Kin find loved ones' tombs occupied by others' remains in Barangka on All Saints'Day

[Mike J]

34 minutes ago, craftbeerlover said:

what a fn country

Lived here for 11+ years.  Philippines is home for me at this point and I expect to remain here for the rest of my life.  Folks back home ask 'what is it like to live here'?  I tell them some people will love, like, or at least be content here.  Others will say 'why would anyone want to live there'.  I expect the Philippines is a lot like many/most countries around the world in that respect.  Some expats living here are vocal critics at every opportunity and appear to have little or no respect for the people, country, and culture.  I really do think these people would be unhappy and critical no matter where they lived.  My opinion of course, but also held by a number of expats I have met. 

[GeoffH]

23 hours ago, Possum said:

Curious, how much is the lease for a grave?

 

It varies from cemetery to cemetery and from plot type to plot type within the cemetery.  A single/dual wall vault is cheaper than a single/dual ground plot which is cheaper than a family ground plot which is cheaper than a family vault.

In this particular cemetery, for this particular vault it was 20000 peso for a 10 year extension (for 2 sets of remains).

There are more basic cemeteries which are much cheaper, this one is aimed at the middle class I'd guess.

 

 

Nb... I became aware of a new scam yesterday, evidently thieves steal flowers from graves and then sell them out the front of the cemetery to other people. 

The Facebook group for the island where the family are from is blowing up with accusations and videos have gone local viral of people reclaiming thier flowers and accusing others of stealing.

I'm glad we don't live on the island is all I can say, it was dramatic enough with her 'updating' me with the latest gossip her sister messaged her with 😆

Edited Sunday at 01:18 PM by GeoffH

[Mike J]

2 hours ago, GeoffH said:

 

Nb... I became aware of a new scam yesterday, evidently thieves steal flowers from graves and then sell them out the front of the cemetery to other people. 

😆

I thought I was the only one doing that except I would take them to my girlfriend or give to mom on mother's day.  

[hk blues]

In the UK you typically also only lease the plot so this is not unique to the Philippines.  Sure, the lease is longer - seems to be anywhere between 30 and 50 years bit it's still limited and not all that long. 

In my city there was a cemetery in the city centre which was developed into apartments.  The last burial was, if I recall correctly,  around 100 years before.

 

[scott h]

1 hour ago, Mike J said:

I thought I was the only one doing that except I would take them to my girlfriend or give to mom on mother's day.

I do not do that, but living near the parish church, I do join the funeral processions and catch the peso coins folks throw at the Hearst. (then hang around and get one of the sack lunches they hand out) 

[craftbeerlover]

7 hours ago, Mike J said:

Lived here for 11+ years.  Philippines is home for me at this point and I expect to remain here for the rest of my life.  Folks back home ask 'what is it like to live here'?  I tell them some people will love, like, or at least be content here.  Others will say 'why would anyone want to live there'.  I expect the Philippines is a lot like many/most countries around the world in that respect.  Some expats living here are vocal critics at every opportunity and appear to have little or no respect for the people, country, and culture.  I really do think these people would be unhappy and critical no matter where they lived.  My opinion of course, but also held by a number of expats I have met. 

Obviously directed at me, and even more obvious I can only speak for myself.    Been here 13 years, it is home for me and I also plan to spend the rest of my life here.  I have been immersed in this culture for about 34 years now.   My oldest fil/Am son is 31   Am I critical, you bet your ass.   Do I respect the people, country and culture of course I do, especially the people/culture.   I am not an unhappy individual at all, I could not ask for a better family, and family life, I am very active, and have made way more filipino friends than foreigners (by a large margin).  I am extremely kind and considerate to every filipino I have met, and will continue to be.   Having said that, there are many things that are f'd up here, and I am a speak your mind kind of guy, call a spade a spade so to speak.  If you want to be judgemental, that for sure is your prerogative...   All my opinion of course, but also held by a number of expats that I know.

[Mike J]

7 minutes ago, craftbeerlover said:

Obviously directed at me, and even more obvious I can only speak for myself.    Been here 13 years, it is home for me and I also plan to spend the rest of my life here.  I have been immersed in this culture for about 34 years now.   My oldest fil/Am son is 31   Am I critical, you bet your ass.   Do I respect the people, country and culture of course I do, especially the people/culture.   I am not an unhappy individual at all, I could not ask for a better family, and family life, I am very active, and have made way more filipino friends than foreigners (by a large margin).  I am extremely kind and considerate to every filipino I have met, and will continue to be.   Having said that, there are many things that are f'd up here, and I am a speak your mind kind of guy, call a spade a spade so to speak.  If you want to be judgemental, that for sure is your prerogative...   All my opinion of course, but also held by a number of expats that I know.

This gives a far more accurate post of who you are, how you feel, than "what a fkn country".  

[craftbeerlover]

8 minutes ago, Mike J said:

This gives a far more accurate post of who you are, how you feel, than "what a fkn country".  

that was specific to throwing peoples remains into a mass grave

[GeoffH]

5 hours ago, craftbeerlover said:

that was specific to throwing peoples remains into a mass grave

It's still consecrated ground; from what I was told the remains are put in cloth bags and moved to the unmarked grave area.

It is a 'mass grave' in the sense that it's a large number of unmarked and not clearly separated burial sites but its not like a war crime mass grave.

Perhaps I shouldn't have used that term, it carries connotations I didn't intend.

Edited Sunday at 01:28 PM by GeoffH

[craftbeerlover]

20 minutes ago, GeoffH said:

It is a 'mass grave' in the sense that it's a large number of unmarked and not clearly separated burial sites but its not like a war crime mass grave.

hahaha I was not imagining WWII imagery, but in a country that claims to be religious to an extreme, the actions of what you describe is almost unbelievable (I do believe it)