Cebu City cemeteries observe no-visit order

CEBU, Philippines —  The observance of the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day in Cebu City has been generally peaceful as no visitors allowed in the cemeteries from October 29 to November 4.

Though the Cebu City Police Office received report of shooting incident but its deputy director for operations, Police Lt. Colonel Wilbert Parilla, said it was not related to the occasion.

Parilla said there were some who attempted to get inside the cemeteries but were barred entry by the cops tasked to guard the entry points.

“Kay kung naay usa pasudlon mokatay-katay na na," said Parilla.

The police also did not receive any report of forced entry.

The Cebu City government also did not receive any untoward incidents during the occasion.

“Tanang menteryo sa atong dakbayan nituman gyud sa mando sa atong dakbayan ug nisabot nga para ni sa kaayuhan sa atong mga katawhan,” said Councilor Dave Tumulak.

Tumulak did the rounds in the cemeteries to ensure that everything was in order.

He commended the police and the members of the City’s Prevention, Restoration, Beautification and Enhancement (PROBE) Team, among others, for the strict implementation of the order from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) and Mayor Edgardo Labella closing down cemeteries during the observance.

Only priests, sacristans, lay ministers and operators of the sound system for the masses for the dead were allowed entry to cemeteries.

There were some who went to cemeteries, but only to drop candles outside while others opted to leave the flowers and candles at churches.

On November 5, cemetery visits are already allowed but quarantine passes are required and other quarantine protocols remain in force.

“Nasayud mi nga nagguol ta nga wa ta nakaduaw panahon sa mga kalag, apan ato sad angay huna-hunaon nga ang gibuhat sa gobiyerno para ni sa atong tanan nga dili mokatap pagbalik ang Covid-19,” said Tumulak.

Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella himself said this year's All Souls' Day had become more meaningful due to the pandemic.

“This year's commemoration of All Souls' Day is made more meaningful by the pandemic. It has changed the way we marked it, stopping us from gathering together and celebrating the lives of our dear departed. But we are bound even closer by our shared grief," Labella said.

Labella honored the dead in the continued fight to protect the community and in rebuilding the city.

"Nag-ampo ako alang sa kahupayan kaninyong tanan nga nagmasulub-on pa. Hinaut nga ang malipayon nga mga handumanan sa inyong mga minahal sa kinabuhi makatabang og paghubas sa kasakit," said Labella via Facebook. — Caecent No-ot Magsumbol and Decemay P. Padilla, GMR (FREEMAN)