The Manila North Cemetery (Spanish: Cementerio del Norte; formerly known also as Paáng Bundók), is one of the oldest cemeteries in Metro Manila, the Philippines. The cemetery is owned by the City of Manila, the national capital, and is one of the largest in the metropolis at 54 hectares. It is located alongside Andrés Bonifacio Avenue, bordering it are two other important cemeteries: the La Loma Cemetery and the Manila Chinese Cemetery. Numerous impoverished families notably inhabit some of the mausoleums.
The Manila North Cemetery was formerly part of La Loma Cemetery, but was separated as an exclusively Catholic burial ground. The cemetery was laid out in 1904. Through the years it serves as the final resting place for key figures in Philippine history such as former Presidents Sergio Osmeña, Ramón Magsaysay and Manuel Roxas; historian Epifanio de los Santos; and actor Fernando Poe Jr.
The cemetery's being one of the oldest cemeteries in the metropolis is evident on the different designs of mausoleums that reflect the prevailing architectural styles in the Philippines. The styles range from simple, plain-painted with a patch of greenery, to very complex designs that contain reliefs that are difficult to carve while also having different colors.
Due to the ever decreasing space for the dead, many tombs are stacked one on top of the other.
Many people already live inside the cemetery and some of them serve as caretakers of the mausoleums where they also stay to survive. When the families or owners of the mausoleums come, especially during and after All Soul's Day, the families transfer to other places. In addition, the informal settlers often serve as informal tour guides, bringing visitors to tombs of famous people and discussing the oral history of the area. Others take advantage of the quantity of visitors during the Allhallowtide holiday, setting up stalls to sell drinks and snacks, and providing visitors other services like renting out their toilets.
The Manila city government is now trying to find solutions on the issue of squatting.
The Bautista-Nakpil Pylon at the North Cemetery was designed by Juan Nakpil as a tribute to both Bautista and Nakpil families, including his uncle and benefactor, Dr. Ariston Bautista. The funerary pylon is a tall, square podium which has four human figures on the top corners that form a gesture of prayer capping off the tall columns. The frontal side is embellished by geometricized flowers, spiraling foliage, and nautilus shells in low-relief concrete panels which has a highly decorized stoup on the lower portion. An octagonal lantern-like form sits on top of the podium with miniature columns buttressing on all sides and crowned by a rigid dome.
The Mausoluem of the Veterans of the Revolution (Spanish: Panteón de los Veteranos de la Revolución) was designed by Arcadio de Guzmán Arellano, brother of Juan Arellano, and was built in commemoration of the bravery of the Filipinos in the independence revolution. The memorial was commissioned through Executive Order No. 87, issued by Governor-General James F. Smith on August 28, 1908. The neoclassical structure is a massive cubic structure on an elevated square podium. A shallow dome rests on a drum fenestrated by small openings to allow the circulation of air and primarily to let the natural light to come in. Swags, frets with key patterns, and human figures that represent grief to those who died fill up the façade.
Most of the people have their tombs on the main avenue of the cemetery while other notable people are located near the main entrance.
María Agoncillo-Aguinaldo (1882–1963), wife of Emilio Aguinaldo. Her tomb once occupied the center of the Mausoleo de los Veteranos de la Revolución, but was exhumed and reburied at the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite.Melchora Aquino (1812–1919), also known as Tandang Sora and Mother of Katipunan. Buried at Mausoleo de los Veteranos de la Revolución.Arcadio Arellano, architectJuan Arevalo, patriot, son of Bonifacio Flores Arevalo, buried at Mausoleo de los Veteranos de la Revolución, Assembly Member (Declaration of Philippine Independence, Cavite-Viejo, Province of Cavite, 12 June 1898)Iggy Arroyo, former congressman of Negros OccidentalLadislao Bonus (1854–1908), also called "Father of the Philippine Opera."José Corazón de Jesús (1896–1932), poet known as Huseng Batute. Lyricist of the famed protest anthem Bayan KoTomas Cloma, president of the Philippine Maritime Institute (now PMI Colleges). His mausoleum is shaped like a ship, titled SS Last Voyage.Mariano Jesús Cuenco (1888–1964), 4th President of the Senate of the PhilippinesDoña Narcisa Buencamino vda. de León (Doña Sisang), Founder and matriarch of LVN Pictures, Inc. (The "L" of LVN)Marcelo H. del Pilar, Philippine author and propagandist. Formerly buried at the Mausoleo de los Veteranos de la Revolución under the name Plaridel, was later exhumed and reburied in his house in Marcelo H. del Pilar Shrine Bulacan, Bulacan.Pío del Pilar (1865–1931), Philippine revolutionary figure. Buried