Forest Lake Memorial Parks has released the fourth installment in its Halloween-themed video series, with a new video titled Pagpag highlighting a long-held Filipino custom surrounding funeral rites.
The series, Di Mo Inexpect No, explores various Filipino beliefs around death in a light-hearted way. This latest release comes just in time for Halloween, adding a cultural and informative perspective to the holiday.
In Filipino tradition, pagpag is the practice of not going directly home from a funeral wake to prevent the spirit of the departed from following mourners. Forest Lake’s video employs a humorous approach to this practice while delivering a broader message on the inevitability of death and the importance of planning for it.
“Old customs like pagpag illustrate Filipinos’ desire to shield themselves from the unknown,” said Forest Lake CEO & President Alfred Xerez-Burgos III. “Forest Lake believes that true peace of mind comes from accepting death as part of life and preparing for it in meaningful ways.”
The Pagpag video joins the lineup of previous installments in the Di Mo Inexpect No campaign, which delves into life-and-death customs and superstitions unique to Filipino culture. Previous videos include Paliwanag, which addresses life’s unpredictability; Itim na Pusa, focused on bad luck superstitions; and Talon, a light-hearted look at the belief that jumping on New Year’s Eve can increase height.
Forest Lake’s campaign aims to encourage Filipinos to view death with greater acceptance and preparedness. The company emphasizes that planning for end-of-life events can ease the financial and emotional burdens associated with loss, helping families navigate difficult times. The company’s offerings reflect this emphasis, featuring services that support families in making such preparations.
Juan Carlos Xerez-Burgos, Director for Business Development & Digital, noted the campaign’s goal of encouraging preparedness, saying, “We hope this campaign helps Filipinos face death with a lighter heart, knowing that planning can provide comfort to their loved ones. Forest Lake supports families in every step of the way.”
Forest Lake Memorial Parks offers a suite of memorial services designed to provide comprehensive support and convenience to Filipino families. Key services include “Libing Anywhere,” which allows flexibility in interment locations; “Libre Burol,” a complimentary funeral service for clients availing interment services; “QRonicle,” a digital storytelling platform for preserving and sharing memories of loved ones; and online Customer Portal for easy purchase of services.
With over 27 years in the industry, Forest Lake operates over 37 parks nationwide and has positioned itself as a leading provider of memorial services in the Philippines. The company aims to expand its offerings further, including chapels, columbariums, and cremation services. Forest Lake’s mission is to create spaces where families can remember their loved ones and make new memories together.
For more details, Forest Lake Memorial Parks can be reached via social media on Facebook and Instagram at @forestlakememorialparks, where the campaign videos are also accessible.
