
4.8 Recommendations………………………………………………………………………...56
4.9 Site Identification Criteria………………………………………………………………..60
Chapter 5 Architectural Application………………………………………………………..…62
5.1 Description of the Project………………………………………………………………....62
5.2 Site Profile and Analysis………………………………………………………………….62
5.2.1 Site Description….……………………………………..………………………..…62
5.2.2 Site Law and Ordinance……………………………..…………………………..…65
5.2.3 Site Documentation……………..……………………………...………………..…67
5.2.4 Site Analysis…….………………………………...……………………………..…70
5.3 Space Requirements………………………………………………………………………74
5.4 Core Concepts……….………………………………...………………………………….76
5.4.1 Architectural Concepts..………………..………………………………………..…76
5.4.2 Structural Concept…….…………………………..……………………………..…77
5.4.3 Utilities Concepts...…………………………..………………...………………..…77
5.4.4 Other Applicable Concepts...…………………………….……………...…………77
Chapter 6 Architectural Solution………………………………………………………………79
6.1 Space Programming………………………………………………………………………79
6.2 Design Development………………………………………………………………...……82
6.3 Architectural Design………………………………………………………………………86
6.4 Computations…………………………………………………………………………......95
APPENDIX………………………………………………………………………………………96
REFERENCES..……………………………………………………………………………..…103

Table of Figures
Figure Content Page
Figure 1 Conceptual Framework 6
Figure 2 Façade of The Sanctuarium 13
Figure 2.1 Columbary Vaults of The Sanctuarium 14
Figure 2.2 Upper Atrium of The Sanctuarium 15
Figure 3 Façade of the Ascension Columbary 17
Figure 3.1 Vaults of the Ascension Columbary 19
Figure 3.2 Sold Out Vaults of the Ascension Columbary 20
Figure 4 Crypt and Columbarium of Manila North Cemetery 21
Figure 5 Signage of Manila Memorial Park Sucat 23
Figure 5.1 Manila Memorial Park Poster 24
Figure 5.2 Columbarium Niches at Manila Memorial Park 24
Figure 6 Elysium Gardens Entrance Area 25
Figure 6.1 Elysium Gardens Chapel 25
Figure 6.2 Outdoor Columbary Vaults at Elysium Gardens 26
Figure 6.3 Garden Area at Elysium Gardens Columbarium 26
Figure 7 Aldo Rossi’s Addition to the San Cataldo Cemetery 27
Figure 7.1 San Cataldo Cemetery Crypt 28
Figure 7.2 San Cataldo Ossuary Cube Niches 28
Figure 7.3 San Cataldo Ossuary Cube Interior 29
Figure 8 Façade of the Fan Ling Columbarium 30
Figure 8.1 Fan Ling Columbarium Interior 31
Figure 8.2 Fan Ling Columbarium Garden 31
Figure 8.3 Fan Ling Columbarium Site Development 32
Figure 9 Façade of the new building at Yarkon Cemetery 33
Figure 9.1 Interior of the new building at Yarkon Cemetery 34
Figure 10 Busy intersection closed for Undas 2018 36
Figure 10.1 Crowd walking outside Manila North Cemetery 37
Figure 10.2 People entering the Manila North Cemetery 37
Figure 10.3 Media outside the Manila North Cemetery for Undas 2018 38
Figure 10.4 Food Stalls in the Manila North Cemetery for Undas 2018 39
Figure 10.5 Tombs and Crypt at the Manila North Cemetery 40
Figure 10.6 Family eating inside a mausoleum at the Manila North Cem. 40
Figure 10.7 Family eating at a tomb at the Manila North Cemetery 41

Figure 10.8 Cluster of tombs and people at the Manila North Cemetery 41
Figure 10.9 Family rests in a small mausoleum in the Manila North Cem. 43
Figure 10.10 People gather in a narrow path at the Manila North Cemetery 43
Figure 10.11 Tomb stacks with tributes in the Manila North Cemetery 44
Figure 10.12 Mausoleum with flowers and large candles in the Manila Nor. 44
Figure 11 Typical Funerary Process 47
Figure 12 Philippines 2013 Mortality Rate by Age Group per 1,000 pop. 51
Figure 12.1 Philippines 2013 Mortality Percent Distribution by Region 51
Figure 12.2 Number and Percent Change of Deaths, 2006-2016 53
Figure 13 “Going Up” Original Conceptual Art 56
Figure 14 Conceptual evolution and integration of burial developments 57
Figure 15 Site Satellite Imagery 62
Figure 15.1 Site Vicinity Map 63
Figure 15.2 Site Dimensions 64
Figure 16 Comprehensive Land Use Plan of the City of Manila 65
Figure 17 Actual Site Photo from Mabini Street 67
Figure 17.1 Actual Site Photo from middle of site 67
Figure 17.2 Actual Site Photo rear adjacent building 68
Figure 17.3 Actual Site Photo Adriatico St. Salas St. Corner frontage 68
Figure 17.4 Actual Site Photo from Adriatico St. 69
Figure 17.5 Personal Photo at Site from Adriatico St. side 69
Figure 18 Site Analysis Base Map 70
Figure 18.1 Site Analysis Main Roads 70
Figure 18.2 Site Analysis Pedestrian Circulation 71
Figure 18.3 Site Analysis Public Transportation 71
Figure 18.4 Site Analysis Noise Pollution 72
Figure 18.5 Site Analysis Views and Visual Corridors 72
Figure 18.6 Site Analysis Sun and Wind Paths 73
Figure 18.7 Site Analysis Nearby Establishments 73
Figure 19 Space Interrelationship Matrix 79
Figure 20 Vertical Spatial Isometric Diagram 80
Figure 21.0 User Circulation Tomb Visitors 81
Figure 21.1 User Circulation Deceased 81
Figure 21.2 User Circulation Wake Visitors 81
Figure 21.3 User Circulation Funeral Attendees 81

Figure 22 Space Study of Gatherings at Different Burial Types 82
Figure 23 Site Design Formulation 82
Figure 24 Primary Form Concept Inspiration 83
Figure 25 Form Concept Development 83
Figure 26 Structural Design 84
Figure 27 Planting Plan Diagram 84
Figure 28.1 Air Flow Diagram 85
Figure 28.2 Atrium Waterfall Green Wall Passive Irrigation Diagram 85
Figure 29 Man’s Eye View Perspective from Adriatico cor. Salas St. 86
Figure 30 Interior Perspective of the Lobby 87
Figure 31 Interior Perspective of the Atrium 87
Figure 32 Mid-level Bird’s Eye View Perspective 88
Figure 33 Exterior Perspective of Left Side Corner from Adriatico St. 89
Figure 34 Man’s Eye View Perspective from Salas St. cor. Mabini St. 89
Figure 35 Man’s Eye View Panoramic Perspective of Peak Scenario 90
Figure 36 Aerial Perspective 90
Figure 37.1 Presentation Board 1 91
Figure 37.2 Presentation Board 2 92
Figure 38.1 Front and Right Side Elevations 93
Figure 38.2 Rear and Left Side Elevations 93
Figure 38.3 Cross and Longitudinal Sections 94
List of Tables
Tables Content Page
Table 1 ASPBI 2015 Statistics for Real Estate Activities by Industry Class 12
Table 2 Pricelist & Payment Options of The Ascension Columbary 18
Table 3 Number of Deaths and Percent Change: Philippines 2006-2016 52
Table 4 Number and Percent Distribution by Region, Philippines 2016 52
Table 5 Projected NCR deaths relative to population 58
Table 6 Site Identification Criteria Summarized 61
Table 7 BP344 Accessible Parking Slot Requirements 75
Table 8 TGFA and FLAR Computation 95
Table 9 Total Interment Capacity and Interment Density 95

