Controversial cemetery gets new name

CEBU, Philippines - The Roman Catholic Cemetery known as the Doña Pepang Cemetery in Barangay Tejero will now be called the Cebu Heritage Park.

This was announced by Mayor Michael Rama yesterday, saying that no less than the families with relatives buried at the cemetery agreed on the new name during the consultative meeting Sunday.

 “Dili Cebu City (Heritage Park) kay ang Roman Catholic Cemetery diha, you can just imagine when (was) it existed… naa pa gani gilubong diha nga nag-una pa sa Osmeña mga 1920 and wala pa ma-syudad ang Cebu ato,” Rama said.

“It is just fitting to name it as Cebu Heritage Park,” he added.   The city will develop the cemetery into a park.

“The whole project was agreed by everyone provided that they are just focused on the design and how expenses and criteria of identifying heritage,” Rama said.

At least 30 out of 35 families were present during the consultation. The families want the city to spend for the beautification project, to spend if there will be remains to be transferred, to have the remains of their family members to stay within the area, and for the city to keep their mausoleums.

Rama said the concerns will be addressed in future consultative meetings so that a development plan agreed upon by the majority will be reached.

As regards identifying which mausoleums will be retained and integrated into the design, Rama said he already instructed Architect Socorro Atega to make choices that are practicable.

“I was very clear to Atega that design is good but we need practicability, reasonability...the issue now is how to integrate with the essence of practicability and reasonableness and fairness,” Rama said.

As to whether or not the cemetery would still be open for internment in the future, Rama said a policy has to be set.

“As of now, it may not be encouraged. As I’ve told them, if ever they are thinking kay naa rabay gub-onon kay ibalhin sa columbary, I would encourage nga kon maka-afford, total after five years, you can bring it nga isulod sa columbary,” he said.

He announced that the families have chosen a representative of the Alonso family to pursue a coffee table book that would feature those who are buried at the cemetery, as well as the history of the place.  (FREEMAN)