Some areas of the Bonuan Boquig Cemetery in Dagupan City remain flooded, as of this writing, forcing early visitors and cleaners to wear boots while tidying up tombs ahead of Undas.

Aside from floodwater, mud and tall grasses also made the cleanup difficult for families paying their respects to their departed loved ones.

Norma Ubando, one of the visitors, came early to have the tombs of her husband and grandchild cleaned and repainted.

“Magpapintura tapos magpalinis [kasi] marumi, madaming damo [at] kalat,” he said.

Caretakers said the flood affected parts of the cemetery, discouraging some families from hiring cleaners.

“Bihira ngayon yung nagpapalinis kasi baha diyan sa gilid. Dito lang sa harapan. Yung iba sila na rin naglilinis,” Junjun Bengson, one of the cemetery workers, said.

Some resorted to creative solutions to make the area passable, piling up cut grass and covering them with sandbags to create walkways.

“Kasi sa baha kasi sa mga likod. Grabeng baha, halos abutin yung bota. Kaya yung mga dumadalaw dito yung mga nandito lang din sa harap,” Dammy Vidal, a caretaker, sai.

Despite the muddy and flooded conditions, families continued to visit the cemetery to prepare for Undas.