Life among the dead: Growing up making a living in a cemetery

Aries Mariano, 37, has been painting tombs inside the Manila North Cemetery for 10 years. (Dianne Sampang/INQUIRER.net)

MANILA, Philippines — Cemeteries are not only sanctuaries for the departed. Some of the living have spent more than half their lives in mausoleums and make-shift shelters. 

At the Manila North Cemetery, which welcomed thousands of visitors this Undas season, a number of individuals were busy making ends meet by maintaining and cleaning tombstones and other cleaning tasks.

Ame Baldoza, 75, has been living inside the cemetery for more than 40 years. 

“Dito na ako nagkapamilya. Kasama ko ‘yong tatlo kong apo dito,” Baldoza told INQUIRER.net. 

(This is where I raised my family. I am currently with my three grandchildren.)

When asked how she explained to her grandchildren why they live in a cemetery, she replied: “Sabi ko, sa hirap ng buhay kaya dito tayo napadpad.” (I said, we ended up here because of life’s hardships.)

Baldoza recalled that she was a former caregiver of an elderly woman who is interred at the mausoleum where she currently stays. 

“Naging caregiver ako ni lola kaya pinayagan niya ako dito. Inalagaan ko pa siya hanggang sa ospital hanggang sa mamatay,” Baldoza added. 

(I was the old woman’s caregiver, that’s why she allowed me to stay here.  I took care of her in the hospital until she died.)

Baldoza is currently a caretaker of several tombstones and gravesites, and usually receives P100 a month.

 She, however, said she accepts whatever amount the relatives of the departed can afford or are willing to shell out. 

“Lalo na yung mahirap na kapares ko po, naunawaan ko naman. Kaso sabi ko, ibigay niyo yung karapat-dapat sa akin sa paglilinis dahil kailangan ko rin po,” she said. 

 (I understand those who are poor like me. But I also tell them to give me what I deserve from being a caretaker because I also need them.)

In another part of the sprawling cemetery, Aries Mariano, 37 years, was busy sprucing up a tomb. He has been in this line of work for 10 years. 

Mariano has spent 25 years of his life living inside the cemetery. He is currently living alone, but he used to live inside the cemetery with his aunt. 

“Okay lang ang buhay [dito],” Mariano told INQUIRER.net. (Life here is okay.)

He shared that he earns around P700 daily since September for painting tombs. 

“Pag walang Undas, construction din ako sa labas… Okay naman po ang kita,” Mariano added.

(If it is not Undas, I do construction work outside. The pay is okay.)

Ligaya Garcia, meantime, has lived inside the cemetery since she was 10.

Garcia said that her parentsbrought and raised here inside the cemetery.

Garcia, a mother of 14 children, is currently living with four of them in a make-shift shelter.

“Mabuti naman [ang buhay]. Sa awa ng Diyos, nabubuhay pa rin. Isang kahig, isang tuka,” she told INQUIRER.net. 

(Life is OK. With God’s mercy, we are still alive.)

She receives around P300 or P500 sweeping away trash and fallen leaves.

Her family also runs a small variety store.

The three residents shared that given the chance, they would move out of the cemetery.

“Sana, kagaya ngayon matanda na ako. Namild stroke ako,” said Baldoza. 

 (I hope so, I am old now. I even had a a mild stroke.)