Manila North Cemetery braces for more visitors as Undas 2026 crowds grow

MANILA — An estimated 44,000 people had visited the Manila North Cemetery as of 8 a.m. on Sunday, November 1, as crowds continued to build on All Saints’ Day, according to Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department.

The Manila Police District deployed 280 personnel to secure the cemetery and its surrounding areas, with six Police Assistance Desks and force multipliers also positioned to assist visitors. 

Meanwhile, the Manila Department of Social Welfare distributed free hot meals and bottled water to early cemetery visitors.

Parents and guardians also availed of the children’s identification wristband tagging program to help authorities locate or contact their children in case they get separated or go missing inside the cemetery.

The Manila North Cemetery opened to the public at 5 a.m. and will remain open until 8 p.m. The same operating schedule will be observed until Monday, November 2, in observance of All Souls’ Day.

Regular cemetery operations are scheduled to resume on Tuesday, November 3.

Authorities expect the number of visitors to increase further in the succeeding hours as more families arrive to pay their respects to their departed loved ones.