Visitors make a dash for Manila North Cemetery minutes before closing

Several visitors beat the clock to get into Manila North Cemetery minutes before it closed to the public on All Saints’ Day.

According to Raffy Tima’s report on “24 Oras,” a total of 226,316 visitors flocked to the largest cemetery in Metro Manila to pay tribute to their departed loved ones on Tuesday, November 1.

“Parang ganito na rin po 'yung 2019 na Undas namin ng November 1. Walang patid na 'yung dating ng tao. Makikita natin medyo nagkakadikit-dikit na unlike kahapon,” Manila North Cemetery director Roselle Castañeda said.

(It’s similar to the 2019 scenario on November 1. People kept on coming so we see that today is crowded, unlike yesterday.)

Due to the expected rise in the number of visitors, the Manila North Cemetery also increased its deployed e-tricycles from 60 to 100.

The visiting hours in the cemetery were from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. from the initial 4 p.m. closing time, the report said.

However, some visitors still almost missed the schedule while others appealed for the management to allow them to stay until 5:30 p.m.

As of 6:30 p.m., police personnel began patrolling the cemetery to instruct visitors to exit. —Sundy Locus/LDF, GMA News