America Military cemetery in Paco Manila, note the gravestones and the niches from afar
November starts with the visit to the cemetery to remember the departed. Prayers, candles and flowers are brought to the graves, with the reminiscent of the past, stories regarding Cemeteries are gone with the wind.
Little has been told about the beauty of "Camposantos", most of them are made to frighten or disgrace both the living and the dead. Many graves has been change due to property ownership, likewise the original paths leading to other niches are boarded by others, niches are packed up in one place, tombstone are stolen by others, and old graves are neglected by others.
But whats something good about cemeteries are the beauty of work done by the karpenteros, sculpture of angels, faces of Christ, La Pieta , and skulls and bones are found in old colonial camposantos. Entrance arches with decorative motifs are also present with the seal of the dead at the key stones. Niches made of stone or brick are use by the elite while the damp ground for the lesser. These graves are mark by marble tombstone with delicate carvings.
Camposantos are also walled up to keep out animals and the living from vandalizing them. Funerary chapels are also built with masses held specific dates. But most of these structure are long gone many are to ruin or been change
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