Monday, December 28th, 2015. The problem of homelessness is a reason for living among the dead in Manila, the Philippine capital; Coupled with the migration to the cities aggravates the situation. It is one of the most densely populated cities in the world, home to some 20 million inhabitants. The poorest are forced to live in extremely precarious conditions, as the inhabitants of cemeteries.
Some who live in the cemetery are land owners, others are called ‘gatekeepers’, or ‘caretakers’ in English. Care crypt in some cases or rented; but why fate brought them here, it is always the same: lack of money and the impossibility of having decent housing.
The practice of looking for a home in the cemetery, dating back to last century. The arrival of people to cemeteries intensified in recent years with the growth of the population, according to unofficial figures, are now thousands of people who found refuge among the tombs.
Abbots that make dining table and TV cabinet. It sounds weird, but for many Filipinos cemetery has become their home. In Manila the best known of the cemetery neighborhoods, is the North Cemetery. Some of its inhabitants live here with his family from childhood or from birth.
They claim the inhabitants of the North Cemetery, they are there because they own that lot; but before renting a normal house and they decided to use the land and make it their home. It is very difficult to rent a house to pay 200 or 100 dollars, especially for poor people. Some sell flowers outside the cemetery; so if you want to pause to sleep, simply return there after a while.
The cemetery is like a city within the city itself, with its streets and traffic. Its inhabitants are displaced in the iconic “jeepney”, the analog bus that runs through the cemetery and has routes to the center of Manila.
Those who live in the cemetery, facing many challenges and challenges, but also include services that ease your day.
Among the services, there are such small shops where you can buy gum and soft drinks, which can be found in virtually all areas of the cemetery. There are even tennis to play basketball, the most popular sport in the Philippines.
In the tombs or in the rubbish, the remains of the deceased overlook. Many children are engaged in scavenging, looking for something they can sell, such as plastics or metals. The harsh conditions of life do not prevent children play and laugh.
ALFA