at the Mausoleo de los Veteranos de la RevoluciónManuel Earnshaw (1862–1936), former resident commissioner to the US CongressIsauro Gabaldon (1875–1942), former senator and resident commissioner to the US CongressLicerio Geronimo, Revolutionary generalPedro Guevara (1879–1938), former senator and resident commissioner to the US CongressFrancis Burton Harrison (1873–1957), former American governor-generalAmado Hernández, Philippine literary icon and labour leader (National Artist)Atang de la Rama-Hernández, wife of Amado, kundiman singer, actress, and National ArtistFélix Resurrección Hidalgo (1853–1913), painterPilar Hidalgo-Lim (1893–1973), one of the founders of Girl Scouts of the PhilippinesEmilio Jacinto (1875–1899), patriot, the "Brains of the Katipunan"Arsenio Lacson (1911–1962), former Manila mayorBenito Legarda y Tuason (1853–1915), vice-president of the Malolos Congress and first resident commissioner of the Philippines to the US Congress.Ramon Magsaysay (1907–1957), 7th President. His wife Luz Banzon Magsaysay is also buried with him, as are his immediate family members.Tomas Morato, mayor of Calauag, Quezon, then first appointed mayor of Quezon CityGregoria de Jesús-Nakpil, wife of Andrés Bonifacio, later wife of Julio NakpilJuan Nakpil (1899–1986), national artist for architectureJulio Nakpil (1867–1960), composer, father of Juan Nakpil.Mariano Noriel (1864–1915), Filipino general who fought during the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine–American War. Formerly buried at the Mausoleo de los Veteranos de la Revolución.Roman Ongpin (1847–1912), businessman, philanthropist, nationalist, and civic citizenSergio Osmeña (1878–1961), 4th President. His wife Esperanza Limjap-Osmeña is also buried with him.Jose Fortich Ozamiz, former senator and first provincial governor of Misamis Occidental.Quintin B. Paredes (1884–1973), former House speaker and senatorPedro Paterno, 2nd Prime Minister of the Philippines under the First RepublicFernando Poe, Sr. (1916–1951), film producer, director, actorFernando Poe, Jr. (Ronald Allan K. Poe) (1939–2004), movie actor, presidential candidate and National ArtistMariano Ponce (1863–1918), active member of the propaganda movementManuel L. Quezon, Commonwealth President. Formerly buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Transferred to Quezon Memorial Circle Museum.Aurora Quezón, First Lady, consort of Manuel Quezon.Claro M. Recto (1890–1960), former senator and Spanish-language authorIsabelo delos Reyes, politician, labour union activist, and a founder of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente.Paciano Rizal (1852–1930), oldest brother of José Rizal. Remains later transferred to Los Baños, Laguna in 1985.Owen Robyns-Owen, Chief Officer, British Merchant Navy (died 9 January 1945 aged 67), the only British Commonwealth war grave in the cemetery.Manuel A. Roxas (1892–1948), 5th President.Gerardo "Gerry" Roxas, Sr. (1924–1982), former senatorGerardo A. Roxas, Jr., former representative of Capiz, son of Gerry.Trinidad Roxas, wife of former President Manuel Roxas and former First Lady.Epifanio de los Santos (1871–1928), historian and former statesman. EDSA, is named after him.Hilarion "Larry" Silva, comedian and politicianAndres Solomon (also known as "Tugo" or "Togo"), actorTrinidad Tecson, revolutionary nurseLilian Velez (1924–1948), a singer-actress of the mid and late 40s and dubbed as the SINGING SWEETHEART of Philippines Movies, who was murdered by her co-actor, Narding Anzures in June 26, 1948Pancho Villa (1901–1925), a boxer, the first Asian Flyweight World Champion.Antonio Villegas, former Manila mayor. Formerly buried in Reno, NevadaTeodoro Yangco (1861–1939), former resident commissioner to the United States Congress and businessman for whom Yangco Market is named.Dick Israel (1958–2016), movie and television actor, former of ABS-CBN and Viva Films.American Association plotArmed Forces of the Philippines CemeteryBoy Scout Cenotaph (in memory of the 24 Boy Scouts who died in a plane crash en route to the 11th World Scout Jamboree)Firemen's plotJewish CemeteryMasonic burial groundsMausoleo de los Veteranos de la RevoluciónMilitary and police plotThomasites' plotVeterans of Foreign Wars plot (now neglected, since relatives all migrated to the USA)Red Carabao Manila (redcarabaomanila.com) enlists English-speaking guides through its hostel located near the entrance of Chinese Cemetery and is editor recommended in the latest edition of Lonely Planet Philippines (2015). Email in advance to arrange a visit.The Museum Foundation of the Philippines and Carlos Celdran’s Walk This Way both used to hold walking tours the Chinese Cemetery, North Cemetery and La Loma Cemetery.Manila North Cemetery and Chinese Cemetery have a trove of funerary architecture. Mausoleums are designed to look like Chinese pagodas, Hindu Shikhara temples, Egyptian pyramids guarded by Sphinxes, Greek- and Roman-inspired temples, Romanesque-type churches, even Art Deco mausoleums.The horror film in 2010 Cinco movie of episode Paa.
