Historic Cemeteries in the Philippines

Here's one for history buffs and tourists.  Cemeteries not only hold the dear departed's remains in peaceful protective slumber, some cemeteries actually hold parts of Philippine history!

If you take a stroll through some of the cemeteries listed below, you will gain important lessons in the nation's interesting history.

1.  Paco Park Cemetery

Now a well-tended recreational area, Paco Park was once called Cementerio General de Dilao or Cementerio General de Paco.  During the time when the Philippines was still a colony of Spain, Paco Park Cemetery was Manila's municipal grave site.  Built in the late 18th century, many of Manila's wealthy residents were buried here, until 1822 when it was used as a mass burial site for cholera epidemic victims.

After his execution at Bagumbayan, National Hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal was buried at Paco Park, until his remains were later moved to its current location at the Rizal Monument.

Paco Park is also the burial site of  the three Filipino priests Jose Burgos, Mario Gomez and Jacinto Zamora, who were accused of mutiny and rebellion in Cavite in 1872, and were eventually executed by the Spanish colonial government.

In 1912, Paco Park ceased becoming a burial ground, and eventually turned into a beautiful garden and recreational area for Manila residents.

Dr. Jose P Rizal was initially interred at Paco Park cemetery after his execution.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

2.  La Loma Cemetery

Cementerio General de La Loma began receiving interments in 1884.  It is the oldest cemetery in the city.  It earned a spot in Philippine history because during Spanish colonial times, Filipinos who rebelled against the Spanish authorities were banned from being buried in La Loma.  Being denied burial in holy grounds such as cemeteries was considered a grievous misfortune in the Spain-catholicized country back then.

La Loma cemetery survived destruction in 1945 during World War II.  The historic Battle of Manila laid most of the city's structures in ruin, but the cemetery remained intact, preserving its historical and architectural value.

St. Pancratius Chapel in La Loma Cemetery
(Photo credit: Spot.ph)

3.  Manila North Cemetery

The Manila North Cemetery is one of the biggest and oldest grave sites in the city.  It was known as the Cementerio del Norte during the 19th century under Spanish colonial rule. 

The cemetery was and still is the burial grounds of many prominent figures in the nation's historical landscape.  María Agoncillo-Aguinaldo, the wife of the first Philippine President Emilio Aguionaldo, was originally interred here. The mother of the Katipunan, Melchora Aquino or Tandang Sora, used to rest here.  Emilio Jacinto, Marcelo del Pilar, and many Filipino heroes were once buried at the same cemetery.  Several Philippine Presidents, senators, artists, and the most famous showbiz personality in Philippine cinema -- Fernando Poe Jr. -- are in this cemetery.

Mausoleo de los Veteranos de la Revolución, Manila North Cemetery
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

4.  Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery

The underground cemetery in the town of Nagcarlan at the province of Laguna is the only underground cemetery in the country.  It served as the secret meeting place of Filipino Katipuneros after it was built in 1851.  Because of this part in history, the cemetery has been deemed a National Historical Landmark. 

Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The cemetery is a favorite tourist stopover nowadays, because of the detailed architecture of the burial grounds, the church and the crypts underneath.

Underground crypts at the Nagcarlan Cemetery

5.  Camiguin Sunken Cemetery

The Sunken Cemetery in Catarman, Camiguin is so-called because there was once a large burial site in this community.  When the island volcano, Mount Vulcan, erupted in 1871, the cemetery together with portions of the town sank 20 feet below sea level.  What was left of the cemetery was marked by a large cross that can be seen in the water from the shores of nearby Barrio Bonbon.

Cross marker at the Camiguin Sunken Cemetery
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

6.  Sagada Hanging Coffins

Journey back to the Philippines' pre-colonial period with the hanging coffins at Sagada in the Mountain Province.  This place is not the traditional cemetery that can be found everywhere else in the country.  The hanging coffins are literally coffins hanging on the cliffs of Echo Valley.

It was the burial custom of pre-colonial Igorots, the ethnic dwellers of Sagada,  to carve their coffins from hollowed pine trees, and place these coffins on ledges in the cliffs.  They placed their dead on cliffs because they believed that the higher the coffins were located here on earth, the closer the dead were to heaven. 

Some of the hanging coffins in Sagada
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Many of the islands of the Philippines hold their own interesting culture and traditions.  Burial rituals and therefore cemeteries are part of this rich heritage.  Wherever you happen to be in the Philippines, try visiting the community cemetery and discover more of the country through the way they Filipinos  their dead.

