More than 1,000 people were estimated to have visited their departed loved ones at the three biggest cemeteries in the town of El Salvador in Misamis Oriental on All Saints’ Day.

The local police said the cemeteries are only open until 6 p.m.

PEMS. Ruben Barrameda, Executive Director of the El Salvador Police, said they have controlled the visits to the cemetery during Undas, now disallowing practices in the past, including visitors staying the night and even bringing intoxicating drinks.

“Mag sayo-sayo gyud mo og bisita diri sa mga menteryo kay alas sais lang taman. Among gi-control kay wala nay vigil-vigil, di pareha sauna kay naay mga inom-inom, hubog, kagubot na dayon,” he said.

At the Our Lady of Snow Cemetery in Barangay Poblacion, one of the visitors on All Saints’ Day was Danilo Capili who was forced to clean the resting place of his departed loved one using his bare hands.

He was not aware that bringing bladed or sharp objects like knives or bolos are now allowed. He said he would have to go back to the cemetery to clean the area properly.

“Bawal man diay magdala ug lampas amo na lang gikinamot paglimpyo pero balikan ko lang ni karong sunod adlaw kay akong hinloan gyud para ma-maintain iyang kahinlo ba,” he said.

The Our Lady of Snow Cemetery is the biggest in El Salvador with almost 40,000 buried there.

While the cemetery was not exactly packed on All Saints’ Day, several visitors were provided with medical assistance due to hypertension.

Nelly Delante, a midwife of the Department of Health (DOH), said the heat that day may have contributed to the visitors falling ill.

“Kini lang mga hypertension kining mga mo taas ang BP kay init man dayon samad kay natural maglimpyo-limpyo man sila sa mga pantiyon,” she said.