Relatives visit their dead in cemeteries ahead of week-long closure

Relatives offered candles, food and flowers to their departed loved ones in cemeteries ahead of the week-long closure from October 29 to November 4 to prevent crowding and the spread of COVID-19 during the Undas season.

According to a report by Jun Veneracion on “24 Oras,” the visitors who were allowed to get in took videos and photos which they send to relatives at home who could not go to the cemeteries.

A 13-year-old girl tried to enter the Manila North Cemetery, but was stopped by guards because of age restrictions.

“Gusto ko lang pong makita ang papa ko, namimiss ko na sya,” the girl said.

Vendors in the area said the quarantine restrictions resulted in fewer visitors in cemeteries and low sales.

“Nung nakaraan, kahit papaano kumikita, ngayon wala, nganga,” one vendor said.

Since the announcement of the cemeteries closure in September, at least 700,000 persons have visited the Manila North Cemetery, officer-in-charge Roselle Castaneda said.—LDF, GMA News