WITH flowers and candles, more Filipinos trooped to cemeteries to pay tribute to their departed loved ones on All Saints’ Day, November 1.
According on the Manila Police District’s records, the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) reported that the estimated crowd inside the Manila North Cemetery is around 99,993 as of 4 p.m. on Saturday.
The total number of visitors has reached 1,038,993.
On Facebook, administrators of the Manila North Cemetery shared aerial photos of Filipinos still lining up at the entrance.
Meanwhile, some 101,790 individuals were recorded arriving at the Manila South Cemetery, as of 4 p.m. Over 55,600 visitors are inside the cemetery.
Members of the Manila City government’s medical response team, along with criminology interns and volunteers, are stationed at the Manila North Cemetery and the Manila South Cemetery to give immediate medical assistance to the visitors.
The Manila DRRMO also reported that there were approximately 5,350 total visitors at the Manila Chinese Cemetery, as of 4 p.m.
Filipinos can visit their departed loved ones at the Manila North Cemetery and the Manila South Cemetery, from October 29 to November 2, from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Both cemeteries prohibit visitors from bringing firearms, sharp objects, alcoholic beverages, pets, loud sound systems, flammable items, and gambling paraphernalia.
Rains expected during Undas 2025
Filipinos should consider bringing umbrellas as they visit their departed loved ones at the cemeteries this weekend, as rainy skies are expected in several parts of the country, according to Pagasa.
In its special weather outlook for Undas 2025, the state weather bureau said cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms, caused by a low-pressure area (LPA) and the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), will continue to be experienced over Visayas, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Aurora, and Zamboanga Peninsula on Saturday.
Cloudy skies with rains will be felt in Cagayan Valley, while Ilocos Region and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains.
Pagasa said the rest of the country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with the possibility of localized rain showers or thunderstorms.
On Sunday, November 2, the state weather bureau forecasted MIMAROPA, CALABARZON, Bicol Region, and Western Visayas to experience cloudy conditions with scattered rains and isolated thunderstorms due to the LPA and the ITCZ.
Cagayan Valley, CAR, and Aurora will experience cloudy skies with rains due to the northeast monsoon, while Ilocos Region will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains.
Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with the chance of afternoon or evening rain showers or thunderstorms are expected over the rest of the country on Sunday.
In its latest weather update on Saturday, Pagasa said the LPA outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) developed into a tropical depression.
Stay vigilant, report suspicious activity
The Philippine National Police (PNP) reminded Filipinos visiting cemeteries to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
“We remind the public to secure their homes before leaving, double-check locks, and avoid leaving valuables unattended,” PNP Spokesperson, Police Brigadier General Randulf T. Tuaño said in a statement on Friday.
“Simple precautions can prevent untoward incidents while families are away for the holidays. In case of emergencies, immediately call Unified 911 for prompt assistance,” he added.
A total of 62,868 members of the PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) have been deployed nationwide for Undas 2025.
