Manila, the bustling capital of the Philippines, is a city of striking contrasts. Home to over 15 million people, it boasts towering skyscrapers and vibrant commercial centers. Yet, beneath this urban facade lies a harsh reality—thousands endure poverty in the city’s cemeteries. This article explores the lives of people residing in Manila’s cemeteries, revealing their daily struggles, community dynamics, and the systemic challenges driving this phenomenon.
The Vast Community Living in Manila Cemeteries
Manila’s cemeteries are home to tens of thousands of people—estimates suggest between 15,000 and 20,000 residents, with about 10,000 living in the northern Manila cemetery alone. Unlike typical perceptions of cemeteries, these spaces resemble densely-packed neighborhoods or shanty towns. Makeshift shacks, some rising three stories high, line the concrete graves. Within these streets, grocery stores operate inside grave houses, serving the local community’s daily needs.
Economic Hardship Forcing Families Into Cemeteries
The primary reason families occupy cemeteries is economic deprivation. Manila’s rapid population growth has caused fierce competition for jobs, especially low-skilled work. Many from rural areas migrate to the city chasing employment but find housing costs prohibitively high. Unable to afford rent, some families resort to living in cemeteries as a last resort, avoiding rent payments and forming communities within these sacred spaces.
Daily Life and Living Conditions in Cemetery Communities
Residents face harsh living conditions lacking basic infrastructure. Water used for drinking, bathing, and sanitation is often fetched from cemetery fountains, stored in plastic containers, as there is no running water in their homes. Toilets are scarce and often located in secluded spots, fostering unhygienic environments prone to spreading bacteria and disease. Garbage accumulation and mosquito infestations further threaten public health.
Families often transform burial chambers and tombs into homes, furnishing them with essentials like quilts and gas cylinders. Despite these accommodations, residents, including children, live without privacy or comfort. For example, bathing occurs in open areas with only minimal shielding, and toilets are placed between graves. These conditions highlight the daily challenges faced by these marginalized communities.
Community Dynamics and Social Structure Within Cemeteries
Despite adversities, a strong sense of community and solidarity exists among the inhabitants. Neighborhood relations are close-knit, with residents helping one another and establishing a community order. Some areas have informal electrical connections. Families earn income through various means such as collecting recyclables, street vending, or providing cemetery maintenance services like grave cleaning and flower arrangement.
Children often work instead of attending school, contributing to the family’s livelihood through maintenance jobs. However, the state does not officially recognize this community’s existence, frequently leading to police raids, evictions, and demolitions of homes. This legal invisibility worsens their vulnerability and reinforces social exclusion.
The Cultural Clash and Social Injustice
Filipino culture traditionally regards cemeteries as sacred, as they are places for honoring the dead. However, extreme poverty has forced many to disregard this sanctity to survive. Some individuals have spent their entire lives in these cemeteries, highlighting the entrenched nature of urban poverty and social injustice in Manila.
This situation vividly illustrates the challenges brought by rapid urbanization and inequality. The cemeteries have effectively become permanent shelters for the homeless, pressing issues of human dignity, health, safety, and exclusion to the forefront of public concern.
Conclusion
The existence of communities living in Manila’s cemeteries reveals a profound social issue that stems from economic hardship, population pressures, and insufficient housing solutions. These families confront numerous hardships, from unsafe water and inadequate sanitation to the absence of legal protection. Yet, they persist in fostering community bonds and fighting to preserve their dignity despite dire circumstances. Addressing this challenge requires urgent social policies aimed at poverty alleviation, affordable housing, and inclusive urban development to ensure no one is forced to make a cemetery their home.