Over 1.3-M visitors recorded at Manila North Cemetery on first day of Undas 2026

MANILA — Over 1.3 million people visited Manila North Cemetery this November 1, where locals flocked to pay respects to their departed loved ones.

According to Manila North Cemetery Director Daniel Tan, as of 7 p.m., they recorded 1,326,800 visitors at Manila North Cemetery, which is considered one of the oldest and largest cemeteries in Manila.

“Noong nakaraang taon mayroon tayong naitalang almost 1.2 million, mas marami po ngayon,” said Tan in an interview on DZMM Teleradyo Sunday night.

Despite this, visitors are said to keep coming in. He said they were supposed to close the entrance around 8:00 in the evening.

“Pero sa tingin ko po marami pa pong dumarating, marami pa po sila, ang sabi ng ating Yorme kung marami pa, magbibigay po kami ng extension. Gagawin namin 9 p.m,” said Tan.

“Nakita ko po ang iba po kasi galing pa sa malayong lugar, so pag bibigyan namin ng hanggang 9 p.m. Pero mas marami na pong lumalabas (ng sementeryo).”

He said there were no major incidents reported on Sunday, except for one person who got injured.

“Kanina po ‘yung report sa amin may bumagsak, nabagok po sa first circle natin, pero nadala po sa ospital, may tinahi po,” he said.

The bigger concern for the management of Manila North Cemetery, said Tan, are the children who get separated from their parents while visiting the cemetery.

“May naitalang 16 mga batang nawawala, narekober naman po ng mga magulang. Dahil po wala pong mga name tag, yung sinasabi po namin sa kanila, maglagay ng name tag, wrist tag. Lagyan ng pangalan ng mga kasama nila, mga bata at contact number po,” said Tan.

He said that many people are refusing to put name tags despite their reminders.

“Kanina pong 5:30 p.m. kitang kita ng mga mata ko may dumaang isang grupo, mga walong matanda, tatlong bata. Sabi namin palagyan ng pangalan, sabi ‘hindi hindi mawawala ito,'” recounted the cemetery official.

But one child supposedly got separated from them, much to the parents’ regret.

“Taga Antipolo pa ang bata 9 years old, nawawala. Iyak ng iyak ang bata. Dumating ang magulang doon lang nila napagtanto ang halaga nito. Buti na lang may mga paging system tayo rito,” said Tan.

They say the wrist tag is a big help because even people who aren’t connected to Manila Cemetery can return the kids to their parents.

“Tinatawagan na lang po ng mga kababayan nating dumadalaw, sila na lang po ang tumutulong sa atin,” he said.

In the latest report, there is supposedly one more missing child being searched for by their parents. 

Tan said that the parents of a 2-year-old boy, who got separated from them just outside the cemetery, approached them.

“Ang mahirap po nasa labas na raw ng sementeryo, wala din daw name tag ang bata. Christian Arsagas po 2 years old. May red terno basketball jersey, no. 79. Kung maari pakidala po ssa opisina ng North Cemetery,” said Tan.

They said they will still be serving visitors even on November 2.

“Hanggang bukas po bukas pa rin kami, hindi pa rin pwedeng pumasok ang mga sasakyan, pero bukas po tayo 5 ng umaga,” he said.