Manila Memorial Park sees surge in early Undas visitors

MANILA – Manila Memorial Park in Sucat experienced higher-than-anticipated foot traffic on Friday as Filipinos began paying respects to their departed loved ones ahead of Undas. Security personnel at the cemetery documented 16,183 visitors as of noon, outpacing the facility's initial estimate of 15,000 daily visitors.

The surge reflects the annual pattern of Filipinos visiting cemeteries in the days preceding All Saints' Day on November 1. Families traditionally use this period to maintain graves, leave flowers, and perform religious rites for deceased relatives.

Cemetery management has been monitoring visitor flow to ensure smooth operations throughout the Undas season. The higher-than-expected turnout underscores the continued significance of the holiday in Filipino culture and the enduring importance of cemetery visitations during this period.

As the observance approaches, cemetery authorities are preparing for sustained increases in daily visitor numbers through the weekend and into November 1.