The Sanctuarium: Newest landmark rises in Quezon City

A new building concept, which will keep the memories of our dear departed alive in our hearts will soon rise on a 2,426 sq.m. lot on Araneta Ave., cor. Agno St, Quezon City, that will serve as the best alternative to today’s crowded cemeteries and expensive memorial parks – The Sanctuarium.

The only facility of its kind in the country, the fully landscaped Sanctuarium is envisioned to be a majestic and imposing Gothic-inspired architectural structure – a 12-storey building with all amenities comparable with that of a 5-star hotel, yet it will have the distinction of being the country’s first fully integrated memorial home cum columbary, the most technologically advanced and the more luxurious of its kind in the country and possibly the best in Asia. Note that in most of advanced Asian neighbors, this concept has long been introduced and has firmly gained popularity and acceptance.

Features

Ever sensitive to every individual’s needs, one will find comfort, solace and safety in The Sanctuarium. Care is exercised to extremes to ensure an ambience of hushed reverence and respect at all times. Its main lobby features a sparkling fountain and an eternal flame symbolizing the balance of life. It has concierge services manned by professional staff supported by computerized database. It will have a café and a flower shop. Guests can park conveniently in any of the four underground levels with easy access to the lobby.

The Sanctuarium as 29 fully-airconditioned ecumenical vigil chapels located form the first to the third floors available to religious denominations including a Buddhist temple. These rooms can accommodate a dozen to a hundred people depending on the family’s individual requirements. Family rooms are also provided with audio-visual room and library to serve as VCD archive where they can view videos of their departed loved one’s in complete privacy.

The fifth to the twelfth floors will house the perpetual ash vaults, methodically and systematically arranged where lighting and temperature are computer-controlled and are easily accessed by two high-speed elevators and escalators. The roof deck will be a tranquil Zen – inspired garden and a grand universal chapel with a scenic view of the open skies.

Work in progress

The management of the Sanctuarium has acquired all the government licenses, local environment permits needed, barangay clearance and conducted a public hearing before the groundbreaking and the preselling started assuring the public that it has complied with various laws and regulations.

In October 2002, Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. led the groundbreaking ceremonies with Housing and Urban Development Secretary Michael Defensor as guest of honor. Then on Oct. 17, also last year, The Sanctuarium unveiled to the public in a grand launch at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel and the permit to presell was handed down on Oct. 20 by the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board.

Project team

The Sanctuarium is being developed by the Everliving Co. on, headed by Benjamin Dychangco, president of the Philippine Mortuary Association also as president and general manager as well as Romulo F. Alajor, former Ayala executive, as COO with First Alliance Property Ventures as co-partner. Construction is being handled by Architect Adrian Chua of ACA project Management Resources as project manager. Other consultants are Architect N. Sy and Associates for the structural design; E.D.L. Espinosa Jr. and Associates for the electrical design; Integral Tech. For sanitation/plumbing and fire protection designs; Memar Enterprises for the mechanical design and Edna Turay and Associates for the interiors. Design consultant is Edward Tan and the general contractor is goodfound Engineering and Construction Corp. The project’s construction should reach ground level by July this year and the entire 12-storey shell by December 2003. Completion is expected in December 2004.

A wise financial investment

The Sanctuarium also offers a money-back program, which guarantees the return of the contact price of the columbarium vault 25 years full payment of the contract price, through the purchase of an Ayala Plans Pension Plan at no cost to the buyer. Part of Sanctuarium’s great memorial package is, if a vault buyer dies prior to full payment of the contract price, he/she is deemed to have fully paid the price (subject to the insurability of clause of Ayala Life Assurance Inc. he/she can also avail of the use of funeral chapel for a three-day wake, embalming good for three days, use of casket, transfer of the body in a funeral car service within a 25-km radius from the Sanctuarium, free cremation service and free standard urn, no other service plan can give.