Who we are
- [Naam broer 1] Miguel
- [Naam broer 2] Miguel
- Surelma Miguel (Lady Su)
We are the Miguel brothers and sister. Our father and his twin brother attend almost every funeral in Banda Abou.
For years they saw how families are left alone with everything that needs to be arranged, and how traditions like the laba man are disappearing.
Our father had many plans to change that. With labaman.com we are making those plans come true. For them, and for every family going through this moment.
Why labaman
Laba man means “washing hands” in Papiamentu. Traditionally, after the funeral people go to the home of the deceased to wash their hands, as a closing ritual. Many families skip this nowadays because it is too much work. We are bringing it back, with a mobile setup at or near the cemetery.
What we stand for
Service
The practical work around the funeral, done well and calmly.
Tradition
Preserving Curaçao's customs with care and keeping them accessible in a respectful way.
Relief
One trusted point of contact, so the family is not left on its own.
Knowledge
Recording what we learn from older generations and passing it on, so it is not lost.
How we treat tradition
- We document recipes and customs with the help of older generations and local experts.
- We record which customs belong to the visiting evenings, the funeral, the laba man and the ocho dia, leaving room for differences between families.
- We work with people who can make traditional products authentically.
- Papiamentu is our main language, alongside Dutch and English. Spanish where it helps.
- We never impose one tradition: your family decides what suits your faith, background and wishes.
What we do not do
Labaman is not a funeral home. These things stay with your funeral home and church:
- Care of the deceased
- Cooling and transport of the deceased
- The coffin
- The cemetery or cremation
- The church service
We coordinate with them, so everything fits together well.