Some cemeteries flooded during Undas 2026

Make this your preferred source to get more updates from this publisher on Google.

Some cemeteries in Bulacan and Pampanga failed to escape the brunt of flooding, as parts of their grounds remain submerged during Undas this year, forcing visitors to climb over walls, tread on tombs, and wear waders to protect themselves from floodwaters.

In a 24 Oras Weekend report by Bea Pinlac on Sunday, although floodwaters had receded in parts of a cemetery in Barangay Masantol, Pampanga—leaving behind moss and mud—several areas remained underwater.

Rogelio was among the visitors forced to step on elevated tombs just to reach his wife’s resting place. However, he decided to light candles for her at home instead.

“Sa bahay na lang, hanggang dito yung tubig eh. Kung lulusong ako baka—may sugat ako eh, hindi pwede sa ‘kin,” Rogelio said.

(I'll just light candles at home because the water reaches up to here. If I wade through it—I have an open wound, so I can't risk it.)

In the report, other visitors laid out sandbags or used ladders to avoid stepping directly into the floodwater.

According to Erwin, another visitor, the flooding had eased compared to last year, allowing his family to finally visit their five departed loved ones who share a single tomb.

“Siyempre masakit. Pag undas lang po doon ka lang po makakapunta tapos baha pa po,” Erwin said.

(Of course it hurts. Undas is the only time you get to visit, and yet it's still flooded.)

Erwin said they plan to elevate the grave of their deceased family members, as it is now gradually sinking into the ground softened by the prolonged flooding.

In preparation for this year’s Undas, local authorities said they installed a protective dike and pumped out water.

“Naglagay po kami ng protection dike para mapalibutan po ‘yung kung saan dumadaan yung tubig, lalo na po kapag nagha-high tide. Ngayon po, humupa na yung tubig. Nag-pump po tayo ng tubig para mailabas po ‘yung tubig sa sementeryo po,” an authority said.

(We put up a protection dike to enclose the pathways where water flows in, especially during high tide. The water has subsided now, and we ran pumps to drain the remaining water out of the cemetery.)

The local government unit plans to reach out to the national government to find a permanent solution to the flooding problem in Barangay Masantol.

Meanwhile, visitor turnout was low for this year’s Undas at inundated cemeteries in Hagonoy, Bulacan.

In a 24 Oras Weekend report by Jaime Santos, floodwaters reached waist- and thigh-deep levels across parts of the Hagonoy Memorial Park in Barangay Sto. Niño.

Residents reported that some remains had already been relocated elsewhere, while relatives of those remaining chose to light candles outside the cemetery grounds instead.

As in Pampanga, visitors at the Peralta Public Cemetery in Barangay San Sebastian faced difficult conditions. Some had to climb over walls, step on tombs, or wear chest waders to protect themselves from health risks posed by the floodwaters.

“Kahit po ganito pa rin ang sitwasyon, wala pa ring pagbabago last year, mahirap baka madulas,” a visitor shared.

(Even though the situation remains the same with no changes since last year, it's still difficult because you could slip.)

“Kailangan pa namin tumalon-talon sa mga nitso para lang makapunta. ‘Yung tatay ko matampuhin ‘yan, kapag ‘di namin nadalaw baka kami ‘yung dalawin sa bahay eh,” another visitor added.

(We had to jump from tomb to tomb just to get through. My father had a short temper—if we don't visit him, he might visit us at home instead.) — Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/BM, GMA News

Follow facebook.com/gmanewsonline for real-time news and developments in the Philippines and around the world.