Every year on the first of November, Filipino families gather at cemeteries across the country. They bring flowers, food, candles. They sit together and remember. Undas — All Saints Day and All Souls Day — is one of the most distinctly Filipino cultural practices in the world. It is the day when the line between the living and the departed feels thinner, when the dead are remembered not with distance and formality but with the intimacy of family.
But when Undas ends, the flowers wilt and the candles burn down. What remains, all year round, of the public act of remembering?
A memorial photo book remains. It sits on a shelf in the living room every day of the year, not just November 1st. It can be opened on any occasion — on a birthday the departed person will not celebrate, on an anniversary they would have marked, on a random Tuesday when someone simply misses them. It holds their face, their story, the evidence that they were here and that they were loved.
I am Karen Nielsen Palconit, founder of Moments Photo Book Concierge in Quezon City. Memorial tribute books are among the most meaningful and most carefully handled projects we work on. This guide covers everything you need to know about creating a memorial photo book in the Philippines.
What is a memorial photo book?
A memorial photo book — also called a tribute book, remembrance book, legacy book, or memorial album — is a professionally designed collection of photographs and memories dedicated to someone who has passed. It is not a funeral program. It is not a scrapbook. It is a carefully curated, professionally designed, premium-quality book that tells the story of a person's life with dignity, warmth, and care.
At Moments, we approach every memorial project with particular sensitivity. We know the photographs you are sharing are irreplaceable. We know the person in them matters deeply to you. We treat every memorial photo book project as the privilege it is — and we work at whatever pace feels right for you.
When should you create a memorial photo book?
There is no wrong time. Some families create a memorial book immediately after a loss as part of the grieving process — doing something meaningful with the love that has nowhere to go. Others wait months or even years, until the grief has softened enough to approach the photos without being overwhelmed.
For Undas specifically, we recommend starting in September or early October to ensure your book is ready for November 1st. Contact us in August for the smoothest timeline. For death anniversaries, contact us approximately six weeks before the date.
A note on the emotional reality of memorial photo book projects
Creating a memorial photo book can be unexpectedly emotional. You may need to take breaks. You may want to involve other family members, or prefer to handle it privately. At Moments, we adapt entirely to what works for you. There is no required pace. We check in gently throughout the process and handle the detailed curation and design work so you do not have to stay in that emotionally demanding space longer than necessary.
What goes into a Filipino memorial photo book?
What if the photos are old, damaged, or very few?
This is one of the most common concerns we hear, and it is entirely understandable. Many older Filipinos were photographed much less frequently than younger generations, and the photos that do exist may be old physical prints that have faded or deteriorated.
Old physical prints: We offer professional photo scanning at ₱20 per image at high resolution (600 to 1200 DPI).
Faded or damaged photos: Our photo restoration service at ₱300 per image can recover a surprising amount from even significantly deteriorated originals — correcting color fading, repairing physical tears, removing water stains, and restoring brightness and contrast.
Very few photos: When a family has limited photographs, we design the book to honor that limitation. A 20-page book using every available photograph thoughtfully is more meaningful than a padded 60-page book with repeated images.
How much does a memorial photo book cost in the Philippines?
- Kwento (Story) — ₱3,500: Softcover, up to 40 pages. For memorial books where photographs are limited or families want a more compact keepsake.
- Alaala (Memory) — ₱6,500: Hardcover, up to 80 pages. The most popular choice for memorial tribute books — enough space for a full life story with all available photographs.
- Pamana (Legacy) — ₱12,000: Lay-flat hardcover, up to 120 pages. For families with an extensive photo collection spanning many decades, or community memorial books.
Multiple copies of a completed book are available at reduced per-copy cost — meaningful for families who want to give each family branch their own copy of a memorial book.
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact Moments Photo Book Concierge at hello@moments.ph or on Viber. We guide you gently through collecting photos from family members, scanning old printed photos (₱20/image), restoring damaged images (₱300/image), and designing a beautifully crafted tribute book. Starting at ₱3,500.
Yes. Moments offers professional photo restoration at ₱300 per image and photo scanning at ₱20 per image. We can recover faded, torn, and water-damaged photographs for inclusion in your memorial photo book.
For a memorial photo book ready for November 1st (Undas), begin the process no later than September. Contact Moments in August for the smoothest timeline to allow for photo collection, scanning, restoration, design, printing, and delivery.
Honor your loved one with something that lasts forever.
Moments handles every memorial photo book project with care, patience, and deep respect. Send us your photos — old, new, faded, or damaged — and we will create a beautiful tribute. Photo scanning ₱20/image. Photo restoration ₱300/image. Based in Quezon City. Starting at ₱3,500.
Start a Memorial Photo Book