Welcome to the cemetery of Placido Penitente!

The libingan ng mga pari in Tanauan, Batangas is a beautiful, untouched cemetery
set in an equally beautiful, untouched setting.

To many Filipinos, Tanauan is the home of a hero: Apolinario Mabini, known as the Sublime Paralytic. To those who are familiar with Jose Rizal's El Filibusterismo, this Batangas town is also the home of the fictional Placido Penitente, a brilliant but troubled student. 

What happened to the mortuary chapel of Malabon?

What was once a ruined mortuary capilla is now a two-level, semi-concrete structure.

Earlier, we featured the monumento of Malabon cemetery, an impressive two-storey structure and probably the largest of its kind in existence. At the rear of the cemetery behind this monument are the remains of a mortuary chapel, which might possibly date to 1853.

Uncovering the 'lost' cemetery of Guiguinto

This is all that remains of the entrance to the colonial-era cemetery of Guiguinto.

Would you ever think that just along a major highway lies the remains of a once-imposing cemetery? That's what the Pinoy Taphophile uncovered recently in Guiguinto, Bulacan.

Monumento--in Malabon

The monumento: a cultural gem in the midst of urban blight.

Do you know where Monumento is? Many Filipinos would answer Caloocan City. But did you know that a short distance behind the historic Bonifacio monument is another historic monumento?

Jagna cemetery: a time capsule

How do you write the history of a community? That certainly must have been on the mind of Ambrosio Iturriaga, the curate of Jagna, Bohol during the last quarter of the 19th century

But the Augustinian Recollect priest had a big challenge: there were hardly any documents and other historical materials available. Precious records had vanished when the previous town church and convent burned down in 1808. 

A house, a cemetery and a boy named Pepe

The date '1853' is inscribed above the portal of the cemetery chapel of Biñan, Laguna.

Mention Biñan, Laguna to heritage enthusiasts and what usually comes to mind is the sad saga of the Alberto House, which is associated with the family of Teodora Alonzo, the mother of national hero Jose Rizal. The young Rizal also lived in this town between 1869 and 1871 when he studied under a local maestro or teacher, Justiniano Aquino Cruz.

Did Padre Damaso build this cemetery?

The beautiful cemetery gate of Dingras, Ilocos Norte.

Any tour itinerary of Ilocos Norte always goes through a familiar list: Paoay Church, Laoag's so-called Sinking Belltower, the Marcos mausoleum, the beaches of Pagudpud, Bangui's windmills, etc. To a lesser extent, some tourists visit the once-ruined, now-restored church in the town of Dingras.

But what about its Spanish-era cemetery? But that is getting ahead of the story.

The Pantyon: Bocaue's unique, underrated attraction

The Pantyon is a pleasant surprise in a town  usually famous for firecrackers, fluvial parades, and--lately--a fantastic indoor arena.

Just recently, Bocaue, Bulacan became the center of attention throughout the country because of the opening of the Philippine Arena, which is touted to be the largest indoor arena in the world. 

But, not far from this modern marvel stands another architectural gem, which, unlike the steely showcase by the North Luzon Expressway, remains hidden and virtually unknown: the Pantyon. 

Balayan's cheerful checkerboard chapel

The mortuary chapel of Balayan. Apart from its historical value, it is also an architectural delight.

Apart from its walls, the other attraction of Balayan, Batangas' cemetery on a hill is its mortuary chapel. Built in 1887, the structure is unusually large for chapels of this type. 

Balayan's shining landmark on a hill

The steps leading to the 19th-century hilltop cemetery of Balayn, Batangas.

Balayan, Batangas is home to some of the finest ancestral houses in the country as well as a church that is now a declared national treasure. But unknown to many, it also has one of the most impressive heritage cemeteries in the Southern Tagalog region.

What lies buried in Pulilan's Libingan?

Famous for its Maytime festival featuring kneeling carabaos, Pulilan in Bulacan was formally declared as a town in 1796. The founding of its church, however, dates way back to 1749. And with this in mind, the cemetery beside the church raises some questions.

The enigmatic Simboryo of Taguig

Established in 1587, Taguig is one of the oldest communities of Metro Manila. In Brgy. Tuktukan is the Simboryo, the city's tangible link to its past. 

The Simboryo of Plaridel: What can be done?

The grounds surrounding the 19th-century Simboryo of Plaridel, Bulacan, consists of a densely-packed neighborhood, erasing any trace of the cemetery that was believed to have existed there before. As such, the consequences of human habitation are everywhere: litter-filled niches, damaged fences, a vandalized interior.

The Simboryo of Quingua

Despite the neglect it has suffered, the so-called Simboryo or mortuary chapel of Plaridel, Bulacan is often mentioned in listings of the province's historical sites. Although there is no hard information on its establishment, the structure was evidently built sometime in the 19th century back when the town was still known as Quingua. 

The neo-Baroque chapel of Lipa's Campo Santo

The jewel of the 19th century cemetery of Lipa, Batangas is its neo-Baroque chapel--a visual delight. 

The stately engaged columns of the facade support a symphony of recessed lines making up the entablature and cornice. The pronounced curvilinear emphasis is also not that common in colonial Philippine architecture.

1880? 1890? The hidden grandeur of Lipa's Campo Santo

From 1887 to 1889, Lipa, Batangas became the wonder of the world. After a virus wiped out plantations in Africa, Java, and Brazil, the town became the world's lone supplier of coffee beans. The town became so prosperous that Queen Maria Cristina of Spain granted Lipa with its own coat of arms and the noble title of Villa.

Discover another part of our heritage

Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery in Laguna, the only one of its kind in the Philippines

Welcome to Sementeryo: Heritage Cemeteries of the Philippines!

We aim to pioneer in creating a unique online collection dedicated solely to some of the most underrated and threatened heritage areas in the Philippines: cemeteries and cemetery structures.

Specifically, this blog aims to feature cemeteries, grave sites, mausoleums, other forms of cemetery art and architecture along with related sites/scenes that can be considered as heritage-worthy, from three time periods ONLY:

- pre-Hispanic period
- Spanish colonial period
- and the period leading up to World War 2.

We also have an active Facebook page Sementeryo: Heritage Cemeteries of the Philippines where you can submit contributions which we also feature. 

Let's help create awareness and appreciation for this sometimes underrated aspect of Philippine heritage.

Thank you and read on...