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On Saints and Souls

November 1 is just around the corner.  In the Philippines, the days leading to this day are awash with preparations. Classes stop.  Colleges and universities go on semester breaks. The workforce plans for a skeleton crew because of the impending office shutdown on the week that this day falls.  People book flights to travel to their hometowns.  Mothers start planning the food menu.  Flower shops start increasing their inventory.  Candles are saturating stores and shops.  Tent and chair rentals surge in demand.

What's the fuss all about?  Is it Christmas already?  No, it is the celebration of All Saint's Day and All Soul's Day in the Philippines.  And it is one hell (pardon the pun) or heaven of an event.


The Mysteries of Life and Death

Undas, or Todos Los Santos, or Araw ng mga Patay, falls on November 1 and 2 of every year.  November 1 is the observance of All Saints' Day, and November 2 is All Souls' Day.

Part of the underground cemetery at Nagcarlan in Laguna

The Latin Right of the Catholic Church decrees that November 1 and 2 are Holy Days of Obligation.  All Saints Day pays honor to all the saints and martyrs that had lived and died for Christ and are now getting their rewards in Heaven.  It is believed by Filipino Catholics that the saints and martyrs, having entered into God's grace by their actions here on earth, are granted powers to intercede in behalf of the living.  Our prayers and petitions to God will be easily heard and have a higher chance of being granted when we ask the saints to pray to God for us.

All Souls' Day, which falls on November 2, is in remembrance of our loved ones who had already died.  Unlike the saints and martyrs that are now basking in the presence of God in Heaven, our  departed may still be in purgatory awaiting God's mercy.  The living need to pray unceasingly for these penitent souls for them to obtain, too, the grace of God and Heaven.  And it helps a lot if the saints' intercessions are invoked for the penitent souls in purgatory.

All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day remind the living that there are two things that can either happen to us when we die.  We either go to Heaven like the saints, or to purgatory like the penitent souls.  The observance of these days give hope that as long as we are living, we have the power to act appropriately here on earth and obtain the reward of where we go when we die.


The Day of the Dead is the Day of the Living

During the said days, we go to Church to hear Mass, visit the graves of our departed loved ones, light candles, offer prayers and flowers.  This is also a chance for Filipino families to get together and hold reunions.  Filipinos may move to different parts of the Philippines to either work, study, or take up residence, but we always find time to come back to our hometowns for Undas.  We Filipinos look forward to the mini-vacation that is also a national holiday.

Days before Todos Los Santos, airports, bus and ferry stations are packed with travelers going home to their provinces.  Road traffic increases by the end of October due to the exodus of people.  At graveyards or cemeteries, people begin the work of cleaning tombs and graves.  They pull at the yearly growth of weeds around the graves, wash the concrete slabs with soap and water, apply a fresh coat of white paint at the tombs, and patiently remove the dirt from tombstones to make the writing visible.  The local government begins putting up lights in the cemetery.  They plan the pathways, security, and first aid stations in the mini-streets of the cemetery in anticipation of visitor traffic.

At the actual days, Filipinos hear mass together as a family, either in Church or in the cemetery itself when Mass is offered.  We place flowers and candles on the graves of departed loved ones.   Some of us bring chairs and put up tents, and even bring food and drinks, with full intention of a lengthy stay up until night.

There are a lot of things to do at the cemetery.  Immediately upon arrival, we pray fervently in front of the tomb.  We love to talk to our loved ones, through the tombstone, with utmost sincerity and often with a break in our voices as if the departed can really hear across the distance of death that separates us.  We talk about missing the departed.  Then we talk about the news and goings-on in our lives, even assuring the departed that we are doing fine.

Then we sit down to hours of chatting with family and friends who drop by the tomb.  Seldom-seen relatives are welcome faces and we love to spend time catching up with them.  Later when there is a lull in visitors, we leave our loved one's tomb and take a stroll through the streets of the grave yard, stopping by now and then to greet people we know who are keeping vigil in their relative's tombs too.  More catching up and chatting.  The stroll is really a leisurely walk with many pleasant stops and starts.  When we get to the tombs of more of our relatives, we light candles and offer prayers, chat some more with cousins and uncles, and amble along.

We tend to the candles and the flowers as the day goes by.  Children love rolling up the hot melting wax around the candles into balls, watching them getting bigger and bigger, while adults constantly caution them to be careful to not get burned.

At home, we partake of food mostly made of rice or malagkit.  Arroz ala Valenciana, palitaw, sinukmani, suman, sapin-sapin and more.  But not before taking the best parts of the food, putting them in a small plate, and placing the plate in front of our altars, to offer to our departed loved ones. 

All in all, the celebration of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day in the Philippines are deeply-tinged with spirituality, but it also have a festive feel to it.  It is the Filipinos' way of dealing with death -- to hope for a better place when we die, and to celebrate life with family and friends while we still live.

