As I was going to Sta. Mesa one day, I saw signs which read “ELibing” and “EBurol”. Apparently, even chapels and funeral homes have found a beneficial use for the web other than advertising. This is an alternative for the bereaved who would not be able to physically attend the wake of their deceased loved ones. So if relatives overseas face financial constraints or unable to attend the interment for some unavoidable circumstance, virtual presence could be the solution in the same way it solves the problem of businessmen when negotiating and entering into transactions. For a country with high overseas employment, these services could certainly cater to a large market, especially since our culture is well known for having strong family ties.
Curious, I checked online[1] to see what their services are like and found youtube links of documented interments. There is also a page where you can light virtual candles and offer virtual flowers to the deceased, similar to poking or hitting you with a pillow on Facebook. Think of it as a social-networking site for the dead where you check the obituaries page for status updates. Messages and testimonials can also be posted just like in friendster.
This reminded me of the “Deadster” concept our block came up with during our Consti 1 class. It actually makes more sense now since those who would not be able to pay their respects during All Souls' Day would also have a simialr alternative.
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