Dennis Gasgonia

Article (news)

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

MANILA - While numerous Filipinos flood cemeteries on the first two days of November, Marikina resident Mary Grace Torres chooses to spend Undas either in the comfort of her home or in church. But this was not always the case.It was not until a few years ago that she and her family stopped visiting Barangka Municipal Cemetery after finding that what used to house her parents’ remains was empty. “Pinuntahan namin siya. Wala na eh. ‘Yung mga buto-buto halos halo-halo na. Parang ginawang– pinlastic bag lang sa black plastic. Parang basura. Siyempre, saan namin aanhin– kung kaninong buto ‘yun?” Torres asked.“‘Yung mga pinaghukayan, nakatayo pa… Pero bakante na ho siya. As in talagang tinanggal ‘yung laman noon,” Torres added. Incidents of unauthorized exhumation made the headlines in November 2024, which later led to the Marikina City Government filing complaints against the people responsible for selling gravesites unlawfully. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/29/some-manila-north-cemetery-visitors-struggle-to-locate-graves-of-loved-ones-1810">Finding the departed: Some Manila North Cemetery visitors struggle to locate graves of loved ones</a></div>The case is still pending, with the investigation ongoing.Management of the cemetery has since been transferred to the local government. Starting December 2024, the fees to keep individuals’ remains in gravesites were waived, according to then Marikina Mayor and present Marikina 1st District Representative Marcelino Teodoro.&quot;Talagang mino-monitor na natin ngayon. Simula noong nangyari ‘yun, tinake over na ng city government ‘yung management, particularly City Health Office, City Environmental Management Office para masigurado na wala na ulit na mangyaring ganoon,” Marikina Mayor Maan Teodoro told ABS-CBN News. Previously, fees for each gravesite would be at P500 per year.  And if payment is not made for five consecutive years, cemetery staff would supposedly be allowed to relocate the remains. But Torres stressed they made their annual payments to keep their parents safely in the tombs.“Nung una, may naniningil. So ngayon, wala na tayong sinisingil na mga tao na lumalapit dito para doon sa hinihingi nilang tulong doon sa mga nawawalang labi po nila. So sa ngayon, marami na ho tayong natulungan. Napa-cremate na po natin. ‘Yung iba, napalipat na po natin kung saang lugar gusto nilang ilagay ‘yung mahal nila sa buhay,” Marikina Bikeways Office’s Harvey Curry, who also manages the cemetery, said.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/21/visiting-departed-loved-ones-here-s-what-you-need-to-know-1808">Visiting departed loved ones? Here&#x27;s what you need to know </a> </div>The individuals accused in the administrative and criminal cases, the Barangka Public Cemetery administrator and four others, were all dismissed from service, Teodoro added.But some remain unaware of the waived fees, such as Norma Fortuna who fears the remains of her child, just 11 months old when they died, would be transferred without her knowledge.“Nung nabalitaan kong ganoon, sabi ko, ‘Hala, baka pati ‘yung libingan ng anak ko baka napalitan na. O tinanggal na,’” Fortuna said.“Nabalitaan ko na noong nakaraang taon, parang hanggang limang taon na lang, matanggal daw. Kaya nag-alala ako. Sa awa ng Diyos, wala naman. Nandito pa rin,” Fortuna added. <div> </div><div>MARIKINA PLANS TO RENOVATE BARANGKA CEMETERY </div>While some visit cemeteries as early as October 30 to avoid the crowds, Fortuna had a different reason for being at the Barangka Municipal Cemetery on Thursday morning, lighting candles with her family.“Birthday ng anak ko kaya dinalaw ko siya… Taon-taon talaga nandito ako,” Fortuna said.Then she returns on November 2 to honor her child again on All Souls’ Day.When asked about volume of people on that day at the Barangka cemetery, Fortuna replied, “Marami. Ano na ‘to– masikip. Dagsaan na talaga ng tao.”<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/28/dilg-pnp-gear-up-for-safe-and-peaceful-undas-2025-1608">DILG, PNP gear up for safe and peaceful ‘Undas 2025’</a></div>To improve safety and order in the widely visited cemetery, Teodoro bared plans for a renovation of the cemetery, targeted to start in 2026.“Kung anuman ‘yung cost na magiging ano nito, that we’ll incur from this, I think ‘yung safety din, mas mataas ‘yung value noon. And then at the same time, ‘yung kaayusan. As it is, ito ‘yung– nakikita natin– ito ‘yung typical na public cemetery na mayroon hindi lang dito sa Marikina, but in all other cities. And we want to improve it… Talagang kakaiba siya. Mas maganda. Magmumukha na siyang actually private, privately owned,” Teodoro said.According to the mayor, they look to turn most of the space into a columbary and an ossuary to save space.“We are going to allot mga ossuary and columbary units as well as mga tombs. And then there will be a central parang chapel dito for the bago natin ilagak sa kanilang huling hantungan, doon muna magkaroon ng last rites na tinatawag natin,” Teodoro said, adding they are looking to add a parking area.The local government plans to speak with the loved ones of those buried in the cemetery to discuss details of temporary transfer as the renovation takes place in phases.“We don’t want to disturb naman all the mga mahal sa buhay natin nakalagak dito. So kung aayusin natin, onti-onti siya,” Teodoro said.“May proper tagging na naman tayo, and then na-i-identify natin lalo na ‘yung nasa tamang mga paglilibangan siya, mayroon namang mga pangalan. And then mayroon tayong mga contacts doon sa mga family members nila. Also hihingi tayo ng permiso para panandalian, kukunin ‘yung mga remains. And then papipiliin din natin sila since gagawin nating columbary and ossuary itong majority ng Barangka cemetery meaning bones ‘yung ossuary. And then kapag willing silang magpa-cremate, magiging ashes. So mas maliit na space na ‘yung kakailangan natin. So makikipag-ugnayan tayo doon sa mga kaanak ng mga nakalagak dito sa Barangka Cemetery,” Teodoro added.

While numerous Filipinos flood cemeteries on the first two days of November, Marikina resident Mary Grace Torres chooses to spend Undas either in the comfort of her home or in church.

While numerous Filipinos flood cemeteries on the first two days of November, Marikina resident Mary Grace Torres chooses to spend Undas either in the comfort of her home or in church.

Barangka Cemetery fees waived following reports of unauthorized exhumation

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Barangka Cemetery fees waived following reports of unauthorized exhumation

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 30, 2025 05:43 PM PHT

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Undas

Marikina

Gravesite

Exhumations

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