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My Fitness Adventure - How to Take Up Running and Love It

It is amazingly easy to take up running as a favorite hobby or sports .  When I first chose to run, the first thing that I immediately realized was that all I literally needed were my own two feet!

The decision to take up running is probably one of the best decisions a person can make.  Not only does it promote good health and well-being, it is also a great way to socialize, unwind, and even have fun.  In my previous post, I have listed all the reasons why I like to run.

Once you have resolved to yourself that you will take up running, there are a few simple things that need to be considered.  These are to make your experience -- especially as a beginner -- easy, safe, and enjoyable.

• Wear proper running shoes. They should fit your feet comfortably.  Not looks, nor price, just comfort.  Any signs of irritation when wearing a pair of shoes, when your feet are relaxed, is a major no-no, no matter how cool the shoe looks on your feet.  Imagine how your poor feet will feel when pounding the pavement with ill-fitted shoes!  Runners' World has some great tips on how to buy the right running shoes.  Personally, I prefer to run with very light shoes on.  The lighter the better.  My current running shoes is a  pair of Nike Lunarlon, in colorful neon colors, very light, and have see-through material at the sides that allow some breathing space for my feet.

         The NIKE Flyknit One+ Running Shoe (below) is the best running shoe of 2013.

NIKE Flyknit One+ Men's Running Shoe

NIKE Flyknit One+ Women's Running Shoe

• Wear blister-free socks.  Surprisingly, the icon of comfort -- cotton -- is not a good idea as running socks.  You can easily get blisters while you run, making you regret your decision to take up running.  These days, a plethora of running socks have been designed to prevent blisters from forming.  There are soft socks that reduce friction as much as possible.  Some are made to support the heel, toes, and ankles.  Recent product releases now prevent odor from accumulating, are breathable, comfortable, all-weather, anti-slip, and can do almost anything but stand up.

 

ASICS Hera Eco Low Cut Socks are designed specifically for women's feet.

 Drymax Maximum Protection Run Mini Crew Socks offer the best protection against blisters

• Wear proper running threads.  When you take up running,you need to wear comfortable clothes, the same clothes you would wear on any kind of workout or physical activities.  For women, a good support bra is needed to protect the protectables.  In running, one other important rule is to dress according to the weather:  Too little clothes on a cold or rainy day will send you to snifflesville, while too much clothes on a hot or humid day, together with your increasing body heat, will make you feel too warm and far too uncomfortable.

• Plan your route. You can initially take up running at your own neighborhood.  You can widen your range later to the park or to community areas where there are wide open spaces for running.  The important thing is that you plan your running route with safety and convenience in mind.  If you are on travel and would like to run in the places you visit, use Google Maps to plan your running area.  Ask tips from the locals, such as the hotel receptionist, for best and safest places to run. 

• Put fun into running.  Let's face it, running is less entertaining than, say,  chatting with friends or partying the night away.  It isn't Candy Crush or a movie that can really glue you to your seat for the next few hours.  To really enjoy running, you have to compensate for the lack of true entertainment and make an effort to put some fun into it.  You can listen to your favorite music with your head phones while you run.  These days, audio books can keep you glued to the pavement as you listen to the story.  You can also bring your favorite companion along with you  -- your best friend, boyfriend, or even your pet dog.

• Keep the passion for running burning.  It won't hurt to grab a copy of a runners magazine, or surf online for anything related to running.  You can join groups and forums too.  This will keep you informed on running techniques, safety information, injury avoidance, race and run events, or just hang out with fellow running enthusiasts.  Basically just sustain and even increase your interest in and passion for  running.

Why not start your own running regimen?  The great thing about running is you just get up and go.  No fuss, no frills.  And a whole lot of thrills

(Photo credits: Thinkstock and Amazon images)


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Earthquake Insurance in the Philippines -- or the Lack of It

The earth can turn violent once in a while.  It is a living breathing planet, after all.  Proof of that was the recent earthquake that hit the island provinces of Bohol and Cebu in the Philippines.  The ground shook suddenly and so violently that many people died and a lot of buildings and infrastructures collapsed with major damage.

A  house fell into a river after the earthquake in Bohol.
(REUTERS/Erik De Castro)

While natural disasters like earthquakes are rare, the financial impact can be devastating to its victims.  For businesses, damage to buildings and properties can put a big hole in the business' capital, since rebuilding the structures can be expensive and takes time.  The financial aftermath may even endanger the business' survival.

For homeowners who are victims of earthquakes, the loss of residence is a natural disaster in itself, since the cost to repair the damages or rebuild the house can be as financially devastating as the earthquake itself.

The Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association (PIRA) recently said that a very few percentage of buildings and properties in the country have earthquake risk cover.

