Manila Memorial Park Sucat opens A-list funeral venue
Being an A-list member of society has its perks, not just in life, but also in death.
This is seemingly the symbolism behind the new Rizal Premier Chapel at the Manila Memorial Park in Sucat, Parañaque.
Located near the entrance of the park, beside the Crematorium, the Rizal Premier Chapel is set a few meters apart from Paz-Sucat’s Main Chapel Building. From this distance and the chapel’s post-modern architecture, one can already see that it isn’t for the park’s usual clients.
“This is a joint project of Manila Memorial Park and Paz-Sucat, which was started in December last year and completed in August. Our aim is to provide an exclusive and private funeral venue for our highprofile clients who want to be separated from those occupying Paz-Sucat’s main chapel building,” says Manila Memorial Park sales and marketing manager Ramon Yadao.
Decorative stone and aluminum composite panels predominantly deck the building’s façade. The chapel itself has an angled look, with large angled windows made of clear glass that allow natural light to illuminate the interior. At night, these windows illuminate the building like a covered lamp in the dark.
The chapel hall bathes in white day in and out. The angled white ceiling, with its array of translucent white lamps and a series of metal lanterns that dangle from the top using metal wires, evoke a sparkling, night sky adorned with shooting stars. In the center of the wall behind the altar, is a polygonal alcove decorated with a manmade waterfall and greenery.
Even the wrought-iron chairs and sofas wear a vibrant white with a touch of silver. Only the red carpets give contrast to the monochromatic venue. Nonetheless, the venue exudes a calm and tranquil vibe that departed loved ones deserve. Its bare whiteness forces those visiting to respect the bereaved family’s need for solemnity and privacy.
To the left of the chapel is an open-air lawn with manicured plants, mahogany trees and a cobblestone walkway where guests can step into to get some fresh air, converse in a more moderate tone of voice or even smoke.
Clear glass doors on the right separate the chapel from the reception area, which is noticeably dimmer but nonetheless elegantly furnished as the adjoining room. It has its own kitchen equipped with a sink, refrigerator, even tables—one can immediately tell it’s designed with the catering crew or family potluck in mind.
As a receiving area, it has its own entrance separate from the chapel so that funeral guests will not intrude the solemnity of the chapel hall. At the back of the reception area there are male and female toilets and an additional toilet for the differently abled. There’s also wheel chair ramp leading to the reception area and chapel.
The receiving area connects to the family room, where the bereaved family can rest and sleep as they spend their “waking days” watching over the deceased and observing the usual rituals for the dead. It is equipped with all the comforts of a five-star hotel suite — a living room complete with cable TV and electric massage chair; a dining area equipped with a fridge, microwave oven and an automatic espresso/coffee maker; and a bedroom with a queen size bed and its own lavish bathroom, premium toiletries included.
Not a cent was spared in the luxurious funeral venue, with top-notch brands used for the furnishings, fixtures and appliances. It also comes with nifty tech features, such as internet connectivity via WiFi , CCTV cameras, a sound system with premium speakers that bring out music and voice with clarity and definition, perfect for eulogies and other ceremonies. Two large LED TV screens can play slideshows of the departed’s life via a mobile phone application. And a computerized guest book where people who pay their respects can log their names in the chapel’s registry. Names on the guest book will automatically receive thank you cards provided for the family after the wake.
“With the Rizal Premier Chapel, they’ll get to enjoy the convenience of having everything under one roof, including funeral arrangements, catering, parking, security, and private quarters for the bereaved family. Before, in our main chapel building, some of our high-profile clients would have to rent another chapel aside from the one they’ve already rented for the deceased just to accommodate the catering company. In this new chapel, there is now a separate catering area where they can serve food and refreshments to funeral guests,”
Paz-Sucat GM Rica Dela Cruz explains.
Manila Memorial Park Sucat is offering the Rizal Premier Chapel to high-profile clients who may be interested in its unique and exclusive features, whether or not the burial is held at the park. The package comes complete with a casket or urn, flowers and other funeral arrangements. The Rizal Premier management is open to any specific requests the bereaved family may have regarding their funeral arrangements.
“Ever since we opened Manila Memorial Park in the early ‘60s, our objective has always been providing our clients worryfree service and a well-maintained park, where every need of the bereaved family is taken cared of and the deceased is accorded the rightful respect as it transits to the afterlife,” says Manila Memorial Park CFO Raymund Navarro.
Visit www.manilamemorial.com or contact 825-9949 to learn more about Manila Memorial Park and Paz-Sucat’s Rizal Premier Chapel. visiting.