A Proposed Vertical Memorial Park
FONG, ALAN S.
2012150318 6/12/2019
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1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
In Metro Manila alone, there are over twelve-million people, all crammed into a few
hundred square kilometers, at over twenty-thousand people per square kilometer, making the
Philippines' main metropolis the densest in the world. The trend and need to develop vertically is
quickly increasing as urban land prices continue to escalate, vacant property becomes scarce, and
the city grows increasingly overcrowded.
As with any large population, it is naturally accompanied by a large number of deaths, and
even more crowded than our metropolis is our urban cemeteries. Some vertical burial structures
are beginning to rise with tall stacks and multiple rows of tombs, but without considering the
potential social, cultural, and psychological effects of clustering graves in a dense, rigid building,
and removing landscape from the cemetery scene. Verticality is necessary, but it should be
achieved without compromising the sensitivity, solitude, and culture of our burial practices.
Most existing cemeteries and memorial parks in the Philippines are either gated, private,
and exclusive, or open, sprawling, unorganized, and chaotic. They usually make people feel eerie
or even afraid, and other developments generally avoid their vicinity. The land is not maximized
in places where vacant space is already very limited, and the cemeteries that do feature open
spaces are usually either inconveniently distanced from the major urban areas, or simply
expensive. The issues of these developments create an especially significant amount of troubles
during the time of ‘Undas’, a holiday time in the beginning of November where millions of
people flock to the burial sites to clean, visit, and pay their respects to the departed.
Many urban centers around the world suffer from a shortage of burial places, and as
populations rise and more people flock to cities, cemeteries must continue to not only grow and
multiply, but also innovate to accommodate the amount of people, the scarce land, and the rising
cost of property in cities.
The North Cemetery boasts one of the most recent additions to Manila's vertical burial
options, but it is generally composed of rows and stacks of tombs with very little space, very few
additional considerations, and not compliant with the HLURB Rules & Regulations for Memorial
Parks and Cemeteries which states that all cemetery plans should be accessible to PWD. Another
example is The Sanctuarium in Quezon City, a new columbarium that offers a neoclassical style
building with grand interiors and elevators, but still lacks a key aspect of our cemeteries often
seen locally and widespread across Asia – mausoleums. Mausoleums are common in the

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Philippines and this tradition is further reinforced by the culture of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’
Day to gather and visit the deceased, while all around Asia we see similar tomb practices with
personalized mausoleums and shrines. Likewise, the abundant plants and vegetation found in
open memorial parks that play a big role in creating a serene memorial environment is also
missing in most vertical burial structures of today. With a delicate, sensitive development such as
a cemetery or memorial park, it is practices like these that must be preserved moving forward.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The study aims to identify the benefits, challenges, and issues of vertical planning in burial
structures to formulate an architectural solution to maintain the sanctity and culture of Metro
Manila memorial parks as they shift from open landscapes to vertical burial structures. The
research intends to determine the necessary features to be included in a vertical memorial park
through case studies conducted on existing horizontal and vertical cemeteries, columbaria, and
memorial parks in Metro Manila to analyze the positive and negative traits of the planning and
site developments.
The results of the study intend to answer the following:
 What are the advantages and disadvantages of vertical burial structures in Metro Manila?
 What architectural features do vertical memorial parks need to improve sustainability and
overall experience?
 What are the benefits and weaknesses of integrating memorial parks into major urban
centers?
 Which part of Metro Manila would benefit the most from a vertical memorial park?

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1.3 Assumptions and Hypotheses
 If memorial parks in Metro Manila are integrated vertically, it will more effectively
maximize the land and lower the costs of burials.
 If vertical burial structures incorporate open space, nature, and mausoleums, the facility
will improve the experience of users and preserve culture and solitude.
 If vertical memorial parks are integrated into the urban fabric of major city centers, it will
lessen holiday traffic in other areas and improve quality of life in the vicinity.
 If vertical memorial parks are developed with a public urban park, it will revitalize the
public realm and provide peaceful refuge from the city.
1.4 Significance of the Study
The findings of the study will benefit Metro Manila cities and urban districts in planning
solutions to solve multiple different problems:
 Sustainability-maximizing the development with vertical units and abundant nature
reduces the need for future expansion and renovation
 User experience - introducing mausoleums, nature, and common space to vertical
memorial parks can enhance the experience and improve quality of life in the vicinity
 Urban planning - bringing memorial park structures into the city reduces the need for
people to travel to cemeteries on the outskirts of town
 Economic development - verticality allows for more units at lower costs, which results in
higher revenue for smaller amount of land used, and the integration of public park space
increases property value in the vicinity
 Standards - integrating existing HLURB Rules and Regulations for Cemeteries and
Memorial Parks into a vertical planning scheme provides the framework for the standards
of such vertical structure for future reference

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1.5 Definition of Terms
 Cemetery - A burial site for graves, tombs, mausoleums, and the like
 Columbarium - A structure, usually tall, containing niches or vaults for the storage of
cremated remains. Plural is columbaria
 Columbary Vault - An enclosed compartment for the long-term storage of cremated
remains contained in an urn, a vault may contain one or more urns
 Columbary Niche - An open or visible cupboard-type compartment for the placement of
one or more urns and other tributes
 Crematory - A place for remains to undergo cremation, to become ashes
 Crypt - Refers to a structure often containing multi-level stacked tombs for caskets, also
referred to as apartment-type tombs
 Interment - The process of placing remains into their final burial place, also known as
burial or entombment, wherein the casket or urn is placed in its tomb or niche, often
accompanied or preceded by a funeral ceremony
 Mausoleum - A generally enclosed private memorial area for one or more tombs
 Memorial Park - A cemetery with a park atmosphere, usually combining multiple aspects
with landscape and open space
 Ossuary - A structure intended for the storage of bones, usually in a special container
placed into niches
 Tomb - A compartment for the permanent storage of remains, usually in a casket
 Urn - A sealed container intended for cremated remains in the form of ashes

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1.6 Scope and Limitation
The thesis will cover cemeteries, columbaria, and memorial parks located within Metro
Manila. The researcher will gather data about the spaces, circulation, processes, costs, and the
relationship between the developments and their surrounding site context. The research will be
limited to areas of Metro Manila and will focus primarily on burial practices of Philippine culture
to more effectively address issues in the country. The findings will be limited to interpretation in
the context of architectural solutions. The period of the study will be from August 2018 to April
2019.
1.7 Goals and Objectives
The study intends to identify and analyze current issues and problems of Metro Manila
cemeteries, columbaria, and memorial parks to formulate a unified architectural solution featuring
multiple different vertically integrated features of burial developments providing an accessible
and sustainable proposal.
 To provide a more serene, sufficient, and sustainable urban cemetery
 To formulate an integrated vertical memorial park archetype
 To maximize the land without sacrificing the features of a traditional open memorial park
 To help preserve key features and culture of Philippine burial practices particularly in the
increasingly diminishing Metro Manila burial culture

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1.8 Conceptual Framework
Figure 1 Conceptual Framework

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2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES
2.1 Review of Related Literature
As stated in the HLURB Rules & Regulations for Memorial Parks & Cemeteries, all
cemetery plans should be accessible to PWD and in full compliance with BP 344 otherwise
known as the Accessibility Law and the Magna Carta for disabled persons, or RA 7277, which
many newly-built burial developments do not comply with. It also states that memorial parks
must continue to allot enough open space and vegetation to maintain a park atmosphere.
In his book about landscapes and architecture in cemeteries, Ken Worpole (2003) talks
about different burial practices, and discusses the meaningful environments in commemorative
developments from the perspective of a visitor. He mentions the plight of the cemetery and future
culture in the modern world, going on to say “It was clear that in nearly all of the current
literature dealing with urban and planning issues for the twenty-first century, the role and ritual
space of the cemetery had been ignored. Yet anyone who has visited a churchyard, cemetery or
crematorium garden – and we mostly visit these places at times of distress or upheaval – cannot
but be overcome by the range of emotions that occur there and nowhere else in the natural
landscape or the spaces of the city. Because these emotions are so powerful, and indeed basic to
human identity, it seemed to me to be crucial to retain, and even enhance, the space of the
cemetery in the city and the landscape.” He concludes his opening statements by noting how in
regards to aspects of funerary rituals, in matters to do with the public and architectural culture of
death, innovation in design, landscape, and architectural aesthetics remains rare. Likewise, Doris
Francis (2003), discusses the greater role of cemeteries as cultural landscapes, explaining the
historical evolution of funerary developments from church graveyards to cluttered cemeteries, and
eventually to organized well-landscaped memorial parks, noting how funerary landscapes do not
simply reflect and express the cultural continuities and transformation of their communities, they
also help to write that history.
According to the UK Department of the Environment (2016), in ground burials, a body
and its coffin will begin to decay and as this happens fluids can leach out and may eventually
enter the groundwater underlying the site. This fluid may contain embalming fluid,
pathogens/microbes and nitrogen compounds which could contaminate groundwater. In isolated
tombs above ground, however, these fluids dissipate in their enclosures and very rarely enter the
ground at all. The protection of groundwater from the risk of possible contamination is important
because pollutants could cause health problems in human beings, reduce the quality of vegetation
and agriculture in the area, and make the water and environment unsuitable for many uses. The

