ILOILO City – It’s also a hurdle for tombstone (lapida)-making businesses to survive the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Demand for lapida waned since the onset of the pandemic last year, according to 26-year-old engraver JR Edhan of Barangay Lanit, Jaro district.
“Kay iban nag-urn kay gina-cremate na ang patay,” Edhan, a lapida engraver for 14 years now, told Panay News.
“Mas damu ang income before pandemic kay damu gapaobra, subong ‘ya laka,” said Edhan, who was chanced upon by Panay News at work on E. Lopez Street, Jaro.
Nevertheless, Edhan said he was thankful he has still a job and can provide food to his wife and two kids.
According to RC of RC Marble Works (where Edhan works), even this “Fiesta Minatay”, the demand has not improved.
Prior to the pandemic, they worked on three to five tombstones each day; now they barely have two in a day, and at times none at all.
But RC said they remain optimistic. Grieving families still seek out engravers to work on the urns of their cremated loved ones.
“Bisan paano may nagapaobra, bisan paano masudlan tiyan ta,” RC said. “Importante tuloy ang negosyo.”
Cremation service for the dead has been in demand amid the pandemic.
Under the Department of Health’s protocols on the handling of cadavers, the dead must be buried or cremated within 12 hours. /PN
