MMP to open biggest memorial park in Mindanao before year end

Manila Memorial Park (MMP), pioneer of the memorial park concept in the country, is set to open before year end what is billed as the biggest memorial park in Mindanao.

Resting on a hilly terrain covering an area of 84 hectares, the Manila Memorial Park Davao is located in Barrio Magtuod in Maa, about two kilometers from the Philippine-Japan Friendship Highway and some five to six kilometers from the National Highway that leads to Matina in Davao City, otherwise known as the City of Blooms.

MMP senior vice president Dennis G. Lopez said initially they will develop 10 to 15 hectares, selecting the lush, verdant portions of the 84 hectares.

As in all MMP projects, Lopez said MMP Davao will work with the natural contours of the area and will definitely be nature and environment friendly. It boasts of a scenic view of the Davao Gulf and two beautiful real estate developments at the foot of the hill.

Lopez believes this is an opportune time to start development in the region because of the Arroyo government’s thrust to develop Mindanao.

The MMP official is bullish about the project because as early as now, Mindanaoans and even people in Metro Manila, who are aware of the project, have expressed interest in acquiring lots in MMP Davao.

Lopez said the company views this investment as a long-term commitment. "I don’t know if the present population is enough to sustain the size of the park, but we’re looking at things on a much-longer scale. We’re not looking at one generation, but possibly, two or three generations." MMP has been in the memorial park business for 37 years now, having pioneered the concept when it opened the country’s first memorial park in Sucat, Parañaque in 1964.

Today, it has five memorial parks all over the country. Apart from Parañaque, there is Holy Cross Memorial Park in Novaliches, Quezon City, MMP in Dasmariñas, Cavite, MMP in Plaridel, Bulacan and MMP in Liloan, Cebu.

Manila Memorial Park also pioneered in the modern cremation business. MMP opened the first modern crematory in the country in 1985 when the Catholic Church expressed its stand on cremation. Its two crematory chambers in MMP Parañaque are state-of-the-art, efficient, clean and fast.

To complement these cremation services, MMP has initiated the development of modern columbariums, the repositories of cremated remains. Called the Sanctuary of Peace, these niches offer a unique feature — etched glass doors that allow visitors to view the urns inside.

With pride, Lopez says Manila Memorial Park has set the standard for memorial park development and maintenance in the country today. Sadly, the notes that other parks have come and gone, and some promises have been made and broken. Lopez, however, assures us that MMP will continue with its unwavering mission — to provide high quality memorial products and services for total customer satisfaction.