Earthquake cover is only a part of the fire insurance policy, and it is by default excluded from the standard fire policy.  It is the option of the client to either leave the earthquake insurance cover out of the policy, or buy back the risk cover.

Because it is not mandatory to purchase earthquake insurance, industry reports estimate that only 12% of the country's structures are covered by fire insurance policies.  And out of this, only 20% have earthquake insurance enabled.  In a country that sits on many active seismic faults and trenches, this is courting disaster, indeed!

There's some hope at the end of the tunnel, however.  Just this year, the Asian Development Bank initiated the project study on Structuring a Public-Private Earthquake Insurance Pool in the Philippines which aims to develop a catastrophe insurance pool that will cover small- and mid-sized enterprise property owners.

PIRA is currently coordinating with ADB and the nation's lawmakers to craft a bill that will make earthquake insurance mandatory for residential, small- and medium-sized enterprises.  When this bill becomes a reality, property owners in the Philippines will be less vulnerable to financial damage brought by this natural disaster.

But while a mandatory earthquake insurance legislation has not yet materialized, it is up to the property owners to buy a risk cover against earthquakes and include this in their standard fire insurance policy.  Admittedly, it is an additional cost,with a low probability of being applied.  But the recent earthquake in Bohol and Cebu teaches a lesson in preparedness against the potential risk.

As a property owner, if you are deliberating on whether or not to buy earthquake insurance, the following factors can help you decide to finally buy one:

• If you live in a high-risk, earthquake-prone area
• If you have calculated the cost to repair or rebuild, and it is more than your resources can cover in the event of an actual earthquake
• If your property is not properly fortified against sudden earth tremors and seismic activities

Keep safe everyone!

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Flowers You Can Eat

When my grandfather was still alive, he used to tell stories about World War II, particularly the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in the 1940s.  He told stories of how our family, composed of my grandmother, my mother, aunts and uncles (who were little children then), had to eat anything edible that they could find because food was scarce during the war and they were always walking on jungles for days on end.  They ate bugs, roots, fruits, leaves, flowers, and whatever seemed non-dangerous.  They ate for nourishment, even if the taste left something to be desired.

These days, when my children tend to be picky with the food on the table, I tell my grandfather's story to them.  And I add the lesson of the story which is in situations like a war or something similar, they have to be prepared to eat whatever they can find, with no complaints, in order to survive.

Take the case of flowers.  We see them everyday everywhere.  But few of us may be aware that some of these flowers are edible or fit for human consumption.  We only know that flowers are beautiful and some even smell great.  But flowers as food?

 

Actually, flowers have been used as food since thousands of years ago.  The ancient Roman, Greek and Chinese civilizations have been known to use edible flowers in their food preparations.  At present, edible flowers are also included in traditional menus in many parts of the world.

Here are five edible flowers and how they are prepared:


1.  Roses

Roses are edible flowers that can be used for a variety of delicacies.  The rose petals have that sweet, scented, floral flavor that can be blended with many types of desserts.  Baking recipes, such as cookies, cupcakes, muffins and cakes can include rose petal syrup for that unique floral taste.  Rose petals ground together with sugar make store-able rose sugar that can be used for pastries and desserts.   Unprocessed rose petals can be eaten directly, or sprinkled on top of desserts, or added into fruit jams.'


2.  Lavender

Sweet Lavender are edible flowers that can be quite versatile in food preparation.  The sweet, slight spicy and pleasantly-scented flowers are dried and used for savory recipes such as cookies, marmalade, jellies and even ice cream!


3.  Nasturtium

Nasturtium blossoms may be vibrant and beautiful to look at, but they are more than decorative ground cover.  These edible flowers are often used as attractive ingredients in salads.   With a bit of creativity, Nasturtiums can also be mixed with other food ingredients to make for interesting and flavorful recipes.  


4.  Moringa Flowers

Moringa flowers can be mixed with other foods to make a delicious salad.  In some places the edible flowers are fried in hot oil and served as calcium- and potassium-rich snacks.  When steeped in hot water for several minutes, Moringa flowers turn into flavorful hot tea that also serves a medicinal purpose.



5.  Squash Blossoms

The sunny colors of the squash blossoms are edible.  They are popular in Italy as fried delicacies.  The blossoms are also stuffed with herbs and cheeses to make for a filling menu.  The blossoms can also be made into a tasty soup.


There is actually a very long list of edible flowers that can be enjoyed because of their culinary potential.  The important thing in preparing edible flowers for consumption is that these flowers should be guaranteed safe to eat.  Preferably, the flowers should be grown organically and you are sure they are not treated with harmful pesticides and toxic chemicals.


(Photo credit: Google images)


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