Frequently Asked Questions

Pre-planning a funeral offers several significant benefits:

• Ensures your specific wishes are known and honored
• Relieves your loved ones from making difficult decisions during a time of grief
• Provides opportunity to make thoughtful, informed choices without time pressure
• Allows you to handle financial arrangements in advance, potentially saving money
• Creates peace of mind for you and your family

We offer lifeplan installment plans for those who wish to plan ahead. Some clients prefer our services over other lifeplan companies because our packages are complete and customizable, with negotiable prices. We work with you to ensure everything you desire for your funeral service is included in your plan.

We understand that losing a loved one is difficult enough without financial worries. Our approach includes:

• Accepting what the family can pay when they truly have no means
• Offering interest-free installment plans with flexible terms
• Never stopping a service once it has begun, regardless of payment status

While we must maintain our business, we prioritize compassion and community relationships above all. We've been known to donate services or caskets in extreme hardship cases.

When a death occurs, the first step is to notify the appropriate authorities:

• If the death occurs at home, call emergency services (911) or the person's doctor.
• If the death occurs at a hospital or care facility, staff will guide you through the initial procedures.
• Once the death has been officially pronounced, contact us at GrievEase at our 24/7 number for immediate assistance.

Our compassionate staff will guide you through the next steps, including transportation of your loved one to our facility and beginning the arrangement process.

Important: In cases of accident or disease-related deaths, there may be additional processes involving SOCO (Scene of the Crime Operatives) that need to be followed before the burial can proceed.

Planning a meaningful funeral service involves several considerations:

• Reflect on your loved one's personality, interests, and wishes
• Consider religious or cultural traditions that were important to them
• Select meaningful music, readings, or other elements that celebrate their life
• Decide on personalization options like photo displays, memory tables, or tribute videos

At VJay Relova Funeral Services, we believe that the personal connection between our staff and your family is essential. Our owner will personally talk with you to understand your specific needs and requests. We'll guide you through each step, helping you create a service that truly honors your loved one's life and legacy.

The main differences between burial and cremation involve:

• Process: Burial preserves the body in a casket placed in the ground or a mausoleum, while cremation reduces the body to cremated remains through heat.
• Timeline: Burials typically occur within a week of death, while cremation offers more flexibility for memorial service timing.
• Memorialization: Burial provides a permanent gravesite to visit, while cremated remains can be kept in an urn, scattered, or placed in a columbarium.

For cremation services, we partner with third-party crematoriums. The advantage of arranging cremation through us is that we can help prioritize your scheduling needs. We can arrange for cremation on a specific day of your choosing, even if there are others scheduled for cremation on the same day.

When making funeral arrangements, you'll need the following information about the deceased:

• Full legal name and home address
• Date of birth
• Relative

You will also need to provide a death certificate. In cases involving accidents or disease-related deaths, additional documentation may be required. Our staff will help you with the legal requirements and necessary paperwork.

Our funeral packages are comprehensive and include:

• Casket: Options range from standard to premium imported models
• Flowers: For basic packages, flowers last until the end of the service. For premium packages (₱100,000+), we change flowers twice during the wake
• Viewing area: Complete setup with curtains, lights, and necessary equipment
• Amenities: Water dispenser, tent, chairs, and tables
• Transportation: Hearse and other necessary vehicles
• Professional services: Licensed embalmer and staff assistance

We can accommodate extended wakes, even up to 2 weeks. The only additional services required for extended wakes would be fresh flowers and possible re-embalming if necessary. We can handle up to 12 services simultaneously with our own equipment, and can arrange for additional equipment if needed.

Yes, we have extensive experience accommodating diverse religious and cultural funeral traditions. Our staff is trained to respect and facilitate various customs including:

• Christian, Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox services
• Muslim/Islamic traditions
• Other cultural and religious ceremonies

We understand the importance of honoring your loved one's beliefs and traditions. Our facilities are designed to be adaptable to different ceremonial needs, and our staff approaches each tradition with respect and careful attention to detail.

Our embalming process is carried out with the utmost respect and professionalism:

1. The deceased is brought to our facility after all legal requirements are met
2. Our licensed embalmers carefully clean the body
3. Formalin is professionally injected in a process that takes 2-3 hours
4. After completion, the body is placed in the chosen casket
5. The casket is then transported to the viewing location where our team has already prepared the viewing area

Our embalming team consists of a Chief Embalmer who oversees the process and Assistant Embalmers who help with the procedure. All of our embalmers are professionally trained and licensed to ensure the highest quality of care for your loved one.

Yes, we can accommodate extended wakes:

• Wakes can be extended up to 2 weeks if needed
• For premium packages (₱100,000+), we provide fresh flower replacements during extended wakes
• Additional embalming (re-injection of formalin) may be required for longer viewings
• Chapel rental extension fees apply (₱6,000 per day)

We understand that families sometimes need more time for relatives to arrive or to complete arrangements. Our staff will work with you to ensure your loved one is properly cared for throughout the extended viewing period.

We have contingency plans for high-demand periods:

• Our standard capacity is 12 simultaneous services
• During peak times, we rent additional equipment as needed
• We've successfully handled days with 6-7 new services starting
• There is no absolute limit to the number of families we can serve

While we maintain our own inventory of caskets and equipment, we have established relationships with nearby funeral homes to ensure we can meet all community needs, even during unusually busy periods.

