The story behind the Sunken Cemetery

Photo courtesy: Shubert Cienica | Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic

HAVE YOU ever visited the Sunken Cemetery on Camiguin Island, a location that is as haunting as it is beautiful?

More than this: do you know of the rich history surrounding this location and why it is one of Camiguin’s most famous destinations?

As November, a month known for paying respect to the deceased looms closer, republicasia discusses just what it is about this island that makes it such a popular place to pay tribute to one’s loved ones.

Diving into its history

As per the travel website “Guide to the Philippines”, the Sunken Cemetery was created following Mount Vulcan’s eruption back in 1871. This eruption led to the destruction of the Old Bonbon Church, and also submerged the coastal area of Catarman.

Catarman then tragically sank, and along with it went the cemetery of the community, which can now be underwater.

To commemorate it, a large cross has since been put up, marking the place to ensure that everyone will know where its location is.

It is one of the three National Cultural Treasures found within the province, alongside the Old Bonbon Church and the watchtower that comes from the Spanish era.

How to respectfully visit

According to the website “Golden Island Señorita”, this cemetery is a symbol of the resilience and spirituality of the islanders when dealing with natural disasters, reminding people of their ancestry and history through what this monument represents.

To keep this place safe, local initiatives are doing their best to protect and preserve it, such as by ensuring its ecological balance considering it is also known to be a site for snorkeling and diving.

Also: while there may be no entrance fee to go here, be sure to prepare funds for anything you may need such as diving/snorkeling gear, money for boat fare, and the like.

To do your part in this, the travel website “Miss Khae” recommends always taking note of the #CleanCamiguin campaign. All you have to do is follow the rules they have laid out for you, be responsible, and of course, do not litter.

When visiting, it may be easy to get distracted by the wonders of the sea, but do not forget to also respect, learn, and pay tribute to the monument’s history, as well as to the resilience of the people who reside – or once resided – there.

Gaby Agbulos

Gaby Agbulos wants nothing more than to become a writer -- to be able to tell stories unheard of by the masses. She is currently majoring in Communication at the University of Santo Tomas, and after college, hopes to make an impact with the stories she writes, be it big or small.