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department ends this note by stating that the contamination of groundwater from ground burials
can not only have health and environmental impacts, but also serious economic consequences.
Ana Naomi de Sousa (2015) wrote a piece for The Guardian News entitled "What happens
when all our cemeteries are full?" engaging readers into the idea of vertical burial expansion and
explaining why we will need to rise up and build burials into the sky, and what verticality can do
for a city. She also explains that although many people think burying bodies in the ground is more
ecological based on the idea of natural decomposition, the notion is in fact wrong, as human
bodies contain numerous toxic chemicals that become especially volatile when the person passes.
Vertical cemeteries would actually alleviate the toxic chemicals from reaching the soil, and
contain them in the structure itself. In contrast, however, Memphis Barker (2013) wrote a whole
piece entitled "Please don't bury me in a skyscraper", a testament to the 'insensitive architecture'
of current existing and recently proposed vertical cemeteries, explaining his disinterest in the idea
only because of the severe rigidity and monolithic-like sense of the current building typology
condition. This kind of negative reaction to the current ideas of vertical burial structures
strengthens the notion that we need to improve the archetype and integrate the open park features
of contemporary memorial parks.
2.2 Review of Related Studies
According to Kathryn Meyers Emery (2014), a PhD in Mortuary Archaeology from the
Michigan State University, the future of cemeteries is gearing itself towards vertical structures.
She explains how space is a major issue in many countries and that cemeteries take up large
amounts of land, specifically praising Israel for its new Skyward Cemetery, being one of the only
vertical burial structures that attempts to maintain the feeling of standard burial and park like
surroundings. Though still lacking significant landscaping, public park space, and mausoleums,
she cites it as unique as it is less of a departure from contemporary cemeteries. She also notes that
as early as the Roman empire, there is evidence of going vertical to deal with the dead in packed
cities, and widespread around Brazil, Japan, and now even the Philippines, there are vertical
crypts where the deceased are buried in stacked tombs.
In a study by Erik Akpedonu (2016), a detailed analysis of Philippine burial architecture
is described, focused mainly on the vast necropolis in the northern part of Metro Manila
consisting of the North Cemetery, the La Loma Cemetery, and the Chinese Cemetery. The study
primarily covers the cultural and periodical evolution that is evident in the mausoleum designs of
the Chinese Cemetery, and also mentions the vertically rising crypts of the large burial district.
Through the wide variety of architectural styles seen in the mausoleums, from classical to modern
to Chinese style inspirations, the study concludes that here developed a distinct mausoleum

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architecture and a unique mausoleum culture that can now be observed in most cemeteries all
around the country. Akpedonu ends the study with emphasis on the historical and cultural
significance of our built heritage in the context of burial developments, mentioning the risk of
losing these massive urban cemetery developments due to the dense metropolis and increasing
economic pressure with lack of alternative solutions. Similarly, this is what enticed Jessica Faith
Higgins (2013) to study potential solutions of designing contemporary landscapes to solve
modern issues in cemeteries. She explains how cemeteries have been lost in the modern landscape
of today, pointing out that “these once celebrated spaces are today labelled as taboo, only visited
on mournful occasions. However, by applying the modern landscape issues of sustainability,
community open space and respecting and aiding the healing process to cemetery design,
deathscapes can once again function as an integral element of neighbourhood fabric.”
Wahyu P. Hariyono (2015) conducted a study on vertical cemeteries for the
International Conference on Sustainable Design, Engineering and Construction, where he
explores the different existing proposals of vertical cemeteries and considers the burial practices
of the different major religions. His main opening points were that although it is quite evident that
vertical planning is necessary for all new developments in dense urban areas, cemeteries and the
like are significantly less prioritized to be designed. In the study he states that regardless of
location and building regulation, planning of the building should maximize the floor area ratio
given on site. The study explores different models of a vertical cemetery building with
consideration of most religions’ burial practices to show not only that vertical cemeteries are
possible but also to show their many potential benefits, such as effectively saving ground space
usage towards achieving more sustainable cities, easing accessibility and public transportation,
and preserving specific burial practices.

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3 RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURE
3.1 Method of Research and Procedure
The descriptive method of research was used in this study. Descriptive method of
research is a fact-finding study with adequate and accurate interpretation of the findings. It deals
with what is found by the investigation, describing with emphasis the existing conditions,
characteristics, practices, situations, or any phenomena. It is a factually grounded or informative
study rather than normative, prescriptive, or emotive. Since the study was concerned with the
present status of cemeteries and memorial parks in Metro Manila, the descriptive method of
research was the most appropriate method to use. A series of case studies, local and international,
were conducted, along with a variety of site visits, interviews, and immersive experiences to
properly assess and describe the current status of Philippine urban burial developments.
3.2 Research Instrument
The research was conducted through the analysis of related writings, relevant surveys and
statistics gathered by reputable sources, significant reports by well-known news outlets, and site
visits involving ocular inspections, sensory observations, layout analysis, facility documentation,
and oral investigation. The oral investigations involved interviews with funerary development
management, inquiries with sales offices, discussions with front desk clerks at memorial homes,
and conversations with certain visitors of some of the burial developments. International surveys
and statistics were also collected, along with international case studies, gathered through way of
web searching and compiled with relevant context.
3.3 Population Universe and Subject of the Study
The study focused on burial developments and the funerary process, which involved
establishments such as cemeteries, memorial parks, columbaria, crematoriums, funeral homes,
memorial chapels, and other funeral parlors. Some establishments had sufficient information
readily available either on their official websites or at their lobbies and offices, while other
developments required further oral investigations. Interviews were held with employees of
varying positions, including salesmen and staff, as well as reported interviews with operations
managers. Inquiries for available market values were made through e-mail, over the phone, and
through front desk clerks. For the Undas holidays of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day,
additional site visits and ocular inspections were made in an immersive experience to document
the mass gathering. User preferences were concluded based on reliable data and reports, as well as

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significant international surveys and studies. Mortality statistics were gathered to determine death
rates and regional death numbers, using data from the Philippine Statistics Authority. The study
aimed to accurately evaluate and interpret the current condition and status of Philippine memorial
services within Metro Manila.

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4 PRESENTATION OF DATA
4.1 Presentation of Data
The data presented is the relevant information necessary to accurately understand the
existing situation of burial developments, death culture, burial rates, and the need for
improvement in burial developments within Metro Manila. The case studies are intended to
appropriately illustrate the current state of burial developments, both vertical and horizontal,
within Metro Manila and around the world. Undas 2018 documentation provides a close look at
the rich Philippine culture of paying respects to the dead, particularly in the context of the urban
environment. Market prices and user preferences show the trends and economic swings in the
funerary industry, and mortality data helps to show the projected needs for burial developments in
the future.
Table 1 ASPBI 2015 Statistics for Real Estate Activities by Industry Sub-class

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This table from the 2015 Annual Survey of Philippine Business and Industry (ASPBI)
conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) includes commemorative developments as
part of real estate under the subsection 681 grouped with most other common real estate ventures.
The data in this table shows that while the market share of cemeteries is small compared to that of
residential buildings, it still makes a significant amount of income even with less than four-
thousand employees nationwide. The data also shows the vast deficit between the development of
places for the living over places for the departed.
4.2 Case Studies
4.2.1 Local Case Studies
CASE STUDY 1: The Sanctuarium
Location: Quezon City Development: Vertical Type: Columbarium
The Sanctuarium is an elegant 12-storey
building that contains 25,000 columbary
vaults, situated on a 2,426 sqm. lot on
Araneta Ave. corner Agno St. in Quezon City.
Its burial options are limited to columbary
vaults for cremated remains, which can each
hold up to 4 urns per vault, but the buildings’
other features make it one of the biggest and
best of its kind in Asia. Apart from being a
columbarium, it also serves as the country’s
first integrated funeral home, along with
additional features, amenities, and
technologically advanced lighting and
cooling solutions.
Figure 2 Façade of The Sanctuarium
Aside from being twelve floors tall, the building includes 3 basement level parking floors
to make visitor experiences much easier especially during memorial holiday times. It is fully
equipped with elevators from the basement levels to the ground floor lobby, 2 elevators from the
ground floor to the upper floors, as well as 2 more elevators from the 6th
floor to the 12th
floor for
a more controlled but still fast and convenient circulation. Also present but only active on busy

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days are escalators for quick and easy access when travelling one or two storeys. There are two
fire exits in the back side of the core, and plenty of public toilets on all floors. The entrance and
lobby are open and grand, with high ceilings about four storeys tall, and above the 5th
floor the
atrium continues again through the middle from the 6th
floor to the top.
Figure 2.1 Columbary Vaults of The Sanctuarium
The columbary vaults are in multiple rows, all within rooms on the 6th
to 12th
floors, each
room with comfortable air conditioning and adequate lighting. The vaults are housed in
standardized elegant gold front panels, with optional flower holder attachments and name plates.
Out of the 25,000 vaults present, about half are already sold, and about half of those sold are
occupied. There are also a few floors that are awaiting development as the facilities expand,
which can add an additional 50,000+ vaults. The spacious lobby features a café and flower shop
on the left and the memorial home on the right, with utilities and restrooms in the back. In the
three floors above the lobby there are 29 ecumenical vigil chapels, including a Buddhist temple.
These multi-function rooms can be for twelve to a hundred people depending on the family’s
requirements as the partitions can be adjusted. There are also family rooms, an audio visual room,
and library where families can view memories of their loved ones in private.

