In death, action star and presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. continues to help his fellow man, albeit in a somewhat questionable manner.
At the Manila North Cemetery where his remains lie, “Daang FPJ” or FPJ’s Way may sound like a pilgrimage site but it is actually an unofficial rear entrance to Metro Manila’s oldest cemetery.
The route was named after Poe because it ends up close to the tomb of the late actor.
The path goes up and down 12-foot ladders traversing make-shift houses and the top of apartment-style niches on the cemetery walls along A. Bonifacio Avenue at the boundary of Manila and Quezon City.
Ernesto Enriquez, 53, one of the “keepers” of Daang FPJ told the Inquirer that most of those who come to the cemetery from Quezon City use the path since it takes them straight to the rear of the grounds rather than having to take the roundabout way from the main entrance on Blumentritt Street.
“It is more convenient for most of the visitors whose dead are buried in this far corner of the cemetery,” he said.
Enriquez said those passing through Daang FPJ were not required to pay anything but donations as low as P1 were welcome. Security checks also appeared to be nonexistent.
He said the path had been there since before he was born but it only got its name when “Da King” of Filipino movies was buried at the North Cemetery in 2004.
Manila Police District Sta. Cruz Station 3 commander Supt. James Afalla told the Inquirer the Daang FPJ actually helps decongest the main gates of the cemetery and some prominent people even use the path.
“We just have to secure that portion and make sure that we have control of what people are bringing in to the cemetery so we would prefer that visitors go through the main gate,” Afalla said.
He said that approximately 100,000 people came to the North Cemetery on Monday and some 500 pieces of contraband materials were confiscated at the gates.
Among the materials confiscated were belts with large metal buckles, dining forks, steel brushes, tools and flammable materials, including paint in spray cans and bottles of paint thinner.
Afalla said the eve of All Saints’ Day was generally peaceful with no untoward incidents reported.
He anticipates the same number of persons would visit the cemetery on Nov. 1.
“For the past three days, there has been a steady flow of visitors, particularly those who wanted to avoid coming here on All Saints’ Day. We have been advising the public to visit early so there would not be overcrowding which is a magnet for pickpockets and thieves,” Afalla said.