Tuesday, October 30, 2007
THE EARLY BIRDS OF THE NORTH
posted by Señor Enrique at 5:29 PM
14 Comments:
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ScroochChronicles said... We used to go to North Cemetery when I was a kid. My dad's baby brother (stillborn) was buried there. It was so different back then. Now I heard that traffic (both vehicular and human) is horrendous.
For me it was an excursion. I used to ride on the shoulders of another uncle as we made our way to Norte. We would always leave the car a couple of streets away and just walk. And people were very masunurin. I still remember a particular trip and the barker by the entrance was singing "One Way Ticket" so everyone would fall in line to enter. In fairness, sumusunod kami lahat kaya walang traffic :)-
Señor Enrique said...
Most of the folks I spoke to this morning, Scrooch, said they will return tomorrow, the 31st and on Friday, November 2nd. But not on the first, because the entire place is supposedly jam-packed with people.
I can just imagine the madness because in some parts of the cemetery the walkways leading to the niches farther from the roadways are incredibly narrow. And with entire families usually going for a visit, I'd probably get claustrophobic, if I have to find myself inching through those crowds.
But nonetheless, All Soul's Day is a major family holiday and the local Pinoys tend to make the best of it despite the inconveniences.
Incidentally, I didn't see any public toilets.-
EM said...
No public Toilets?! I guess everybody has to go out of the cementery and find a nearby house that would let people in to relieve themselves...of course it's another business opportunity. I've seen it when we go walking from Sampaloc to the Grotto in the Lenten season. Some houses have signs that says we can use their toilet for a fee. :)
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said... I remember many many years ago when I went to the North Cemetery with a family of my close friend, the jeepney we took home had to make a detour and was bloody held up by a bunch of drunk looking thugs! They were stopping every jeepney and robbing the drivers and not the passengers though. That was pretty bold robbery and it did not take long for the cops to arrive ( we could see from afar) and arrested two of the thugs :(
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Liza on Maui said...
senior enrique,
Can I copy of couple of these photos and post it in my blog? I wanted to blog about "Halloween and All Souls Day - the difference of celebration in Phil and USA" - I need some photos like these. please let me know. I'd check back this tread later. thanks.
Liza-
said...
EM di ba dapat for a "pee". :)
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Señor Enrique said...
Oo nga, Anonymous, pero baka di magbayad mga tao, eh, gastos din sa tubig, di ba :)
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Señor Enrique said...
Sure Liza, no problem :)
Sounds like a very interesting article. I will check it out in a bit.-
Señor Enrique said...
That was for why, BW, the Knights Templar was organized -- to protect the pilgrims (and their valuable cache) from such thugs.
Nonetheless, I'm sure it was a frightening experience for the elderly passengers of those jeepneys, as well as for the little kids to see a bunch of drunks accosting those jeepney drivers.
But did you know that most jeepney drivers starting their trips from near the cemeteries double the price of the fare on this day? Amazing, huh?-
Señor Enrique said...
Not even one of those temporary portosans, EM. And was I thankful that I had no need for a bathroom throughout the whole time I was there taking pics.
Isn't the Grotto somewhere in Bulacan?-
EM said...
Amonymous... buti nga kung pee nalang at hindi fee pero it's not good business :)
Senior Enrique...the Grotto I'm referring to is in Antipolo. We start walking around 7 PM on Holy Thursday, walk the whole night and arrive at the Grotto around 3AM of Good Friday. I'm going to look forward to your posts on Lenten season... i'm sure you'll have lots of excellent pictures for us na "we wish we were there" again. Thank you...-
Señor Enrique said...
Wow! That's an 8-hour walk, EM. Talk about dedication or penitence, is it? But I guess, if with a group of people, one would hardly feel the aching feet, huh?
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Liza on Maui said...
Thank you Senior. here's the link:
http://lizas-eyeview.blogspot.com/2007/10/halloween-all-saints-day.html-
Señor Enrique said...
My pleasure, Liza, and thank you for the special mention :)
