LIGHTS, CANDLE WAX, JOBS
‘Kalag-kalag’ is an opportunity for candle makers, flower sellers and food vendors to earn more.
For local churches as well.
Parishes provide light bulbs in niches and charge a fee for three day’s use.
Jessica Rafols, 37, was one of many “agents” hired by a parish to promote the service for a P260 donation to the church.
“Everytime I sell ten donation slips to customers, I get P200. If my slips are all sold, I request for more. I want to save money to buy my family gifts this Christmas,” she said. /CORRESPONDENT JOSE SANTINO S. BUNACHITA
TANOD’S SIDELINE
A barangay tanod in Calamba cemetery has a sideline during Kalag-kalag.
Billie Barillano installs enclosures in niches to ensure that candles and flowers placed in front of the tombs won’t be stolen. He places a metal frame around the niche, then fits in a clear sheet of glass and a lock.
“It costs around P2,000. But of course you can haggle. I can give it to you for as low as P1,500,” he said. /CORRESPONDENT JOSE SANTINO S. BUNACHITA
KIDS SLEEP OVER
Some children look forward to sleeping at the Calamba cemetery during Kalag-kalag.
They have fun scraping melted candle wax from as many places they could gather.
And they admit taking newly lit ones when no one is looking.
Daniel, 13, who spoke for a group of youngsters, said they sell the melted wax for P40 per kilo. Each boy collects as much as five kilos in a day.
“I dropped out of school because we didn’t have enough money. Now, I just want to save so that I can go back,” said Daniel.
There’s no law against scraping off used candles from tombs but the children have to deal with reprimands from barangay tanods and irked citizens.
Last night, the boys were chased by tanods after they took a P30 candle from a tomb, said 12-year-old John Paul.
“Good thing we weren’t caught,” he said in Cebuano. Correspondent VICTOR ANTHONY SILVA
SCISSORS, BOLOS CONFISCATED
Police outposts in the Calamba cemetery have to deal with 30,000 visitors on the Feast of All Saints and Souls.
Barangay tanods were around to direct visitors to the entrance and exits. People walked slowly as they entered the gate. There was no pushing.
By 4 p.m. of Nov. 1, police had confiscated three scissors, three bolos, three kitchen knives and one ice pick.
Calamba, the biggest cemetery in Cebu City, was watched by 50 policemen and 60 tanods and volunteers. CORRESPONDENT VICTOR ANTHONY SILVA
GRAVE DIGGER ASKS PERMISSION
From cleaning tombs to painting niches to digging graves, Andy De Guzman, 32, has tried it all at cemeteries in barangay Guizo, Mandaue City.
But whenever he has to handle a human corpse, he makes sure to “ask permission” from the departed out of respect.
“Mananghid man jud ko ana. Akoa ingnon before ko mubuhat nga muhabwa mi ha kay igo raman pud mi gisugo ani,” he said. (I always ask their permission first. I tell the dead that we are excavating their resting place because this is our job.)
De Guzman was 20 years old when he started digging graves for P500 each.
The hard labor makes him hungry, and Guzman admits that sometimes, he forgets to wash his hands before eating.
He said he knows this is risky work and that he fears for his health.
His wife convinced him to find another job because their children may get sick.
“Naa man gud koy kauban nga nasakit gani sa baga,” he said. (My co-worker fell ill.)
Today de Guzman is a trisikad driver, earning P300 a day. From time to time, though, he still works at the cemetery when his service is needed. Reporter JUCELL MARIE P. CUYOS
FOOD SALES BRISK
Snacks and meals are in big demand in cemeteries on Nov. 1 and 2.
Fast-food brands were among 20 business establishments that set up stalls in Calamba Cemetery — Dunkin’ Donuts, Mister Donuts, Chowking and Greenwich pizza.
Most stalls stay until November 3. Some operate until midnight of November 2. Most will be open 24 hours.
At noon, the Greenwich stall was packed with people ordering take-out.
Greenwich Raintree Mall Branch Manager Roel Lorenzo said that this was their second time to set up a spot at the Calamba cemetery.
“We’ve prepared for this year because we know that a lot of people will really buy,” he said.
Lorenzo projected making P60,000 in sales over three days.
The cemetery charged a P3,000 fee for stall rental and electricity. correspondent VICTOR ANTHONY V. SILVA