Manila North Cemetery
Entrance of the Manila North Cemetery
|
|
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Location | Sta. Cruz, Manila |
| Country |
 Philippines
|
| Coordinates | 14°37′59″N 120°59′20″E / 14.633°N 120.989°ECoordinates: 14°37′59″N 120°59′20″E / 14.633°N 120.989°E |
| Type | Public |
| Owned by | Manila City Government |
| Size | 54 ha (130 acres) |
| Find a Grave | Manila North Cemetery |
The Manila North Cemetery (Spanish: Cementerio del Norte; formerly known also as Paáng Bundók), is one of the oldest cemeteries in Metro Manila, the Philippines. The cemetery is owned by the City of Manila, the national capital, and is one of the largest in the metropolis at 54 hectares. It is located alongside Andrés Bonifacio Avenue, bordering it are two other important cemeteries: the La Loma Cemetery and the Manila Chinese Cemetery. Numerous impoverished families notably inhabit some of the mausoleums.
The Manila North Cemetery was formerly part of La Loma Cemetery, but was separated as an exclusively Catholic burial ground. The cemetery was laid out in 1904. Through the years it serves as the final resting place for key figures in Philippine history such as former Presidents Sergio Osmeña, Ramón Magsaysay and Manuel Roxas; historian Epifanio de los Santos; and actor Fernando Poe Jr.
The cemetery's being one of the oldest cemeteries in the metropolis is evident on the different designs of mausoleums that reflect the prevailing architectural styles in the Philippines. The styles range from simple, plain-painted with a patch of greenery, to very complex designs that contain reliefs that are difficult to carve while also having different colors.
Due to the ever decreasing space for the dead, many tombs are stacked one on top of the other.
Many people already live inside the cemetery and some of them serve as caretakers of the mausoleums where they also stay to survive. When the families or owners of the mausoleums come, especially during and after All Soul's Day, the families transfer to other places. In addition, the informal settlers often serve as informal tour guides, bringing visitors to tombs of famous people and discussing the oral history of the area. Others take advantage of the quantity of visitors during the Allhallowtide holiday, setting up stalls to sell drinks and snacks, and providing visitors other services like renting out their toilets.
...
Wikipedia