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The main columbarium portion of the
building wraps around a central atrium
that extends from the 5th
floor to the top.
The bottom is the 5th
floor gathering
area which can be used for religious
masses, gatherings, or ceremonies. The
top of the atrium shows the semi-
circular dome which houses another
chapel area generally open for anybody
to come and pray. The domed chapel
maintains neutrality from any particular
religion to be appropriate for everyone,
and its dome brings in natural light
which trickles down to the columbaria
floors through the central open atrium.
Figure 2.2 Upper Atrium of The Sanctuarium
The lighting and air conditioning on the columbaria floors are said to be centrally controlled by
computers manned by building administrators, and the cleanliness and services are maintained by
a staff of trained caretakers. Catering to the large client denomination of Fil-Chinese, there are
also additions to make way for multiple different cultural practices such as designated incense
lighting areas and paper money burning places. The use of wax candles and similar types of
tributes is not allowed in the main vault rooms but can be done in designated areas in order to
control the building maintenance issues of wax, soot, smoke, and fire hazards. Adequate space
additions are also evident to accommodate the November 1 surge of people that could come
especially once the vaults begin to reach full occupancy. Precautions and considerations are also
in place for families who might not want to battle the crowds, with posted procedures to allow the
temporary opening and taking home of urns.
For the site location, it seems out of place, but with the analysis of surrounding
establishments it begins to fit right in. There is a nearby church, and quite a few similar
establishments also along Araneta Avenue. Although Araneta Ave is a long road, and having
similar establishments nearby could bring competition, the presence of these in one general
vicinity makes them more accepted in the community. Along with other columbaria nearby, there

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are also a handful of flower shops and funeral homes that complement The Sanctuarium, however
this establishment sets it apart from the rest with its imposing façade and integrated facilities.
With regards to the relationship of the site development to its surrounding site context, The
Sanctuarium shows a weakness. While the lobby entrance does welcome the street level in with
its tall grand columnar base, the perimeter of the building generally rejects its surroundings in
terms of abruptly facing such solid tall walls. In an effort to fully maximize the land, the structure
leaves no buffer space or hierarchical gradual rise in scale, with the building immediately rising to
its full heights along the property lines. This is positive in that it leaves maximum space inside
which allowed for such spacious atriums, but the lack of landscaping and site integration makes it
a big contrast from the open landscapes of traditional cemeteries and memorial parks. The way it
sticks out so monolithically also tends to convey an unwelcoming look, towards an exclusive,
very private type of place – which the prices reflect as well.
Nonetheless, The Sanctuarium is truly one of the most considerate and advanced facilities of
its kind in the Philippines, and is the only example of a combination of different establishments. It
is the first integrated columbarium and funeral home with an in-house flower shop, café, and
multiple different memorial areas. Its verticality and facilities for vertical circulation are fine
examples of a forward-thinking building prepared for the future and ready for full occupancy even
during Undas. The quality of the facilities, quantity of the total capacity, and sensitivity to create a
specific ambience, are unrivalled so far nationwide, and comparable to some of the best in Asia
and around the world. It still lacks on certain key features of traditional memorial parks, and the
site integration could have been improved, but The Sanctuarium is undoubtedly the best urban
burial option around – for those who can afford it.

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CASE STUDY 2: The Ascension Columbary
Location: Quezon City Development: Vertical Type: Columbarium
The Ascension Columbary is a modern
shell-shaped 5-storey columbarium that
features 6,500 total vaults in a unique
structure along Araneta Avenue in
Quezon City. The building is finished
and its facilities are fully operational,
with almost half of the vaults sold and
about half of those sold are occupied.
The unoccupied vaults were bought by
investors who can then further deal them
to others, which is supported by the
management. Each vault can hold up to 4
urns, and although the burial options are
limited to urns, there are other features
that complement the building.
Figure 3 Façade of The Ascension Columbary
Right behind the building is a quaint garden with some picnic tables and seating where
families can come and spend some time together before or after visiting the vaults inside. On the
left of the columbarium building is the Cosmopolitan Memorial Chapels and Crematory, which is
under the same umbrella company and ceremonies can be done in a package with them before
interment, but The Ascension also offers in-house cremation without viewing as an option. The
interior of The Ascension has adequate natural lighting with the long window cutting across the
middle of the exterior shell allowing sunlight to come in, which then makes its way through
multiple different open floor areas and skylights. There is a single elevator that tends to all floors,
as the floors and overall building footprint are rather small, but the facilities are sufficient. To
save electricity, the air-conditioners and lights are turned on only when visitors come.

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Table 2 Pricelist & Payment Options of The Ascension Columbary provided by Mr. Pochie R. Garcia

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During the visit, an interview with one of the administrators Mr. Pochie R. Garcia was
conducted as he toured the building and showed the facilities on each floor. He explained how the
building is still rather new and not very well-known and yet they have already gained a fair
amount of clients and interested parties. In touring the building, he showed the different floors
and more specifically the 4 different types of columbary vaults that they have, Standard, Deluxe,
Premium, and Super Premium. The main difference in the four are where they are located in the
building layout and the quality of the granite in their standardized tombstones. After taking a look
at the pricelist he provided, he showed the Deluxe and Standard vaults in the building, which are
all sold out to families and investors.
Figure 3.1 Vaults of The Ascension Columbary
Mr. Garcia encouraged investing in vaults not only as a sales strategy for The Ascension to
gain a quick return on investment but as a smart investment suggestion to those who might be
interested as he explained the high demand for a decent burial place at a reasonable price within
the metro. The quickly sold out portion of the building was proof and his claims were verified
with the ocular inspection of the vaults with a whole section affixed with tombstones and no
nameplates yet, awaiting further sale. Another reason to invest would be for those who wish to
begin pre-planning for their family’s future, with their brochure headline reading “For as low as
P2,524.00 a month or P84.00 a day, you can invest for a columbary vault within the
metropolis…start planning now!!”

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The price range of the vaults ranges from as low as 61,750php to as much as 125,000php,
which compared to other columbaria and cemeteries, the prices may seem high, but for similar
facilities like this these numbers are competitive and comparable to nearby establishments. The
Ascension offers multiple different payment options for timeframe and down payments, including
cash discounts, and after payment is completed the vaults are considered to be under full lifetime
ownership.
Figure 3.2 Sold Out Vaults of The Ascension Columbary
Overall The Ascension Columbary is a relatively small but sufficient, vertical columbarium
development. It is one of the only burial developments that goes for a bold modern design that
results in its unique shell-like form. The spaces between the vaults may be narrow for Undas
gatherings but they also allow temporarily taking home urns for the holidays and the garden helps
to accommodate any overflow of people. Collaborating with the adjacent memorial chapels
services also helps the business.

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CASE STUDY 3: Manila North Cemetery
Location: Santa Cruz, Manila Development: Mixed Type: Mixed
Figure 4 Crypt and Columbarium of Manila North Cemetery
The Manila North Cemetery, at 54 hectares, is the largest cemetery in the country, and as
one of the earliest and most prominent cemeteries around, it is also the most crowded. Full of ups
and downs, nearly everything can be found within these grounds, including a large population of
people living in the cemetery. Mausoleums, tombs, and the new columbarium and apartment crypt
fill the area that was thought to be at its full capacity several expansions ago. Complete with
multiple notable persons buried in its premises and a full community inside, it is truly a necropolis
in the metro. The latest addition is the recently completed, four-storey, 5000sqm. crypt and
columbarium. Daniel Tan, director of the cemetery, said they feature 4,088 columbary niches and
1,218 tombs total among the many new structures in the new vertical addition.
The Manila North Cemetery, or Cementerio del Norte, was built in 1904 and is one of the
oldest and largest in Metro Manila. It makes up part of a larger necropolis district containing the
La Loma Cemetery and Manila Chinese Cemetery, and is the mecca of Metro Manila’s cultural
observances of funerary rituals and Undas gatherings. During November 1-2 holidays, in

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preparation for the large crowds of people arriving at the cemetery, vendors set up candle shops,
snacks stores, food stalls, and even some karaoke bars. Due to the magnitude of the gatherings at
the Manila North Cemetery and the difficulty in controlling such a large area, heavy police and
sometimes military security support is usually put in place to maintain peace and order among the
large crowds susceptible to possible crime.
Manila Mayor Joseph E. Estrada is the one who initiated the construction of the new
apartment-type crypt and columbarium to address the overcrowded cemetery. The new vertical
expansion is intended for the underprivileged citizens of Manila who due to the challenges of
poverty cannot afford decent burials for their departed loved ones. This is in line with the city
administrations goals towards providing numerous services and facilities to improve the life of
local citizens who live below the poverty line, including public health facilities, educational
programs, birth support programs, and now death support programs, with provisions to offer
cremation and burials for as low as free and as high as a few thousand pesos, depending on the
financial capabilities of the family.
With the cemetery grounds bursting at the seams with overcrowding, the newly built vertical
structures are definitely a welcome expansion that will provide thousands of decent burials for
families. The structures are rigid, solid concrete and steel, and the pathways are narrow and on the
outside which will be extra hot in the summer time, but there are some sacrifices to be made for
the city to be able to afford to give these plots out for as low as free to Manila’s poor. As the
socialized housing equivalent of burials, this is perhaps also the exception to not following
HLURB regulations that require structures like these to be PWD accessible.
The rigid structures make for a wall-like visual barrier on the outer parts of the cemetery, and
with the lack of landscaping it can appear unwelcoming, but nonetheless with the massive
sprawling area the new buildings are sufficient to their purpose.

