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.