Nov 1, All Saint's Day, the day we go visit our beloved departed ones in their resting places. Can't believe there's over a million visiting in just one particular cemetery, & there's still a lot more around Metro Manila. It can get pretty crowded that's why a lot of people would visit a week earlier, but just the same, cemeteries were all crowded as usual. Though several rules were implemented it's so hard to control the crowd because of limited manpower. A lot of resourceful individuals were able to sneak in alcohol, sharp objects, karaokes & even video karera machines. To state it simply, maraming pasaway.
Many people would go at least a week earlier to clean & paint the graves, but some who are financially capable would just hire caretakers especially if it's in a mausoleum. For the lawn type, it's the memorial's responsibility to maintain it.
A lot would spend the night there on the eve in order to avoid the heavy influx on the actual day. Though in other countries it's a day of deep solemnity, here in the Philippines it's more of a celebration, it's a day when family & relatives reunite, sort of like a picnic day. Filipinos are known for being close knitted, so eventhough loved ones are no longer with us physically, we still observe the day with them in spirit.
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| Maintenance free lawn types |
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| The biggest mausoleum in Manila Memorial Sucat said to be own by the Po clan. It has centralized airconditioning & an underground crypt |
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| The simpler mausoleums |