These cases require special procedures:

• We coordinate with SOCO (Scene of the Crime Operatives) when needed
• We wait for official death certificates and clearance before beginning services
• The burial may be delayed while investigations or special processes are completed
• Our staff is trained to handle these sensitive situations with extra care

While these cases are more complicated, we guide families through every step of the process, ensuring all legal requirements are met while providing compassionate care.

Yes, we offer à la carte services in certain situations:

• Chapel rental only (₱6,000 per day)
• Casket sales or rentals (especially for cremation cases)
• Transportation services
• Embalming services
• Viewing equipment (tents, chairs, etc.)

This is common when families are transferring a loved one from another location or when they've arranged some elements themselves but need specific services from us. We're happy to accommodate partial service requests.

We welcome and accommodate special requests:

• Families can make requests directly to the owner during arrangements
• We can connect families with suppliers for out-of-package items
• Religious and cultural customs are respectfully accommodated
• Personalized elements can be added to services

Because the owner handles all client interactions personally, we can be more flexible than larger funeral homes in accommodating unique requests. If we can't provide something directly, we'll help you find someone who can.

Our services are available 24/7 because:

• Death can occur at any time, day or night
• Our staff is always on call for emergencies
• Administrative offices have standard hours, but our service never stops

While walk-in arrangements are preferred during daytime hours, we're available whenever you need us. Our commitment is to be there for families whenever death occurs.

We currently operate in several locations:

• Main Branch: Pila, Laguna
• Other Branches: Paete, Laguna

Our business began in 1980 as St. Anthony Funeral Services, became Relova Funeral Services, and has operated as VJay Relova Funeral Services since 2016. We've been serving these communities with compassion and professionalism for decades.

Our unique advantages include:

• Personal service directly from the owner for all arrangements
• Complete packages with no hidden fees (unlike some competitors who charge extra for requests)
• Flexible, negotiable pricing rather than fixed rates
• Ability to customize services to each family's specific needs
• Longstanding community relationships since 1980
• Compassionate approach to families in difficult situations

We build genuine connections with families, which is why many choose us over larger corporate funeral providers.

Our funeral packages range from ₱35,000 for a complete basic package to ₱500,000 for premium services. We've provided services up to ₱800,000-1,000,000 for clients with specific requirements.

A typical funeral package may include:

• Casket (various options available, including imported brass caskets)
• Flowers (replaced twice for premium packages)
• Chapel rental with curtains and lighting
• Embalming services with licensed professionals
• Hearse and transportation
• Viewing equipment (water dispenser, tent, chairs, tables)

At VJay Relova Funeral Services, we're committed to transparency in pricing. Our packages are customizable, and prices are negotiable based on your needs. We offer automatic 20% discounts for PWDs and senior citizens, and we can discuss other discount options based on your situation.

For services over ₱100,000, we require a 30% down payment. For services under ₱100,000, payment is typically made before or on the day of burial.

We offer flexible payment options to accommodate your needs:

• For services over ₱100,000, we require a 30% down payment
• We offer interest-free installment plans for those who need additional time to pay
• Early payment discounts may be available in some cases

We understand that this is a difficult time, and we're committed to working with you to find a payment solution that meets your needs. Please speak with our owner directly about your specific situation, as we can often customize payment terms.

Yes, we offer several discount options:

• Automatic 20% discount for PWDs and senior citizens
• Situational discounts based on family circumstances and negotiations
• Early payment discounts may be available
• Special considerations for families facing financial hardship

We understand that each family's situation is unique, and we're committed to working with you to find a solution that respects your needs while maintaining the quality of our services.

Yes, we offer lifeplan installment plans. Many clients prefer our services over other providers because:

• Our packages are complete and customizable
• Prices are negotiable (unlike fixed-price plans from larger companies)
• We work with you to tailor a plan that meets your specific needs and budget

You can start planning and paying for funeral services in advance, ensuring your wishes are honored while easing the financial burden on your family.

We prioritize compassion and community relationships in these situations:

• We offer interest-free installment plans with flexible terms
• May accept partial payments in cases of extreme hardship
• Never stop a service once it has begun, regardless of payment status
• In rare cases, may donate services or caskets

Our priority is serving families during difficult times while maintaining the sustainability of our business.

These sensitive cases require special procedures:

• Coordinate with SOCO (Scene of the Crime Operatives) when required
• Wait for official documentation before proceeding with services
• May involve delays for investigations or special processes
• Our staff provides extra care and guidance throughout

While more complicated, we ensure all legal requirements are met while treating the deceased and family with dignity.

Yes, we offer à la carte services including:

• Chapel rental (₱6,000 per day)
• Casket sales or rentals (especially for cremation)
• Transportation services
• Embalming services
• Viewing equipment (tents, chairs, etc.)

This is ideal for families who need specific services or are transferring a loved one from another location.

Our cremation services include:

• Coordination with third-party crematoriums
• Priority scheduling for your preferred date
• Optional wake services before cremation
• Single payment convenience for combined services

While we don't operate the crematorium, we handle all arrangements and can prioritize your schedule even if others are booked for the same day.

Our service ranges include:

• Basic package: ₱35,000 (complete service)
• Premium packages: Up to ₱500,000
• Deluxe imported caskets: ₱350,000+
• Most expensive service provided: ₱1 million

Prices are negotiable and we offer automatic 20% discounts for PWDs and senior citizens.

Our approach to unpaid balances:

• Maintain detailed records of outstanding payments
• Offer flexible repayment plans (sometimes spanning years)
• Work with families waiting for insurance/benefits claims
• Prioritize service over immediate payment collection

While unpaid balances are common in our industry, we believe maintaining community relationships is most important.