The Chinese has long been an active and influential community in the Philippines.
Currently the Chinese number from 750,000 to one million, or roughly between 1.2% and 1.5% of the Philippine population. Of this number 90% are native-born and belong to either the second, third, or fourth generation. They mainly stay in Metro Manila, where they make up 52% of the total ethnic Chinese population in the country.
There is a Chinese Cemetery which was founded in the mid-1850's by Lim Ong and Tan Quien Sien for Chinese who were not permitted, at that time, to be buried in the Catholic cemeteries. The cemetery covers 54 hectares of land. API fengshui went to Manila last month to uncovers the secret of this Chinese Cemetery, whereby it is said that the living standard of the dead are comparable, or even better than that of the living. Toilets, sinks, chairs, tables, chandeliers, aircon, bar and even karaokes can be found in some of the mausoleums.
From Manila centre, take a Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 station and alight at Abad Santos. From there you can take a tricycle to the cemetery south gate. Alternatively you can walk through the winding and fascinating alleys to observe first hand the life of ordinary Filipinos.
Upon entering the south gate, you will see the main alley. This is the where the richest dead stays.
The lease is for 20 – 25 years, and can cost up to millions of pesos.
This is the interior of the richest mausoleum. According to the caretaker, the relatives used to come weekly here.
There are currently more than 500 caretakers working in this Chinese cemetery, and they hope to keep the place neat and tidy and do a bit of gardening here and there.
Here you can see the chandeliers and even the gold ceiling.
Here you can see the chandeliers and even the gold ceiling.
Here you can see the chandeliers and even the gold ceiling.
Here you can see the chandeliers and even the gold ceiling.
This is another alley of the rich mausoleums
This is the middle class area
For those who cannot afford a house, they can go to the lower middle class's area
Of course, what about the poor? They are cremated at a few thousand pesos and put in jars at the columbarium or at wall cubicles.
Examination of some interesting tombs
There is a famous tortoise tomb here. In Chinese culture, tortoise is a auspicious symbol of longevity, but for the Filipino non-Chinese, they dislike tortoise, saying it is slow and clumsy.
This is the tomb that is shaped like a bible
A mausoleum that you can go upstairs…..
For the babies who died young.
And for the child whose parent can afford
Sometimes, whole families are buried together under the same roof
An elaborate Chinese style mausoleum
Filipino Style
Typical toilets and washrooms of the mausoleums
The caretaker say the tomb was removed and sent back to China, either they do not want to renew the lease, or they move house earlier
The Father
And the Son
It is a tragic story. Both of them are victims of a kidnapping believed to be by their business competitors. The killers are never caught. If you can read Chinese, you can feel the anger and the helplessness of their family members
What the epigraph means is how can they rest in peace when the ruthless killers are not caught? Even the heaven flow tears upon the great injustice.
After the cemetery tour, its time for some relaxation. Where else to go than The Hobbit House where Freddie Aguilar is singing as he has been for the past 30 years. The Hobbit House is so named because all the waiters and waitress are dwarfs and you have to pay an entertainment surcharge of 200 pesos. As predicted, Freddie rendered his most famous hit, "ANAK", but he choose the perfect moment to belt out this song when he has worked himself to the atmosphere and the mood. What an artist!
You can see more of the pictures at API gallery