DINALUPIHAN, Bataan — An abandoned cemetery here for years remained unkempt with empty and some intact graves almost hidden by trees, shrubs and tall grasses.
Officials of Barangay Kataasan on Friday asked the Diocese of Balanga to clear the area that they said was an eyesore and health hazard.
They also requested that the village be given spaces for the construction of a daycare center and a health center.
Barangay kagawad Ford Penaflor and Rolando Guevara said that the Catholic cemetery has been operating, as far as they know, since the time of the Japanese occupation during World War II.
Others said it was already operational for more than a hundred years.
For reasons unknown, the village councilmen said the cemetery of about 6,000 square meters was closed and burial stopped about 15 years ago.
They said that most of the tombs were opened and bones of the dead transferred to other cemeteries but some remained intact.
“Health hazard at eyesore ang sementeryo. Sana mabagbag na at mapatag para wala na ang mga nitso. Ang nangyayari kapag kinuha ang mga buto pagkabagbag ng nitso, iiwanan na lang nakatiwangwang. Ang amoy kung minsan nandoon pa lalo na kung umuulan,” Penafl or said.
He said that they found wild cats and snakes in the area that posed danger to residents and visitors, especially children.
“Sana malinis talaga ang lugar para maging kaaya-aya sa paningin ng mga taong nagsisidaan at maging isang lugar na mapaglalaruan ng mga bata,” Penaflor said.
He said that despite strict monitoring as directed by barangay chair Carmelito Espinola, portions of the old cemetery have become dumping ground for garbage, mostly from residents from other villages who in tricycles sneak out and unload the trash.
The parish priest of Dinalupihan was in a meeting and could not be reached to comment on the abandoned cemetery.
Meanwhile, a century-old acacia tree inside the Kataasan cemetery has been the source of some horror tales.
“May mga sabi-sabi dito na sa acacia na malaki may nagsubok na magputol ng mga puno. Nagkakaroon ng ano, kung minsan may biglang nalaglag ng walang kadahilanan. Napilay pa ang mamang nagputol ng kahoy,” Penaflor said. “Baka kasi may bantay na diyan.”
