It is not unusual these days to see niches located outside of public cemeteries. This is because the cemeteries are already overcrowded with graves that niches would already be up to several levels. People vising their departed loved ones would already need a stair in order to light a candle on the niches located at the uppermost level. Cemeteries will also be congested with people during All Souls Day when thousands flocked the cemeteries to pay respects to their dead loved ones.
The City Government of San Carlos had a novel idea in solving the congestion in cemeteries and reforestation, bury the dead under a tree through its “Punongkahoy sa Bawat Pumanaw” project which it started in 1999. This project won for San Carlos City the won the Environmental Protection Management category award in the 2000 Galing Pook Awards.
The city government bought a 5,000 sq. km. lot beside the old cemetery and equipped it with burial niches, a ceremonial court, praying area, restrooms, water system and sufficient lighting. A tree park was also installed which is now planted with an initial 1,500 trees.
A resident will have to present a death certificate from the CIty Health Office in order to avail of the memorial park facilities. In order to bury their loved ones in the niches, a fee of P100 for the indigents and P1,000 for non-indigents is required. The City Agriculturist Office then provides a seedling for the family to plant at the tree park. After five years, the bones of the dead should be exhumed and transferred to the foot of the tree they originally planted. The tree will bear the nameplate of the deceased.
So if you happen to pass by the San Carlos Cemetery during All Souls Day, don’t be surprised to see people praying before trees since their loved ones are buried under those trees.