manila north cemetery notable burials

Being one of the oldest cemetery in Metro Manila, the Manila North Cemetery boasts of several famous personalities that is buried in its ground, including former presidents of the philippines, patriots, artists, and of course former mayors of manila. i just put in collage some pictures of the the tombs of these famous and notable person and i'm really amazed to learn that three former president of the Philippines is buried here. As much as i want to feature all their tombs here i have to select a few for the blog to load faster. In the photo above are the tombs of former Presidents Sergio Osmeña, Ramon Magsaysay, and Manuel Roxas.

Aside from former presidents, most of former Manila mayors are also buried at the Manila North Cemetery including Justo Lukban, Manuel Dela Fuente, Arsenio Lacson, and Antonio Villegas. There were also several national artists, patriots, and actors that were buried, the photo above shows the tombs of Jose Maria Basa, Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ), and Pancho Villa.

Manila North Cemetery maybe big but if in case you want to visit these famous tombs just follow that main avenue street, most of them are within the main avenue (yes they have street names inside the manila north cemetery) while former presidents tombs are near the main entrance. If you are a fan of Da King or FPJ and wants to see his tomb just walk till the end of main avenue street and turn right, the Poe mouseluem is very easy to find, and if in case you get lost im pretty sure most "resident" can help you find your way.

Below is the complete list of notable burials at the Manila North cemetery.

* Maria Agoncillo-Aguinaldo, wife of Emilio Aguinaldo. Her tomb once occupied the center of the Mousoleo de los Veteranos de la Revolucion, but was exhumed and reburied at the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite.
* Gregorio Anonas, Doctor of Law, statesman and Economic Infrastructure Builder under the Commonwealth Government
* Arcadio Arellano (), an architect
* Jose Maria Basa (1839–1911), a patriot and friend of Rizal
* Doctor Bonifacio Basa Arevalo - First President of the Sociedad Dental de Filipinas or Philippine Dental Association (PDA), Artist/Sculptor
* Don Juan Arevalo - Captain, Buried at Mousoleo de los Veteranos de la Revolucion, Assembly Member (Declaration of Philippine Independence, Cavite-Viejo, Province of Cavite, 12th day of June 1898)
* Jose Corazon de Jesus (1896–1932), a poet known as Huseng Batute. Lyricist of the famed protest poem Bayan Ko
* Tomas Cloma, president of the Philippine Maritime Institute, now PMI Colleges. His mausoleum is shaped like a ship, titled SS Last Voyage.
* Doña Narcisa Buencamino vda. de Leon (Doña Sisang), Founder and matriatch of LVN Pictures, Inc. (The "L" of LVN)
* Marcelo H. del Pilar, Philippine author and propagandist. Formerly buried at the Mousoleo de los Veteranos de la Revolucion under the name Plaridel, it was later exhumed and reburied in Plaridel, Bulacan.
* Pio del Pilar, Philippine revolution figure. Buried at the Mousoleo de los Veteranos de la Revolucion
* Manuel Earnshaw (1862–1936), a former resident commissioner to the US Congress
* Manuel Elizalde, businessman. Brother of bandleader Fred Elizalde
* Isauro Gabaldon (1875–1942), a former senator and resident commissioner to the US Congress
* Pedro Guevara (1879–1938), a former senator and resident commissioner to the US Congress
* Francis Burton Harrison (1873–1957), a former American governor-general
* Amado Hernandez, Philippine literary icon and labor leader (National Artist)
* Atang de la Rama-Hernandez, wife of Amado, kundiman singer, actress, and Philippine National Artist
* Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo (1853–1913), a painter
* Justo Lukban, a former Manila mayor
* Arsenio Lacson (1911–1962), a former Manila mayor
* Henry Lawton, US general in the Philippine-American War. Later exhumed and reburied at Arlington National Cemetery.
* Benito T. Legarda (1853–1915), a vice-president of the Malolos Congress and first resident commissioner of the Philippines to the US Congress.
* Ramon Magsaysay (1907–1957), a former Philippine president. His wife Luz Banzon Magsaysay is also buried with him, as well as his immediate family members.
* Isidro Marfori, famed Spanish-language Philippine poet
* Tomas Morato, first mayor of Quezon City
* Gregoria de Jesus-Nakpil, wife of Andres Bonifacio, later wife of Julio Nakpil
* Juan Nakpil (1899–1986), a national artist for architecture
* Julio Nakpil (1867–1960), a composer
* Jaime Ongpin, former Secretary of Finance under President Corazon Aquino.
* Sergio Osmena (1878–1961), a former Philippine president. His wife Esperanza Limjap Osmena is also buried with him.
* Quintin B. Paredes (1884–1973), a former House speaker and senator
* Pedro Paterno, 2nd Prime Minister of the Philippines First Republic (Malolos Govt.)
* Fernando Poe, Sr. (1916–1951), a movie actor
* Fernando Poe, Jr. (1939–2004), a movie actor, presidential candidate and national artist
* Gonzalo Puyat, Philippine businessman and tycoon
* Manuel L. Quezon, Commonwealth President. Formerly buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Later transferred at Quezon City Memorial Circle. His son Manuel Jr. now occupies his father's tomb. His wife Aurora Quezon was also buried in a rather undignified tomb, but was exhumed in 2006 and reburied at the Quezon City Memorial Circle.
* Claro M. Recto (1890–1960), a former senator and Spanish language author
* Narcisa Rizal-Lopez, sister of National Hero Dr. José Rizal. His parents, Francisco Rizal Mercado and Teodora Alonso Realonda, were once buried there (near Manuel Roxas and Manuel Quezon), but they were later exhumed and reburied in Calamba, Laguna.
* Manuel A. Roxas (1892–1948), a former Philippine president
* Gerardo "Gerry" Roxas, Sr. (1924–1982), a former senator
* Gerardo A. Roxas, Jr. (), a former representative of Capiz, son of Gerry.
* Trinidad Roxas, wife of Manuel Roxas and First Lady.
* Epifanio de los Santos (1871–1928), historian. The famous Metro Manila avenue, EDSA, is named after him.
* Andres Solomon (aka "Tugo") , rotund Philippine actor
* Pancho Villa (1901–1925), famed boxer
* Jose Vera and wife Dolores Vera, Philippine movie moguls (Sampaguita Vera-Perez Productions)
* Manuel Velarde, Jr. - composer of the popular Philippine hit Dahil sa iyo
* Antonio Villegas (), a former Manila mayor. Formerly buried in Reno, Nevada, USA.
* Teodoro Yangco (1861–1939), former resident commissioner to the US Congress and businessman (Yangco Market).

