Around 7,000 visitors gather at Angono cemeteries on All Souls' Day

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An estimated 7,000 people had visited cemeteries in Angono, Rizal as of 10 a.m. on Monday, All Souls’ Day, as Filipinos continued to observe Undas.

In a report by Jonathan Andal on Balitanghali, the Angono police said they expected the crowd to grow further in the afternoon and evening.

Local authorities estimated that the total number of visitors on November 2 could reach 50,000.

Visiting departed loved ones on All Souls’ Day is a longstanding tradition among Angono residents, with November 1 traditionally observed as All Saints’ Day.

“Kasi iyon daw ang araw ng mga kaluluwa. Araw ng mga patay a dos, yung a uno Araw ng mga Poon. Mula nang ako’y mapunta rito, iyon na talaga,” said Lydia San Vega in an Unang Balita report by Bam Alegre.

(Because that is said to be All Souls’ Day. The Day of the Dead is on the 2nd, while November 1 is All Saints’ Day. Ever since I came here, that has been the practice.)

San Vega, 75, said the practice had been customary in their locality since she was a young woman.

Meanwhile, some visitors complained that vendors had occupied spaces near tombs, making it difficult for people to move around cemeteries.

“Pahirap nang pahirap kasi parang mas pinapaburan nung iba ‘yung mga nagtitinda kaysa ‘yung mga gumadalaw sa yumao sa mga mahal nila sa buhay. Tapos malayo pa sila manggagaling, tapos madadatnan nila na ganito, di sila makakilos nang maayos,” said visitor Jayson Reposo.

(It is getting more difficult because it seems some favor the vendors over those visiting their deceased loved ones. Some come from afar, only to find the situation like this, unable to move around properly.)

“Yon po ‘yung medyo alanganin kasi minsan wala na pong madaanan,” added another visitor, Mel Villarico.

(That is what makes it inconvenient because sometimes there is no longer any path to walk through.)

The Angono local government has yet to issue a statement on the concerns.

Meanwhile, the Angono Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office reported that total foot traffic across the town’s cemeteries reached approximately 120,000 from October 31 to November 2. — MCG, GMA News

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