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CASE STUDY 4: Manila Memorial Park
Location: Paranaque Development: Horizontal Type: Memorial Park
Figure 5 Signage of Manila Memorial Park Sucat
The Manila Memorial Park company proudly claims to be the country’s first true memorial
park, and states on their website that with their multiple branches they are also the largest
memorial park company in the nation. The company is said to be the pioneer in modern cremation
in the Philippines, bringing the up and coming practice to the country as early as 1985. The
branch in Sucat, Paranaque is a great example for a one-stop shop, complete memorial park with
peaceful landscaping and nearly all burial options available. The branch is one of their larger and
more prominent branches, although all Manila Memorial Parks are rather large developments. The
Paranaque branch is popular because it lies closest to the big cities, although still somewhat
suburban in its location towards the outskirts of the metro. This branch is in partnership with La
Funeraria Paz - Sucat, appropriately the nation’s largest funeral home company.

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In all 6 of their branches around the
country, they offer memorial lots,
columbary niches, cremation services,
and ceremony services. The Sucat
branch also has a handful of private
mausoleums for those who opted for a
more extravagant honorary tomb.
Standalone above-ground tombs are
also present around, but are not for sale
as much in order to control the growth
in proportion to the land available in
their memorial park grounds, and as to
not compromise the landscaping and
water features that make the place
serene.
Figure 5.1 Manila Memorial Park Poster
The open grounds include a
columbarium, and even this structure is
built horizontally. The addition of
columbaria is usually to cover a larger
target market, with niches being the
cheapest among the options with the
remains still being able to be kept in a
nice open memorial park this way, and
to have a wider variety of services.
Figure 5.2 Columbarium Niches at Manila Memorial Park
Having started much earlier than other companies, it was easier to handle more services quickly,
leading the pack. Their prices vary with such a wide range of services and packages, but included
in the prices is an amount set aside and deposited to an RCBC trust fund, where income is used to
maintain the memorial parks for generations.

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CASE STUDY 5: Elysium Gardens
Location: Quezon City Development: Horizontal Type: Columbarium
Located beside St. Luke’s
Hospital and Trinity College of
Quezon City, the Elysium
Gardens tries to offer a more
spread out, open, peaceful
columbarium option with gardens
and very high quality materials.
Although smaller than its
competition in the area, they go
for quality over quantity in their
facilities as a premium option.
Figure 6 Elysium Gardens Entrance Area
It is a newer development compared to other columbaria in the country, and they pride themselves
of using imported teakwood sandstone cover and Italian travertine stones with garden wall vaults
of Italian marble. Their Solarium Building houses walls of vaults and crypts fronted by glass
walls that allow sunlight to illuminate the interior, and the outdoor vaults meandering in organic
curves to conform to the garden landscaping.
The services offered include small
funeral ceremonies, columbarium plots,
inurnment services, chapel rentals,
catering services, and tombstone
engraving. The chapels inside can
accommodate a few dozen people each,
but are limited in expansion. The
services are advertised to be
comprehensive yet affordable.
Figure 6.1 Elysium Gardens Chapel

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It is solely a columbarium, which in itself
maximizes space by housing urns in multi-
level columbary vaults, but the development is
still generally horizontal. The facility can hold
a few thousand urns at full capacity, and
although there is a risk of reaching a certain
level of capacity quickly with single-storey
vault structures, the developers saw the value
in making way for plenty of garden areas and
peaceful nooks. Even the pathways between
gardens feature benches surrounded by lush
green potted plants and ruffling foliage above,
a testament to the delicate design.
Figure 6.2 Outdoor Columbary Vaults at Elysium Gardens
The location of the site is
somewhat isolated in that it isn’t as
easily spotted from major roads as
are The Sanctuarium or The
Ascension, which due to proximity
and services, are likely their biggest
competition, but the lively area
could make it a desirable location
to certain clients.
Figure 6.3 Garden Area at Elysium Gardens Columbarium
For those who become aware of its location, the frontage of the site appears very welcoming and
the space left in front can draw plenty of positive attention.

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4.2.2 International Case Studies
CASE STUDY 6: San Cataldo Cemetery
Location: Modena, Italy Development: Vertical Type: Ossuary/Crypt
Figure 7 Aldo Rossi’s Addition to the San Cataldo Cemetery
The San Cataldo Metropolitan Cemetery is a unique cemetery in the Italian city of Modena.
The project is considered as one of the most important buildings for the Post-Modern Architecture
movement and for Aldo Rossi’s career. The originally neoclassic San Cataldo Cemetery sought
expansion around the late 1960s and eventually commissioned the later Pritzker Prize winning
architect Aldo Rossi for the project after he gained enough attention in the open competition.
Even much of the original cemetery, however, features crypt type tombs stacked on one another
to maximize most of the space that the building footprints take up. The overall site development
contains many structures, long and wrapping around courtyards in the vast fields, and still the
original developers made use of certain vertical burial techniques to give way to enough space to
allow for such wide open peaceful spaces.

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The older buildings are long crypts of
stacks 6 levels high along a columnar
walkway that wraps around different
courtyards. The concrete tombs are closed off
with standard red granite tombstones with
brass names and symbols that can be
personalized and placed onto the granite.
Apart from the flowers on the tombs, not
much else can be seen among the vast linear
geometry with the spaces kept simple and
peacefully empty. The grass is kept short and
the occasional park bench is available in
limited numbers. Without a mass gathering
memorial holiday in Italy, visitors come to
San Cataldo on their own time.
Figure 7.1 San Cataldo Cemetery Crypt
Aldo Rossi’s main contribution to
the expansion of the cemetery was his
post-modernist “Ossuary Cube”
intended to be an even more space-
maximizing structure with niches meant
for the storage of bones in various
containers similar to how ashes are
contained in an urn.
Figure 7.2 San Cataldo Ossuary Cube Niches
This terracotta-clad box of square solids and voids looks to be like a strong, bold structure
from the exterior, but took a very sensitive approach to how the interior would feel. His delicate
handling of the behaviour of light created an almost unexpected interior that makes for peaceful,
well-lit, naturally ventilated spaces inside appropriate for an early vertical burial structure. He

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wanted to maximize the land without steering too far from the environment felt around the rest of
the cemetery. He also wanted to bring to life his writings on urban planning where he seeks to
sew architecture into the fabric of cities.
Figure 7.3 San Cataldo Ossuary Cube Interior
Even as an older cemetery, it is a good example of the early innovations towards verticality
in cemeteries, and the effort to maintain the open environment and the peace and solitude of
traditional cemeteries. It offers a rare look into the approach of an award-winning architect on
burial developments and what they could be like. The San Cataldo Cemetery had the future in
mind with their consistent steps to maximize their available land, and even with such vast fields
and courtyards, they didn’t stop there. It should serve as an example around the world not only for
burial developments but for all places to consider the long-term impacts and future effects of
decisions and developments.

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CASE STUDY 7: Fan Ling Columbarium
Location: Hong Kong Development: Vertical Type: Columbarium
Figure 8 Façade of the Fan Ling Columbarium
This large modern columbarium in Hong Kong was a project initiated and designed by the
local district’s public works department. Sparing no aspects, however, this public work resulted in
a beautiful, considerate, sustainable design that not only offers a large amount of niches and
vaults but also has a lot of lush green public space, and it gives burial spots to local citizens for
some of the lowest prices in all of Hong Kong.
Addressing the vast shortage of burial plots in Hong Kong, the public works department
recognized the value in creating one facility sustainable and sufficient enough to accommodate
both the living (visitors) and the dead (urns) for years to come. Aligned with this goal is their
construction of thousands of niches and vaults, and the incorporation of public park areas.

