Manila North Cemetery receives over 80K visitors
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00:00 Security at the Manila North Cemetery was tight as droves of people took the opportunity
00:05 to visit their departed loved ones earlier today.
00:08 This early, police recorded that visitors already numbered in the thousands, with many
00:13 more expected to follow suit in the coming days.
00:16 Claizel Pardilla has more.
00:21 To avoid the huge crowds and heavy traffic, Riza and her family went to the Manila North
00:27 Cemetery today on Halloween and ahead of Undas.
00:31 "I don't want to be crowded because it's hard on November 1.
00:34 That's why we went.
00:35 We came together here to my mother's grave and my grandmothers."
00:48 As of 5 in the evening, Manila North Cemetery recorded around 80,000 visitors.
00:56 The inflow of people expected here is likely to crest over a million visitors tomorrow,
01:02 the main day of the dead celebration.
01:04 The Manila local government reminded the public the cemetery will be open from 5 in the morning
01:10 up to 5 in the evening.
01:12 "It's really a good thing.
01:13 Especially for those who are far away.
01:16 It's better than before.
01:17 There's an overnight.
01:18 You can bond."
01:19 "We'll just go back because my mother's birthday is in December.
01:20 November 12, we'll go back."
01:27 "For safety and security reasons, Manila North Cemetery is 54 hectares.
01:33 Not all of them have lights.
01:35 Aside from that, we have a lot of ponds that are connected.
01:40 It's more dangerous.
01:41 So it's better that there's no overnight.
01:44 So that the next day, we can be ready."
01:55 Alcoholic beverages, flammable materials, sharp objects, and deadly weapons are strictly
02:01 prohibited.
02:02 Those who bring karaoke singalong machines, booming sound systems, gambling accessories,
02:07 as well as those driving private vehicles, will not be allowed entry or access inside
02:13 the Memorial Park.
02:15 Visitors should expect strict security check at the entrance.
02:18 All items under a banned list will be seized at the gate.
02:23 At the Manila South Cemetery in Makati, around 18,000 individuals paid visits to their departed
02:29 loved ones.
02:30 Many of them gathered around the tombs of their dead relatives.
02:34 They offered flowers, candles, and food.
02:38 At the La Loma Memorial Park, banned items visitors tried to bring were confiscated upon
02:43 entry.
02:44 Despite this, the Manila Police District said the situation has remained generally peaceful.
02:50 "For those who will visit the La Loma Cemetery, if possible, we should not bring prohibited
02:58 items, such as flashlights, lighters, any flammable materials, alcohol.
03:04 Alcohol is also prohibited inside, and gambling paraphernalia.
03:09 We should not bring guns."
03:13 Authorities are expecting and basing themselves for a huge surge in visitors and massive crowds
03:20 on All Saints Day.
03:22 15,000 uniformed personnel will be deployed all over Metro Manila tomorrow.
03:27 "The full alert will be in effect until suspended.
03:34 The threat level here in Metro Manila is very low.
03:41 But despite of this very minimal and very low threat level, we are employing the highest
03:51 security level in Metro Manila."
03:53 Kaleza Pardilia for the Nation.