Death doesn’t put an end to the luxurious lifestyles of some of Manila’s wealthy Chinese residents.
They are buried by their loved ones in a mammoth graveyard known as the
Chinese Cemetery of Manila. This place is a small neighborhood in it’s
own right, with many tombs reaching the size of mansions with all the
modern amenities included!
The ginormous mausoleums lining either side of two-way streets within
the cemetery are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities that many
living people can only dream of. They have fully-functioning kitchens
and bathrooms with luxury fittings, and plush bedrooms for visiting
relatives. Some of these places even have full-time residents who don’t
seem to mind sharing their living space with the dead.
The unconventional cemetery was first established by the Chinese
trading community in Manila when Spanish colonials prevented them from
using Catholic cemeteries. They were forced to find their own space to
bury their dead, and it looks like they really went all out to customize
it to their liking, making sure that their loved ones felt comfortable
even in the afterlife.
But apparently, the Chinese Cemetery of Manila was never meant
to be this luxurious. Nicky Chen of Behind the Story visited the place
and discovered the original rules of the cemetery carved in stone. Some
of these state that “The rich should be frugal and simple in their
burial, and the burial should conform to Chinese traditions”, “Grave
site design should be simple and dignified” and “To discourage displays
of opulence, the unit price of lots beyond two are set on a geometric
progression”.
Judging by the current look of the place, people have clearly forgotten all about them.
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