FAMILIES may be observing a wet All Saints’ Day as most of the cemeteries in Masantol town are still submerged leg-deep in floodwaters.
According to residents of Barangay San Nicolas where most cemeteries are located, floods in the area are subsiding slowly since water has been trapped from the upgraded level of streets.
“Floods in the cemeteries have not subsided since the onslaught of the rainy season in July. And like the past few years, most likely it will remain flooded even until November 2,” residents said.
In one of the Catholic cemeteries, the lower portions of the “apartment tombs” are soaked in floods while only half of the individual graves are out of waters.
Despite the flood, residents said the volume of people visiting their departed loved ones in cemeteries in past years has not visibly dropped.
“For the past years, many people still light candles and offer flowers to their departed loved ones despite the flooding in the cemeteries,” residents recalled.
Some of the families even continue the long-time tradition of holding mini reunions at the tombs of their late relatives even with their feet soaked in floodwaters, an elderly resident added.
In the past years, owners of private cemeteries and the local government usually create temporary bridges and pump out water from the area to allow families in as they pay respects to the departed.
Families are also advised to wear plastic boots to avoid being infected with water-borne diseases, especially that floodwaters in the cemeteries have been stagnant for the past months.
If possible, people are encouraged to light candles and say their prayers at home during All Saints’ Day to avoid any untoward incidents.