By Fernan Angeles
NEITHER would there be visits nor vigils in honor of the dead come All Saint’s Day and the All Souls Day on November 1 and 2 in Metro Manila as mayors from the National Capital Region hinted at a consensus that would see all cemeteries and pantheons closed on those days amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez, chairman of the Metro Manila Council, said they are set to convene this week to finalize a uniform policy for the observation of All Souls and All Saints Days after the meeting.
“Pag-uusapan namin this coming Sunday, ng Metro Manila Council, kasama sa agenda namin, para magkaroon kami ng uniform, unified na policy sa darating na Todos Los Santos,” he said.
As of this posting only two of the 16 cities and lone municipality have, so far, ordered the temporary closure of cemeteries on November 1 and 2 – Manila and Mandaluyong cities.
Olivarez, who admits he too has yet to issue an order regarding restrictions for the annual tradition, hinted on local government units’ prerogative to come up with such order.
Parañaque hosts the largest private cemetery in the entire Metro Manila.
“Ang Parañaque as of now wala pa kasi hinihintay namin yung pag-uusap ng Metro Manila Council, kasi katulad ng nabanggit ko, yung mga pupunta sa sementeryo sa amin hindi lang taga-Parañaque lang kundi all over Metro Manila,” he said.
“Pero yung ginawa ng dalawang LGU, prerogative nila yun,” Olivarez added, referring to Manila and Mandaluyong.