Demand for lapida steps up in October

CEBU, Philippines - While vendors of flowers and candles enjoy upbeat sales a few days before the observance of the All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day, tombstone or lapida makers, on the other hand, started reaping good profit a month prior to the day of the dead.

Hammer and chisel are the tools they use in engraving gravestones. They are called the tombstone or lapida makers who are usually seen inside or outside the cemetery where they carve the names of the dearly departed.

What they do for a living, basically, is they carve the names of the dead people, their date of birth and death and the epitaph.

They are skilled micro-entrepreneurs who are considered as noble craftsmen because of their unique ability in stone carving.

For tombstone engravers, the month of October is upbeat for the business because they get many orders from various customers who want to beautify the graves of their departed loved ones as the All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day approach.

Lapida business

Joshua Baguio, 26, learned about lapida making from some old and experienced engravers 12 years ago in one of the centers of lapida trading in Cebu.

He worked with his father in a space just outside the Calamba Cemetery, one of the oldest and biggest public Catholic cemeteries in Cebu City. Several lapida makers occupy the entrance area of the graveyard.

Lapida making has been the source of income of the Baguio family for more than 20 years already. The 26-year-old man thought then that engraving could also become his personal means of livelihood.

And so he built his own store which he considered as a small business of his own family.

"Nakatukod ko og akong shop dihang nagkagusto na gyod ko sa paghimo og lapida ug sa tabang pud sa akong papa," the man told The Freeman while he was carving a tombstone of a departed love one of one of his customers.

His job is not easy and glamorous. Patience and love for the craft of stone carving, he said, are needed to succeed in this business.

Baguio only finished high school and decided not to pursue college education, saying he found good earning opportunities in the headstone engraving business.

In fact, the small enterprise has helped him finance the daily needs of his family and support the other members of his family. "Mas naganahan na lang ko motrabaho. Total paninguha ra man gyod ang importante para mabuhi," he stated.

There are no less than 10 headstone engravers in the said public cemetery. Carreta and Mandaue cemeteries are two other burial places known for having many lapida producers.

The lapida making enterprise is unpredictable in terms of income output. Some periods in the year experience low sales due to small number of orders.

However, engravers claimed they could earn not less than P1,000 on the average every week especially during the lean months.

Carlito, Joshua's father, revealed that in a week, they could receive no less than five orders for engraved tombstones from people not only in the city but also in the north and south provinces of Cebu.

If orders are many, Carlito can finish at least three tombstones a day and 10 a week -- on the average. The pace of the production depends on the number of orders he gets.

The cheap tombstones are made of marble (locally known as marmol) and are priced between P500 to P1,000 depending on the design and the number of letters to be engraved on the slate.

Engravers also cut stainless steel plates and bronze which are more expensive and form them into letters which are then placed on the gravestone. According to them, prices of materials have been rising so they also increase the cost of their products.

Black granite-made tombstones are relatively more expensive which could cost between P3,000 to P5,000 each.

Gina Bacalso, 36, from San Fernando town intentionally came to the city to have new tombstones made for her dead relatives. "Moanhi gyod mi sa siyudad kay paspas kaayo ang manghimo dinhi ug willing gyod sila motrabaho sa orders," she said.

The older Baguio said he had practiced calligraphy writing to offer better designs to his customers and to also become an expert in the craft.

While they may be only remembered when November 1 and 2 approach, lapida entrepreneurs asserted that it is actually a year-round livelihood. (FREEMAN)