Valuable Even At Death

I watched the documentary show “Kontrobersyal” on ABS-CBN last night. Two of their topics is about corpses.

The first topic is about burglars. They’re not burglars of houses, but of tombs! They steal body parts from corpses and use them to make a living. That’s pretty blasphemous, but for them it’s okay. They steal teeth, socks, and steel coverings of the coffins. Then, they sell it to students, dentists, merchants, and junk shops. If no one buys, they keep it. Some burglars are so rude. They just leave the corpses somewhere after taking them from the grave and benefiting from their parts. Even at death, our body may still become valuable and useful, but sometimes just for the selfish desires of people.

The second topic is a good one. It’s about how mausoleums are built with elegance. They are filled with amenities for the family. When I saw them, am I surprised! There is a mausoleum in a cemetery in Pampanga that looks like a two-story mansion. It has an entrance hall with pillars and glass windows. It’s complete with living room, dining room, kitchen, comfort rooms, entertainment room, recreation room, and a wide balcony. Even the chandelier in the middle of the ceiling costs almost a hundred thousand. The bedrooms? They are where the departed lie. The tombs are neatly covered by blankets and pillows to make them look like real beds. The other beds are reserved for the other members of the family who are still alive. There are also numerous vaults to accommodate all of their loved ones. Anyone who enters the mausoleum won’t feel any fear, but instead enjoy the coziness of a home. No wonder these structures amount to millions, even more expensive than ordinary houses. Of course, a caretaker and a security guard were hired to prevent the mausoleum from negative physical elements.

Sometimes, I go jogging on the cemetery nearby—the Manila Memorial Park. Memorial parks are perfect places to find fresh air and peaceful environment. When I see grave keepers, I wonder if they get fed up with their jobs or discover something extraordinarily nice about it. As I jog further, I see the elegant mausoleums. I even climb the rooftops of cute ones for a nice viewing of the place. As for the owners, these are priceless. This is a way to show their incomparable love for their family even at death.