manila north green park

Manila North Green Park is the city's answer to the ever increasing need of space for the dead. It's an apartment type tombs but a bit different than those that you will find in the public cemeteries like La Loma and Manila North Cemetery. It's more like a condominium type, the buildings a three-floor and there a 5 row of crypts on top of another.

According to the flyers i got the crypts they are offering are the first of its kind in the Philippines, and the wall are of granite. And they are offering a cheap but decent burial sites. there are still lots of spaces available left when i checked the place but most probably it wont be long before those apartments are filled.

Too bad i lost the flyer the that was given to me but in that flyer is the plans and how much you have to pay for a space and a contact number as well.

manila north green park

as i've mentioned in my previous post it seems that apartment tombs is here to stay, a cheaper option for the poor and the city's answer to the ever increasing need for more space in the cemtery. this "building" is just one of the many "boxes/apartment" space available in the new Manila North Green Park, just beside the Manila North Cemetery.

haunted

“We suffer primarily not from our vices or our weaknesses, but from our illusions. We are haunted, not by reality, but by those images we have put in their place.” ~ Daniel Boorstin

doors of perception

“There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors of perception” ~ Aldous Huxley

i dont know what is it about doors that i love, especially old intricate doors. they always make my mind wander off and let my imagination run wild... anyways i found this door in an old somewhat abandoned mosoleum inside the La Loma Cemetery, if you click on the photo you would notice that the chains locking the door are already covered with rusts.

also, i would like to congratulate President elect Barack Obama - the 44th and the first black President of US, wishing him all the best and hoping that he can keep his promise, indeed change has come!

there's no forgetting

If you should ask me where I've been all this time
I have to say "Things happen."
I have to dwell on stones darkening the earth,
on the river ruined in its own duration:
I know nothing save things the birds have lost,
the sea I left behind, or my sister crying.
Why this abundance of places? Why does day lock
with day? Why the dark night swilling round
in our mouths? And why the dead?

~ Pablo Neruda, "There's No Forgetting (Sonata)" from Residence on Earth, II

manila north cemetery

The Manila North Cemetery (or Cementerio del Norte), which measures 54 hectares, is considered the biggest and one of the oldest cemeteries in Metro Manila. Beside it are two other important cemeteries, namely the La Loma Cemetery and the Manila Chinese Cemetery.

The place is still full of people who wanted to visit their departed love ones when i visited the Manila North Cemetery last Nov. 2 and what i immediately noticed is how the living live with the dead, yes there are people who live inside the cemetery and besides the cemetery is surrounded by a residential neighborhood.


The flower vendors inside the Manila North Cemetery, and i could say that their business were doing good especially during the undas or the all saints day celebration when Filipinos flock the cemeteries to pay a visit to their dead loved ones. Mind you its not only flowers and candles that were sold inside the cemetery, there were a lot of food stalls and other stores set up that it feels like you were inside a mall, really! (i'll create a separate post on the vendors and food stalls inside the Manila North Cemetery during Undas)

But what's most interesting in this place is that the Manila North Cemetery has the most number of politicians buried here, from presidents to senators, heroes, artists and even actors of the country. (I will create a separate post with photos of the tombs of notable burials at manila north cemetery)

"The angels are always near to those who are grieving, to whisper to them that their loved ones are safe in the hand of God." ~ Quoted in The Angels' Little Instruction Book by Eileen Elias Freeman

apartment tombs

According to some death is the equalizer between the rich and the poor but i dont think so.  I visited La Loma Cemetery and Chinese Cemetry yesterday and i just cant help but see the starking difference between the graves, yes there are nice moseleums at La Loma cemetery too but the oppulence of the tombs and moseleums at Chinese Cemetery are in a different level. 

Anyways, this is what apartment tombs look like, photo taken at La Loma cemetery, a cheaper option for the poor and the city's answer to the ever increasing need for more space in the cemtery.  i think this type of tombs are on lease for 5 years and you have to renew your contract with the city government so that the remains of your loved ones will stay there undisturbed, otherwise they will be exhumated and thrown i dont know where.  will the vertical type or the regular tomb be replaced by these apartment type of tombs in the near future?

theme day: books

its theme day again and it's all about books today. took a photo of two books that is nearest to me and include my hello kitty chain in the photo as well since today is hello kitty's birthday as well :)

please check out 178 blogs all over the world that have participated in today's theme day. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants