The Lapida (Tombstone) Makers at Carreta Cemetery, Cebu

A few steps from the Bio-integrative Center is the Carreta Cemetery. A very good reminder of where we can end up if we don't take control of our own health. Ok, we will heed the warning.

I have featured micro-entrepreneurs in this blog. There are many kinds of entrepreneurs. Today, I will feature the skilled micro-entrepreneur: the Lapida or Tombstone Maker. What do they do? They carve the names of the dearly departed, their date of birth and death and a few kind words that the living would like to say to the departed to be set in stone- in this case, in their tombstone. Basically, they are like stone carvers, but they also cut stainless steel plates and bronze.

The most common words they carve  are:
Eternal rest grant unto him o Lord
We love you and will miss you

There is actually a brochure that you can choose from with the corresponding types of dedication which you would like to put in stone. So, they do some customer care and marketing as well.

They are also like industrial designers because the tombstone markers now come in glass, granite and the classic: marble, in gray, pink and beige. There are uniquely colored tombstones like green, pink, blue, white, etc. The prices of these tombstones range from P3,500 to P5,500 depending on the kind of stone and the number of words you want to put.

The Lapida Makers are trying to negotiate with the Archdiocese of Cebu to let them stay at the Carreta cemetery because they have been asked to leave the premises. Although the church is suppose to be a not for profit organization, it can still serve them well if they adopt a corporate social responsibility project of supporting these Lapida micro-entrepreneurs. A win-win situation would be to create a stall space that is clean and decent for these skilled micro-entrepreneurs, let them pay a just and reasonable rent, let them serve the grieving client and in turn, the church can proudly say that they practice what they preach, and the craft of lapida making can be passed on to the descendants of these noble craftsmen who respectfully serve the grieving at their time of deep pain and loss.