PURR
The hotel-like Cosmopolitan-Somo Memorial Homes
Sarah Dychangco-Gothong, Bobby Gothong, Chairman Yong Jun Park, Oly Dychangco, Atty Alejandro Somo and Marco Anzani.Every one who has visited the Cosmopolitan-Somo Memorial Chapel in Delgado Street, Iloilo will definitely say that it’s like a hotel. In fact, one media colleague, during the press launching there, said that it’s a great place to hang out. The interiors are very modern and relaxing to the eyes.
It used to be Somo Memorial Homes. But after the Somo family entered into a partnership with the Cosmopolitan Memorial Chapel, the building was renovated and made even better.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony with Iloilo City Vice Mayor Jed Mabilog, Chairman Yong Jun Park of Imperial Palace Resort and Waterpark and President of Cosmopolitan-Somo Memorial Homes, Inc. Renato Dychangco, Jr.Somo had been serving the community for 65 years. Cosmopolitan Memorial Chapel had been doing the same in Cebu for 59 years. This venture presents Ilonggos with a new outlook on memorial services —- celebrating life and honoring death.
Two veteran memorial services experts merged to give Ilonggos a new meaning in honoring their departed. They are Cosmopolitan Memorial Chapel and Somo Memorial Homes.
Cosmopolitan Memorial Chapel, Inc. was founded by the late Renato Dychangco Sr. in 1950. They started with horse-drawn carriages and now, they use Cadillac and Lincoln hearses.
During the press launching of Cosmopolitan-Somo. Sarah Dychangco-Gothing, Shelah Dychangco, Kate Dychangco-Anzani, Oly Dychangco, Jr., Atty. Alejandro Somo and Sylvia Somo.In the last 59 years, CMCI had grown to be the country’s finest family brand because of their service, dedication and quality care.
Meanwhile, Somo Memorial Homes Inc is a pioneer in the funeral service industry in the last 65 years. It was founded by the late Teodorico S. Somo in the late 1940’s. It became a family corporation and managed by the children of Teodorico Somo.
Last Sept. 25, 2009, the fruit of this partnership was inaugurated, the Cosmopolitan-Somo Memorial Homes.
Ilonggos will definitely witness what CMCI calls the “Cosmopolitan Touch” through its professionalism, skill and innovative training and development for the client.
Sylvia Somo (left) and company.The Facilities and Services
The first floor is really classy, as it caters to the A market. It has the Diamond Chapel which can seat 50 to 60 people. It has a bedroom, kitchen and dining facilities. Recognizing that family members have their own set of friends, there are grouped lounges where they can sit and snuggle comfortably. Also on the first floor are the business offices and two showrooms, one for the A and B market and the other, for the C and D market.
On the second floor, there are eight chapels – Onyx, Citrine, Opal 1 and 2, Jade 1 and 2 and Moonstone.
The third floor is allotted for the C and D markets. It also houses the coffee shop, open area, dining and basic stores.
Ella Cecilia Baarde and Aileen Cura.The Care Center is the area where embalming is done. “We train our people to handle the body with utmost care. We feel that the body is sacred thus we handle it as we would a living body,” said Oly Dychangco, Jr., CEO and president. He added that a lounge is provided where the family can view the body while it is being injected. “We use the United States’ technology of soft embalming wherein the person looks as if he or she is just sleeping. We have well-trained embalmers and staff who can beautify the dead,” he said.
“The Ilonggos deserve to have these facilities, which are decent and modern. We will cater to all walks of life,” Dychangco said.
Industry
Dychangco said that with CMCI, the funeral industry in the country had been upgraded. “This is no longer a scary industry and we hope to do such in Iloilo. Even for the embalmers. People used to view the job of an embalmers as a low-grade, but right now, I have seen the difference of how they did it in the United States. The funeral directors and embalmers there are respected,” he said.
Sarah Dychangco-Gothong, director of CSMHI and president of Translife Care, Inc., said that embalming is a lucrative job in the United States. “We can help Filipinos to have better jobs through the Pacific Center for Advance Study in Lahug, Cebu. The school offers seminars on embalming and effective funeral counseling, among others.” She added that the Department of Health, in fact, wans to professionalize the industry and soon a two-year program would be offered. Dychangco-Gothing is a licensed embalmer.
Cosmopolitan-Somo Memorial Homes, Inc. is located at #24 Delgado Street, Iloilo City and can be reached through phone numbers (033) 3374007 and 3364535 (telefax).