Modern developments highlight Funeraria Imperial’s centennial

By Jason B. Neola

FROM humble beginnings in 1926, the Naga-based funeral company stands as one of Bicol’s leading service providers — expanding its facilities, strengthening community outreach, and upholding a nearly century-old tradition of care.

Funeraria Imperial (F.I.) has grown into one of the most trusted and enduring funeral service providers in the Bicol Region. As it approaches its 100th year in 2026, the family-run business continues to blend tradition with innovation, all while upholding its mission to bring comfort and convenience to grieving families.

According to Jess Imperial, managing director of Funeraria Imperial, the company has braved numerous challenges over the decades. One of the most defining moments came in the mid-1980s when the firm was compelled to relocate from its original site in Naga City’s central business district—now occupied by Greenwich—after the property owner reclaimed the land.

For a time, the business operated from a duplex along Panganiban Drive before finding its permanent home along Peñafrancia Avenue, through the assistance of the late Jesse M. Robredo, then city mayor.

Today, Funeraria Imperial stands tall on the same site with a three-storey modern building equipped with 11 chapels, a family room, an elevator, and dedicated fiber-optic Wi-Fi in every chapel.

Its facilities also include two refrigeration systems, an upgraded embalming room with a cadaver lifter, and three hearses. Clients are provided with hot and cold showers, brand-new beddings, and free toiletries — all of which they can keep after their stay.

Plans are underway to construct a two-storey extension that will feature a second-floor parking area and first-class chapels on the ground floor.

Funeraria Imperial currently employs around 30 personnel, all of whom are provided with protective gear, upgraded quarters, and access to a motorcycle loan program. A peer-based evaluation system helps maintain high work standards. Imperial emphasized that these improvements reflect their primordial goal: “to provide comfort and convenience to the grieving families of the departed.”

The company’s compassion extends beyond its walls. Over the years, Funeraria Imperial has conducted free embalming services during calamities and tragedies, including the Colgante Bridge tragedy in the 1970s, a typhoon in Sipocot, and even during the COVID-19 pandemic, when they embalmed numerous cadavers at no cost.

In 2024, during the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, the funeral home’s chapels also served as evacuation centers for neighboring residents, offering free accommodation and embalming services for storm victims.

Its corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts are further reflected through the APIATI Foundation—named after their parents Antonio Patrocinio Imperial and Angelita Torres Imperial—which regularly conducts outreach programs, including distribution of potable water and grocery items during floods in Buhi, Nabua, and Baao in the mid-1990s. The foundation also provides school bags, supplies, and feeding programs for public school children.

Funeraria Imperial’s excellence has been recognized through various honors, including the 2019 Mayoral Award for Business Leadership from the City Government of Naga and the Leon S.A. Aureus Medallion for its decades of dignified service to Nagueños and Bicolanos. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has likewise cited the company for its compliance with fair labor practices and employee benefits.

As Funeraria Imperial nears its centennial celebration, the Imperial family remains steadfast in its commitment to serve with dignity, compassion, and innovation—continuing a legacy that has brought solace and care to generations of Bicolanos.

In addition to its funeral services, the Imperial family has expanded into a new venture: the Naga Imperial Crematory and Columbary, managed by Benigno Angelo Imperial.

The facility offers chapel rental and viewing services complete with a family room, spacious pantry, and air-conditioned chapels in a peaceful and serene environment. Amenities include round-the-clock security, ample parking, well-appointed public comfort rooms, spacious outdoor areas, and compassionate staff dedicated to providing support to bereaved families.

(Details about the Naga Imperial Crematory and Columbary (NICC) will be featured in Part 2 of this continuing series.– the author)