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Figure 8.1 Fan Ling Columbarium Interior
Figure 8.2 Fan Ling Columbarium Garden

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Figure 8.3 Fan Ling Columbarium Site Development
The building is delicately integrated into a tree-filled slope with garden terraces where the
outdoor niches are placed along. The landscape architecture draws the long rectangular shape of
the building into its surroundings with organic forms that shape the walkways and parks to
pleasantly meet the street. Providing this kind of surrounding landscaping surely makes a building
like this, even as a columbarium, more welcome in the community. The park atmosphere also
allows the area to be used on normal days and by other people, and not just on memorial days or
by visitors of the departed. The reintegration of the burial development to the community is
becoming a more and more necessary task especially in dense urban places, and this public
columbarium serves as a fine example of it. Hong Kong also has mass gatherings at burial
developments as they have tomb sweeping and visiting holidays as well, similar to the Philippines’
culture of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, making this columbarium an appropriate
inspiration for future local burial developments.

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CASE STUDY 8: Yarkon Cemetery
Location: Petah Tikva, Israel Development: Mixed Type: Mixed
The Yarkon Cemetery is a large
necropolis spread out on an ever
growing part of land in Israel. It
is essentially the Israeli
counterpart of Manila’s
combined North Cemetery
compound. Strewn about its
sprawling land lies mostly in-
ground graves and single
above-ground tombs with
various markers on top, along
with a handful of private
mausoleums around.
Figure 9 Façade of the new building at Yarkon Cemetery
Realizing the lack of sustainability in such rapid, unorganized sprawling growth, the city and
cemetery officials decided to make the most recent expansion a large, multi-storey building. The
latest addition is the curvy, unique, hybrid vertical cemetery building at the grounds’ west end.
The cemetery sits on the outskirts of Tel Aviv, and most of the tenants are from the main city as
well. The new building is the first of a planned 30 vertical structures, which will more than double
the capacity of the full cemetery to provide a comfortable 25 years clear of overcrowding.
“The source of all this is that there is simply no room,” said Tuvia Sagiv, an architect who
specializes in dense burial design. “It’s unreasonable that we will live one on top of the other in
tall apartment buildings and then die in villas. If we have already agreed to live one on top of the
other, then we can die one on top of the other.” The plan to alleviate some of the increasing
density is said to be part of a government-backed master plan, with multiple reports and
discussions on the issue addressed in the local city halls.

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Figure 9.1 Interior of the new building at Yarkon Cemetery
Certainly unique in its design of the façade and its burial practices inside, the new building at
the Yarkon Cemetery is heavily showcases burial practices heavily founded on local culture and
very sensitive religious beliefs. Inside it features tomb crypts, and space for single and double
above-ground type tombs, which really maintains the look of the rest of the cemetery outside with
tombstones and epitaphs level with the floor. The headstones of the crypt, and the stone and
shapes of the tombs at floor level are all personalized and not standard, which makes for a varying
look of tombs similar to the traditional cemetery grounds. Unlike any other cemetery structure,
due to the strong beliefs of the importance of ground burials in Jewish culture, there are pipes
filled with soil that link to all floors and down the columns to below the ground, which allow all
levels in the building to stay somewhat connected to the ground and thus not far off from
traditional ground burial.
The storeys are open-air and make use of mostly natural light and ventilation, with tiered
planters on the exterior for vegetation and fresh air. The building is said to have drawn inspiration
from Israel’s ancient origins of burials in caves more than modern vertical dwelling, which
explains its unique forms and atmosphere.

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4.3 Undas 2018
Undas refers to the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day in the Philippines
where millions of people flock to the final resting places of their departed loved ones to pay
respects. This occurs in the national holiday days of November 1 and 2, and it is a major cultural
tradition that stems from religion and spirituality. The term Undas is derived from its original
Spanish origins, Uno de Novembre Dia de las Almas y todos los Santos, and the tradition has
since evolved in the Philippines to have its own distinct rituals and its own place in Philippine
culture.
A typical Undas has people travelling from all over the country to come to their hometowns
and other places where their departed family or friends are, going to the burial sites beforehand to
clean and prepare or during the holidays to visit, pay their respects, and spend time at the graves
with other family and friends. People bring candles to light, food to share, flowers, pictures, and
other kinds of tribute. Some people also bring tents and tarps for cover from the sun as spending
many hours at the burial sites is often customary for direct relatives.
Of course, Undas practices vary slightly among different cemeteries with the different social
environments, economic classes, and certain sub-cultural rituals. For Undas 2018 documentation,
the study was conducted at the Manila North Cemetery, because it is within Metro Manila, it is
the largest and most populated cemetery in the region at 54 hectares, it features the largest variety
of burial types and thus the widest variety of observable Undas practices, and it is a mecca of
inner city Undas festivities. One of the most significant features of the Manila North Cemetery
that makes it the appropriate study setting for Undas is the presence of high-end, extravagant
burials, modest, low-income burials, and everything in between, showcasing graves of all shapes
and sizes. From exclusive, famous burials of well-known celebrities, artists, and former presidents,
to free burials provided by the local government, it is a uniquely scattered composition of
Philippine death culture.
Undas 2018 started on the hot Thursday of November 1, 2018, kicking off a 4-day weekend
within the metro and giving enough time for people to travel to their province of origin with
enough weekend time to get back before Monday starts anew. The city streets were quiet and
most establishments closed, but the cemeteries and everything around them were bursting with
life. Traffic in most areas was very light, increasing though all the way to a standstill towards the
different burial developments. Train stations were operational and not crowded like a normal
weekday. Most of the city was in full observance, with multiple traffic detours and management
plans to accommodate the massive crowds of people, and those who don’t partake in Undas
typically stay at home.

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Figure 10 Busy intersection closed for Undas 2018
Approaching the cemetery, hundreds of people fill what is normally a road full of cars, and
even the busy roads and intersection had been closed and rerouted to make way for all the people,
and with the people, vendors flanked both sides of the streets selling candles, flowers, and all
kinds of products.

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Figure 10.1 Crowd walking outside Manila North Cemetery
Figure 10.2 People entering the Manila North Cemetery
Upon reaching the cemetery grounds it became clear that the hundreds of people seen in the
roads had converged with hundreds of people from other roads to comprise the crowd of
thousands of people at the entrance of the Manila North Cemetery. The area full of vendors, and

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the main gate surrounded by police officers for safety and traffic control, as well as multiple
media tents with reporters and cameras capturing the festivities.
Figure 10.3 Media outside the Manila North Cemetery for Undas 2018
At the entrance of the cemetery, the usually wide open gate is subdivided into lanes for traffic
control with police officers and volunteers checking bags for any dangerous items prohibited in
the cemetery grounds. Right inside the premises, a booth of volunteers from Sangguniang
Kabataan (SK), the local council devoted to youth, hands out nametag stickers instructing parents
to put necessary information on their children to prevent any confusion in case of separation.
Wheelchair services are also readily available for the elderly or disabled, with wheelchairs
provided by local organizations. Widespread recycling operations were underway with recycling
stations for bottles and even candle wax, with incentives to indigent children, giving some money
per kilo of recycled material that they collect and bring to the redemption stations.

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Figure 10.4 Food Stalls in the Manila North Cemetery for Undas 2018
Rows of food stalls line the sides of main pathways, and smaller stores can be found at
almost every corner around the farther sides of the cemetery. Every direction is a sea of umbrellas,
tents, tombs and mausoleums. The few places that aren’t crowded are places like the wide lots
where former presidents’ tombs are, with their peaceful lawns occupied only by the occasional
guard, politician visitor, or special guest, with a big flower bouquet from the office of the mayor.
In the lots with the likes of a former president in the foreground, the background is filled with the
four-storey crypt and columbaria, where hundreds of caskets, urns, and ossuary remains are
housed for low-income families, with their visitors making the most of the narrow walkways in
the sun.
People are seen walking through the spaces between tombs and mausoleums, sometimes just a
few feet wide, others forced to climb over other tombs just to reach their departed loved ones,
bringing with them tributes and food for the family. Some mausoleums filled with generations of
family members, sometimes eating full meals brought from home and others even bringing
generators to power appliances and outlets during their Undas stay. Some of the larger
mausoleums of multiple storeys have living space in the upper floors specially meant for Undas
visits.

