Over 45,000 visit Manila North Cemetery ahead of Undas 2022

Fewer than the expected number of visitors made their way to the Manila North Cemetery in Manila ahead of the national observance of All Saints’ Day.

According to Raffy Tima’s report on “24 Oras”, around 45,118 people visited the cemetery on Monday, the first time in three years that the cemetery was opened to the public since the COVID-19 outbreak.

Security measures were implemented at the cemetery including the prohibition on cigarettes, lighters, perfume, alcoholic drinks, and sharp objects.

Children aged 12 years old and below and those who were unvaccinated against COVID-19 were also not allowed to enter.

“May dalawang malaking puno na nabuwal tapos maraming mga sanga na bumagsak. Kaya kahapon, kahit medyo bumuti na ‘yung panahon, minarapat pa rin namin isara ang sementeryo dahil nagkaroon kami ng clearing sa loob,” Manila North Cemetery Director Roselle Castañeda said.

(Two huge trees fell due to the onslaught of the typhoon. Branches also fell. We cleared the debris. That’s why even when the weather cleared yesterday, we decided not to open the cemetery.)

Castañeda also advised visitors who did not make it to Monday's cutoff to come back and visit the cemetery early on Tuesday. The Manila North Cemetery would open starting at 5 a.m. until 4 p.m. — Sundy Locus/DVM, GMA News