Tradition alive as Pinoys flock to cemeteries for Undas 2024

Despite busy schedule and the inconveniences caused by the recent cyclones in some areas, throngs of Filipinos still flocked to cemeteries on Friday morning to spend time with their departed loved ones in observance of All Saints' Day.

Manila North Cemetery

At the Manila North Cemetery, police have recorded an estimated 20,000 visitors as early as 7 a.m., according to Ivan Mayrina's reported on Unang Balita. On Thursday, around 110,000 people went to the cemetery ahead of Undas.

"Kahapon kasi maganda ang panahon, makulimlim so nag-take advantage na yung mga kababayan natin na dumagsa dito. Ganun pa rin, generally peaceful," Manila Police District (MPD) chief Police Brigadier General Arnold Thomas Ibay told Unang Balita.

(Yesterday, many took advantage of the fine, cloudy weather. It was generally peaceful.)

More than a million people are expected to visit the memorial park on Friday, considering the fair weather. Last year, an estimated 930,000 people visited the cemetery on Undas.

Virginia Flores, 64, lit candles in front of her grandmother's "apartment," the local term for tombs packed tightly together and stacked meters high.

"This is my way of remembering her life and our shared memories when she was alive, so I visit her every year," Flores told AFP.

Erlinda Sese, 52, was joined by her sister and grandchildren to offer prayers for their deceased loved ones.

"Even if they are gone, today is a reminder that our love for them will never fade," Sese said as she gently laid a bouquet of white flowers on a tombstone.

Visitors were prohibited to bring cigarettes, lighters, and perfumes to the cemetery. Such items would be confiscated at the gate. 

Free rides were offered to senior citizens inside the cemetery.

Bagbag Public Cemetery 

In Bagbag Public Cemetery in Novaliches, some visitors were already waiting at the entrance as early as 2 a.m. ahead of the 6 a.m. opening time, according to James Agustin's report.

"Akala po namin kasi magbubukas siya ng maaga kasi traffic din po kasi ngayon kaya inagahan po namin," said cemetery visitor Margie Gapuz.

(We thought the cemetery would open early because there is heavy traffic today.)

Some of the visitors went to the cemetery straight out of their graveyard shift from work to avoid the expected heavy crowd later in the day.

Alcoholic beverages, vapes, and painting materials were among the prohibited items in the cemetery. A police assistance desk was set up to provide assistance and security to visitors.

Cagayan de Oro City Public Memorial Park

Similarly, at Cagayan de Oro City Public Memorial Park, visitors came as early as 5 a.m. to bring flowers and light candles at the tombs of their loved ones, GMA Regional TV’s Cyril Chaves reported on Unang Balita.

Matches and lighters were confiscated from visitors as the cemeteries' management already designated an area for lighting candles.

Overnight stays, sound systems, and sharp objects were also prohibited at Cagayan de Oro City Public Memorial Park.

At least 10,000 people are expected to visit the biggest cemetery in the city on Friday.

Mamburao Cemetery in Occidental Mindoro

At Mamburao Cemetery in Occidental Mindoro, visitors had to clean the tombs of their loved ones from mud brought by the rains from recent tropical cyclones, according to a report of Mav Gonzales.

Visitors had to deal with knee-deep flood, trash, and thick, tall grass in the cemetery; a number of the mausoleums were also muddy.

Masantol Cemetery in Pampanga

In Pampanga, a low-lying province 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of the capital, AFP reporters on Thursday saw people trudge through murky floodwaters to visit the submerged Masantol municipal cemetery.

The visitors were making the pilgrimage barely a week after Severe Tropical Storm Kristine: (International name: Trami) unleashed landslides and flooding that killed at least 150 people and left more than a dozen missing.

"Visiting dead loved ones is very important to Filipinos. This has been our tradition and culture," 34-year-old Mark Yamat told AFP.

In the devout Southeast Asian country, the day is a public holiday to allow for travel to far-flung gravesites across the archipelago.

Maria Cayanan, 52, was supposed to light candles in front of her parents' tombstone in Pampanga, but the floodwaters prevented her from reaching their burial plots.

"We will just light the candles at home," Cayanan told AFP.

"We have to visit their graves, so they know they are not forgotten."

"Even though the cemetery is submerged here, we will continue to visit." —with Agence France-Presse/KBK, GMA Integrated News