When someone you love dies, the world seems to stop. Yet in the middle of the grief, there are practical things that need to be done. This guide walks you through them, one step at a time, so you know what to expect in General Santos City and anywhere in the Philippines.
1. The first hours: take a breath
Nothing has to be decided in the first few minutes. If your loved one passed away at home, it is okay to sit with them, pray, and call close family members. Turn off fans and air conditioning blowing directly on the body, close the eyes and mouth gently, and lay the body flat if you can.
If the death was sudden, violent or the cause is unknown, do not move the body. Call the barangay and the police, as an investigation may be required before the remains can be released.
2. Get the death certified by a doctor
Every death in the Philippines must be certified before burial. Who does this depends on where the death occurred:
- In a hospital: the attending physician fills out the medical portion of the Certificate of Death (Municipal Form 103). The hospital will usually guide you.
- At home, under a doctor's care: the doctor who treated your loved one may certify the cause of death.
- At home, without a doctor: the City Health Officer certifies the death. Your funeral home can guide you on how to arrange this in General Santos City.
Prepare the basic details of the deceased: full name, date and place of birth, civil status, parents' names, address, occupation and religion. Their birth certificate or a valid ID will help.
3. Call a funeral home you trust
Once the death is certified, or while you are arranging it, call a funeral home. A good funeral home will:
- Pick up your loved one from the home or hospital
- Provide mortuary care, including embalming, so the body can be viewed at the wake
- Explain packages and costs clearly, before you commit
- Help you with the documents for registration and burial assistance
In General Santos City? Call Libintia Caja Mortuary Care at 0991-575-5797 or 0906-623-1140. If your loved one is a member or beneficiary of our Love Your Neighbor Program, have their registry number ready.
If your loved one was not embalmed, Philippine sanitation rules generally require burial within a short time, often within 48 hours. That is why embalming is standard when families hold a wake of several days.
4. Register the death and get a burial permit
The completed Certificate of Death must be registered with the Local Civil Registry Office of the city or municipality where the death occurred, within 30 days. In General Santos City, this is the City Civil Registry. After registration, you can secure the burial permit, which the cemetery will ask for before interment.
Request several certified copies of the registered death certificate. You will need them for assistance claims, SSS or GSIS benefits, bank accounts, insurance and property matters. Later, a PSA-issued copy can be requested once the record reaches the Philippine Statistics Authority.
5. Plan the wake and the funeral
With the paperwork moving, your family can turn to the wake (lamay or haya) and funeral. Decide together on:
- Where to hold the wake: at home, in a chapel or another venue
- How many days of viewing
- The casket, flowers and memorial tarpaulin
- Nightly prayers, the novena, and the funeral Mass or service
- The cemetery or memorial park, and the date of interment
Many families in Gensan hold the wake at home. Our home wake services include house decoration, a tarpaulin and flowers. Read our memorial service planning guide for ideas on making the farewell personal.
6. Claim benefits and burial assistance
Several programs can help with funeral expenses. The most common are the DSWD's Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), the SSS or GSIS funeral benefit, and assistance from the city government. Most will ask for the death certificate and a statement of account or receipts from the funeral home.
We explain each program in detail in our guide to burial assistance programs in the Philippines. Libintia Caja can prepare the funeral home documents you need; see our funeral assistance page.
7. After the funeral
The weeks after a funeral can be the hardest, when visitors leave and the house becomes quiet. Give yourself time. Practical matters can wait a little: settling accounts, notifying banks and agencies, and dividing belongings.
Lean on family, friends, your parish or faith community. Many Filipino families find comfort in the traditions of the pasiyam (nine days of prayer), the 40th day, and the first death anniversary. Grief has no timetable, and asking for help is a sign of strength.
A quick checklist
- Call close family and a funeral home
- Have the death certified by a doctor or the City Health Officer
- Prepare the deceased's personal details and IDs
- Register the death at the Local Civil Registry (within 30 days)
- Secure the burial permit
- Plan the wake, funeral and interment
- Request multiple certified copies of the death certificate
- File for SSS, GSIS, DSWD or other assistance
This guide is for general information only. Requirements may vary by city and may change. Please confirm with the Local Civil Registry, City Health Office or the relevant agency.