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Figure 10.5 Tombs and Crypt at the Manila North Cemetery
Figure 10.6 Family eating inside a mausoleum at the Manila North Cemetery

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Figure 10.7 Family eating at a tomb at the Manila North Cemetery
Figure 10.8 Cluster of tombs and people at the Manila North Cemetery

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Tombs of all shapes and sizes are seen being visited by people of all ages, and no matter the
hot temperature or how difficult it is to get to a particular burial site, most people are still seen
persevering, a testament to the rich cultural significance the Undas holiday has. Some of the
tombs that didn’t have visitors still had fresh flowers and clean headstones, most likely visited and
tended to in the days prior to avoid the crowds. All 54 hectares of the Manila North Cemetery is
full of tombs of various looks, and during Undas, the cemetery grounds are full of life as well.
A few people were present even since the night before, but the main crowds began arriving
around 6:00am, increasing in size every hour until the time grew closer to twelve noon, when the
crowds slightly subsided as people stopped to have lunch or avoid the heat of high noon. The
crowds then picked back up at around 1:00pm and was generally steady in size until the sun
started to set. Much of the cemetery grounds was still occupied by people into the night but the
lack of lighting in the farther parts of the large premises eventually enticed more people to call it a
day and head home. The majority of the crowds came on November 1, All Saints’ Day, as usual.
At any given hour during the main times of the day, tens of thousands of people crowded the
main parts of the cemetery with hundreds of thousands in the premises. The Inquirer reported that
around 1.5million visitors were present on the Thursday of November 1, 2018, with around
903,500 visitors who came in the morning timeframe and another 600,000 in the afternoon
according to the ground commander of the Philippine National Police in the cemetery, Police
Superintendent Julius Caesar Domingo. The Manila Police District reported an approximate
1,142,849 people visited by 2:00pm of the day.
Undas at the Manila North Cemetery is the largest gathering in the country for the holiday
and it shows the widest variety of different burial practices and death culture observances out of
any cemetery in the metro and around the country. The gatherings displayed in this area at this
time of the year exemplifies the importance of burials in the Philippines and also offers a look
into the great social aspect of commemorative holidays where families use the time to bond at the
tombs of departed relatives.

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Figure 10.9 Family rests in a small mausoleum in the Manila North Cemetery
Figure 10.10 People gather in a narrow path at the Manila North Cemetery

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Figure 10.11 Tomb stacks with tributes in the Manila North Cemetery
Figure 10.12 Mausoleum with flowers and large candles in the Manila North Cemetery

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4.4 Market Prices
With the wide variety of different services and burial options, it’s important to have an idea
of how the prices of different packages varies around the metropolis. There is quite a large range
of available options to choose from, and all cemeteries, columbaria, and memorial parks cater to
different target markets, but comparing the market values across the board can provide a strong
basis for new developments pricing in the future.
At the high end of the spectrum, upscale facilities like The Sanctuarium that boast
amenities like that of a hotel to tend to the visitors, originally listing at a range of P45,000 to
P75,000 when it opened in 2006, now offers prices only by direct inquiry at a range of 80,000 to
150,000 pesos, with some reports of complete service packages reaching as high as 255,000 pesos.
These prices are still low in comparison to some big private memorial parks, which is why it is
worth noting that The Sanctuarium is a columbarium – the most affordable option of urban burial.
These prices cover basic ceremonies, documentation, cremation, the urn and the columbary vault.
For the families that go for a more extravagant facility, they usually build their own in the form of
a personalized private mausoleum for their loved one(s). Some of the most lavish and expensive
mausoleums in the country are within the metro in places like upscale Taguig, where many of the
mausoleums are the size of a house. The Heritage Park in Taguig sells lawn lots of just 1.2 square
meters for around P200,000, while garden and estate lots go for P2,000,000 and P18,000,000
respectively, with the multi-million-peso construction of the mausoleum as an additional expense.
The Heritage Park also has a columbarium which sells vaults for P157,000-P238,220 depending
on the location. All these numbers representing the base prices given, not yet including the
maintenance and administration fees that often pile on top of any premium real estate.
In the mid-range of prices, places like the previously mentioned Ascension Columbary offer
vaults near the middle of the metro for very competitive prices. The price range of the vaults
ranges from as low as 61,750php to as much as 125,000php, with reasonable instalment options
and lifetime ownership after payment is complete, and each vault can house up to 4 standard sized
urns. Cremation typically costs around P25,000 plus any costs of viewing beforehand and if the
urn is included or not. The estimated cost for a decent middle class burial is reported to be from
P50,000 to P100,000, with the biggest difference of the price often coming down to the quality of
the casket and headstone. At this price range, however, columbary vaults are the only option that
fits when it comes to urban burials in Metro Manila. As the cost of living continually rises, so
does the cost of burials, and these are not immune to inflation either, with annually reported price
hikes.

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Fortunately for the urban poor and families who can’t afford middle class burials, there are a
decent amount of cheaper options put in place specifically to allow the less fortunate to be able to
afford a decent burial for their departed loved ones. The Manila North Cemetery offers cremation
and columbary niches for free for qualified applicants, and those who don’t qualify for total
financial assistance can still avail of niches and tombs for unbeatable prices at P1,500-P2,500
depending on the headstone, or larger apartment tombs for caskets at P7,000-P8,000 which are
good for at least five years, after which the city informs the family and if they choose not to renew
the contract, the bones will be transferred to a communal ossuary type of mass grave. Other places
in the metro have tried to do similar programs, like the Garden of Life Park in Mandaluyong City,
a public cemetery offering full funerary services at low prices to cater to lower-income families.
In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos said the public
cemetery’s concept is a way to “give dignified burials for the poor.” The Garden of Life Park
charges P8,000 for cremation, with extra discounts for qualified applicants that allow for a P4,000
cremation for those buried for over 5 years, and P100 in monthly charges for storage of urns in
their columbarium. Around the country a typical basic package of a funeral parlor that includes
embalmment, casket, wake arrangements, permits and documentation, and hearse transfers, can be
as low as P15,000 not including a burial plot. Cremation, being not as common in other parts of
the country, would usually cost the same amount. Some memorial services have strategic
partnerships that allow them to offer complete funeral packages at their facility, plus an included
burial plot with tomb at a public cemetery elsewhere, usually located on the farther sides of the
city, such as the Norsam Memorial Chapel in Tandang Sora, Quezon City and their included
tombs at the Bagbag public cemetery in Novaliches, Quezon City.

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Figure 11 Typical Funerary Process
In Figure 11, where blue represents casket burial and yellow represents the cremation process, the
grey steps in between represent the lesser-known transactions that are not only absolutely
necessary but also often costly. Depending on the area and the prices of the funeral homes, even
the hearse fee charges at minimum 75 pesos per kilometer between house to funeral home and/or
to the cemetery itself. Caskets and urns vary greatly in price based on quality and design, but
these costs often come as a surprisingly high expense as prices are rarely publicly advertised.
Life insurance, death insurance, and similar financial plans have been around with new
kinds occasionally emerging that help to ready funds for the inevitable passing, and to start
families in the preparation process to ease some of the distress and debts of a sudden unexpected
death. Pre-planning and pre-payment has been around all over the world for some time, but in a

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survey of over a thousand people conducted by the American Association of Retired Persons
(AARP) for the Funeral and Burial Planners Survey, only 34% of the respondents reported to
have done any preplanning, and only 23% of the respondents had prepaid any part of funeral or
burial expenses for themselves and/or someone else. Apart from big insurance companies, the
most prominent and suggested early payment plan in Metro Manila is the St. Peter Life Plan,
which is said to be one of the most reasonable plan where funds would be a direct contribution to
assist in the funerary process.
Although the City of Manila has programs and facilities devoted to the poor and allocated
budget set aside to assist in cremation and burial for its impoverished citizens, the same cannot be
said about many other cities due to a number of factors that restrict their flexibility in constructing
similar structures and initiating similar assistance programs. One shed of hope, however, is to rely
on free handouts from politicians in the timeframe of upcoming elections, which many people
take advantage of. It is reported that thousands of people whose loved ones happened to pass
shortly before political campaign periods begin to commence reap the benefits of candidates
pouring funds in to help pay for funeral services, caskets, and even burial plots and headstones, in
an attempt to sway the bereaved into favouring them in the electoral stage. There are no statistics
that show if this campaign tactic has proven to be effective, but news outlets have reported this
occurrence all across the nation.
Prices for death tend to seem high compared to other consumer products and similarly
sized real estate, but the funerary business cannot thrive without charging high as every client and
every ‘purchase’ is almost always going to be a single purchase at a time over a span of several
years. Nonetheless, part of the stress in availing all these costly services is the large number of
different vendors many people have to go through to complete the full set, and the prices are
usually vague until seriously inquired about.
4.5 User Preferences
The local preferences for funerary concerns has changed greatly over the years, as prices
go up, vacant land goes down, modern times bring changing lifestyles, and the Catholic Church
clarified its stance on different burial options. Cremation was not easily accepted in the
Philippines, with cultural concerns about not having a body burial to pay respects to, and with the
Catholic Church objecting the practice in the past under the belief that the burning of the body
would hinder the departed soul from the Doctrine of Resurrection. The Catholic Church has since
lifted its ban on cremation, further emphasizing the clarification under the 1983 revised Canon
Law which states, “The Church earnestly recommends that the pious custom of burying the
bodies of the deceased be observed; nevertheless, the Church does not prohibit cremation unless it

