There are few topics that Filipinos view with more discomfort and discomfort than the process of death and dying. End-of-life concerns are often expressed in a culture that seems to be more involved in practices that celebrate health and longevity.
With this in mind, Forest Lake, a prominent name in memorial park services, suggests that one of the best ways to discuss the inevitability of death is through humor. In a recent digital ad called “Paliwanag,” Forest Lake deals with the concept of death in a culturally relevant context.
“Paliwanag” is a clever, modern take on an old Pinoy phrase Police who can call the offenders who deny “explanations of sa presinto.” In the ad, a man arrested by the police for a crime is told the exact same line as the one brought to the police station. However, the man takes “the explanation of” literally and it starts to ‘light up,’ surprising everyone present precinto.
The play on words is an unexpected twist, showing that, like death, we never really know what lies ahead. The video humorously addresses the fact that death is something that can catch us off guard, but emphasizes how being prepared can lessen the burden placed on loved ones when the time comes. Similarly, when faced with death, many of us end up like the suspect in the video, not knowing how to express ourselves and express our feelings. These two main messages reflect the main lesson of the video: that yes, death is inevitable, but it doesn’t have to be a burden. With the right preparation, such as using the resources Forest Lake provides, the difficulties ahead can be manageable and less confusing for the families left behind.
For Alfred Xerez-Burgos III, President and CEO of Forest Lake Development, Inc., the video sends a message about how we should treat the concept of death. For Mr. Xerex-Burgos, it is indeed something worth discussing, and because of its unpredictability, something to be prepared for.
“Death is something we all face, but it shouldn’t be something we all fear,” said Mr. Xerez-Burgos. “At Forest Lake, we help families prepare so they can focus on what’s really important—celebrating life and making memories. Through wit and humor, we hope to remind Filipinos that facing the problem of death is not a heavy burden; it is an act of caring for our loved ones. So, ‘Paliwanag‘ video strives to shed light on how important preparation is.”
Forest Lake also hopes that the conversations generated by the ad will inspire Filipinos to start taking memorial services seriously no matter how early. For those who enjoy peace of mind, Forest Lake offers a range of services to help make end-of-life planning stress-free and ensure the transition of the deceased into the afterlife. Among these are Forest Lake’s ‘Libing Any’ option, which offers the flexibility of using memorial sites at any Forest Lake park across the country, and ‘Free Burol,’ which provides free and incarcerated funeral services.
With its innovative, personal, and customer-focused approach, Forest Lake seeks to continue to make memorial care easy and stress-free for its customers, who will never be caught off guard when the time comes.
For more information, interested customers can view Forest Lake’s official Facebook page at fb.com/forestlakememorialparksand Instagram @forestlakememorialparks. Check out the viral video at Facebook, Instagramagain Tiktok.
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