Nearly 55K visitors flock Libingan ng mga Bayani on All Saints’ Day

Nearly 55,000 cemetery-goers visited Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig on All Saints' Day.

Col. Xerxes Trinidad, Philippine Army spokesperson and concurrent Armed Forces of the Philippines' Public Affairs Office chief said a total of 54,668 cemetery-goers have visited their departed loved ones as of 6 p.m. on Wednesday, 1 November.

Trinidad said the Grave Services Unit of Army Support Command—the managing unit of the Libingan ng mga Bayani—has logged a total of 14,223 vehicles in the area. It has also recorded about 54,681 early visitors and 3,897 vehicles on 31 October.

Based on the Philippine Army's latest data, the number of cemetery-goers on 1 Nov. this year is higher than in the past three years, with 14,496 visitors in 2022; 36,760 in 2019; and 50,699 in 2018.

The Philippine National Police and Bureau of Fire Protection have also deployed personnel to the cemetery to conduct patrolling within the vicinity.

Among the early cemetery goers are former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who visited her father, former President Diosdado Macapagal, on 30 October, and Senator Raffy Tulfo who visited his father's grave on 29 October.

Incumbent President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also visited his father and namesake, former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. for All Saints' Day. He was joined by his mother, former First Lady Imelda Marcos, and his sister Irene Marcos.

The Philippine Army continues to monitor the number of visitors to Libingan ng mga Bayani until All Souls' Day on 2 November.