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was chosen for reasons contrary to Christian doctrine.” As times have changed, more and more
people are opting for cremation and inurnment as opposed to traditional burials, but although the
growth in cremation is steady, casket burials are still very present and still generally dominate the
market.
In a 2012 report by The Philippine Star, Janvic Mateo interviewed some of the
management officers of leading funerary establishments within Metro Manila, including Lina
Fidelino, director of the Loyola Memorial Chapels and Crematorium, and Eugene Cheng, vice
president for operations of The Sanctuarium. In Fidelino’s experience, around 40% of Loyola
Memorial’s customers choose cremation over the traditional burial in cemeteries, primarily due to
the sky high prices of urban property. Eugene Cheng claims that around 60% of their customers
prefer cremation, which considering how The Sanctuarium is a columbarium intended only for
cremated remains, is an understandably high number. Cheng, however, continued by comparing it
to the 18% who preferred cremation when The Sanctuarium first started, a testament to how far
the local industry has come in terms of user preference for cremation.
Across all Metro Manila commemorative establishments, however, the presence and market
share of the three main kinds of burial options are still split three ways between casket tombs
(whether in a crypt or standalone lot), private mausoleums, and columbary vaults. Even in the
new structures for low-income families, the structures are equally occupied by apartment-type
crypt tombs and columbarium vaults. In terms of total space occupied per option, it is almost a
three-way tie. Columbaria obviously holds the most remains per area occupied, with crypt tombs
as second and private mausoleums as the most space-occupying option of the three. Likewise, the
prices reflect the same order with columbary options the most affordable, crypt tombs in second
and mausoleums as a far third for those who can afford.
The many factors that sway consumer preferences come from a wide variety of backgrounds
like available options in close proximity to residence, economic class or financial capabilities,
religious or cultural beliefs and superstitions, family roots or family burial areas, social status, and
even consideration of the number of visitors and amount of celebrations to be had at the burial site,
among others. While Metro Manila residents are more and more warming up to the idea of
cremation, this growth in user preference will likely peak at some point as the other burial options
aren’t going away any time soon. The strong cultural roots that have many Filipinos clinging to
traditional burials or mausoleum traditions is reinforced by Undas holiday celebrations that make
the other burial options indispensable to Philippine death culture. Even in memorial parks that
feature an area for each of the top three types, both the facility allocation and the customer interest
are usually even across the board.

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Since private mausoleums in the Philippines usually house above-ground tombs but can also
house columbary niches depending on the family’s desires, the preference between entombment
in a casket and inurnment with a niche or vault is generally even. With two reports of 40% and
60% preference in cremation, about half of Metro Manila urbanites still prefer casket burial, while
the other half have now leaned towards cremation and inurnment. International surveys show
similar trends as cremation had a steady rise in preference but slowed down and capped off in its
rise as it neared the 50% mark, especially in dense cities where space-saving options are favored.
Other small factors that have birthed newer burial options like eco-burials or natural burial pods
are influenced by the impression of negative environmental impacts of standard burials, but the
latest research shows that these so called eco-burials pollute the environment almost equally as
much and sometimes more than standard options.
4.6 Mortality Rates
In order to better forecast need and estimate the ideal capacities of newly planned burial
developments, many cities and companies use mortality rates as part of the basis. Statistical
mortality rates for the concerned location showing past, current, and projected population data can
serve as one of the many indicators that help determine what amount of burial facilities should be
present. The Death Statistical Tables and Mortality Statistics of the Philippine Statistics Authority
were consulted for this research. The Philippine Statistics Authority further cites the Civil
Registration Service - Vital Statistics Division as their supplementary source.
Based on 2013 Philippine mortality statistics, over 5 people die for every one-thousand
people per year, equivalent to 531,280 registered deaths, 57% of which were males and 43%
females. As seen in Figure 12, the higher amount of deaths occurs among elderly persons,
particularly those 70 years of age and above. This elder age group made up more than 38% of
total deaths with 202,564 in the year. Younger death occurrences are gradually more rare, and
consistently the statistics show that the chance of death is directly proportional to age, especially
from the age 10 and up.

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Figure 12 Philippines 2013 Mortality Rate by Age Group per 1,000 population (Source: PSA)
Figure 12.1 Philippines 2013 Mortality Percent Distribution by Region (Source: PSA)
Shown in Figure 12.1 is the amount of deaths per region by percent distribution, with an
unsurprisingly high percentage for the National Capital Region (NCR) or the Metro Manila area.
The high number of deaths in the region in comparison to other parts of the country is expected
due to the much higher population in the NCR, with around 13% of the national population
residing in Metro Manila which only takes up 0.2% of the national land area. Similarly, deaths in

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the region account for about 13.4% of the national total, only behind the unexpectedly high
Region IVA or Region 4-A which is the Calabarzon Region.
For dense urban regions or areas with multiple Highly Urbanized Cities (HUCs), Metro
Manila has the most number of deaths, and with its densely populated land mass the NCR is
definitely the highest death per area region in the country.
The data shown in Table 3 and Figure 12.2 show that the number of deaths has continued to
rise, naturally following the rise of the national population, with the 2016 data listing a total of
582,183 deaths, or an average of 1,591 deaths daily. Table 4 shows that out of the 582,183 deaths
in the Philippines in 2016, 76,839 were from the National Capital Region, 13.2% of the national
total.
Table 3 Number of Deaths and Percent Change: Philippines 2006-2016 (Source: PSA)
Table 4 Number and Percent Distribution by Region, Philippines 2016 (Source: PSA)

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Figure 12.2 Number and Percent Change of Deaths, Philippines: 2006-2016 (Source: PSA)
4.7 Discussion of Findings and Analysis
4.7.1 Real Estate
From the real estate data in Table 1, we can see that while much less emphasis is put on
burial developments as opposed to residential structures, it is still not only a very important aspect
of a community but also a viable real estate venture that, if pursued and handled with a holistic
approach, can be both a meaningful and profitable business. Despite comprising a smaller market
share in real estate compared to spaces for the living, this lopsided deficit could pose a ripe
opportunity for a new venture to help narrow the gap by pursuing what is needed when it is
needed. Addressing the difference and providing new space for the departed within Metro Manila
could take an advantage of an almost untapped necessity.
4.7.2 Case Studies
The available burial facilities within Metro Manila have become accepted as the local
industry standards, and the newer developments are a reflection of these models of typical
cemeteries, columbaria, or memorial parks. Although the existing facilities are serving their
purpose, the current state of urban burials in Metro Manila is not enough, both figuratively and
literally. The amount of available burial plots is insufficient in comparison to the population,
mortality rates, and projected burial needs for years to come, and the existing developments are

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not sustainable. The horizontal developments within the metro are inefficient uses of space that
either result in sky high prices exclusive to the wealthy, or sprawling compositions of
overcrowded tombs that fill up fast and quickly become out of control. Meanwhile, the vertical
developments in Metro Manila, while few, are limited in the available types of burials offered, but
the same goes for vertical burial developments around the world as well. The memorial parks that
have open landscapes and offer multiple kinds of burial options are quite far from the main city
areas, to the point that they become limited to those who live nearby or those who can drive or
travel the distance. The international cases do a better job at addressing the projected need of
burial capacity, as well as with creating an environment that remains peaceful and surrounded by
nature even when vertical.
4.7.3 Undas 2018
The All Saints’ Day experience at the Manila North Cemetery is evidence of the
significance of the observance of Undas in Philippine culture. With over a million visitors in one
day, the importance of sufficient and sustainable urban burial solutions for Metro Manila was
crystal clear. The urban sprawl of the cities will continue to choke up the vacant land, and in order
to provide a worthy venue of the scenes seen at the cemetery on November 1, innovation is a must.
The burial types, and the spaces in between that are annually inhabited by crowds of people, are
important pieces of Philippine culture that should be preserved to some extent, especially as the
region progresses toward a more competitively sustainable and efficient urban environment.
While burial developments are often overlooked when considering urban development plans and
necessary features in districts, Undas is proof of their need to be addressed.
4.7.4 Market Prices
Burial plots are unique pieces of real estate, and in the urban setting real estate prices are
almost always on a steady rise, gradually increasing based on macroeconomic trends. Property
values can further rise or fall based on their surrounding site context such as condition of the
location, nearby establishments, available utilities, and proximity to significant places. The prices
to house the dead, even for such small spaces, often seem high to first-time inquirers but
considering the price of living in cities, it should come as no surprise. Furthermore, cemeteries
typically drive surrounding property values down in the modern society, which causes a
systematic dilemma of either locating cemeteries on the periphery of cities to make it easier on the
developer and to maintain low prices or to design a cemetery development lavish enough to not
decrease property values in the area but forcing the price of burials to be equally lavish in price. If,
however a structure in the city maximized the land to its full potential in terms of floor area ratio
or verticality, and incorporated a versatile set of options for burials that included affordable
options, extravagant options, and the mid-range in between, then it could overcome the challenges

A Proposed Vertical Memorial Park - The Urban Memorial Park Reinvented

A Proposed Vertical Memorial Park - The Urban Memorial Park Reinvented

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