Manila Memorial Park logs over 140,000 visitors on All Souls' Day - Inquirer.net

Millions Visit Cemeteries Across the Philippines for Undas 2026

As millions of Filipinos gathered across the nation to observe the annual Undas holidays, over 140,000 people flocked to Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City alone by Monday afternoon, according to administration figures cited by INQUIRER.net. Visitors braved intense afternoon heat, bringing their own tents to pitch near family gravesites before cooler evening temperatures brought a fresh wave of mourners.

Occidental Mindoro police chief inspects cemetery security — Photo: Daily Tribune

Nationwide, the Philippine National Police reported that more than 40 million individuals visited over 5,300 cemeteries, memorial parks, and columbaria since October 30. PNP Chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. addressed the massive crowds in a statement, emphasizing the police force’s commitment to public safety during the solemn holiday.

Alam naming mahalaga ang araw na ito sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino. Kaya habang inaalala ninyo ang inyong mga mahal sa buhay, narito ang inyong kapulisan upang tumulong at tiyaking ligtas ang inyong pagdalaw, Nartatez stated.

That outreach translated into strict security measures at entry points. Security forces confiscated 6,499 prohibited items nationwide, including nearly 900 bladed weapons, thousands of lighters and smoking products, and various flammable substances and cooking materials, as reported by SunStar.

Regional Deployments and Return Travel Security

Security and logistical operations extended far beyond the capital. In Central Luzon, over 13,000 police personnel, augmentation forces, and force multipliers deployed to secure 688 memorial sites across the region, according to Police Regional Office 3 Director Brig. Gen. Jess Mendez, as reported by Journal Daily News Online. Authorities established more than 600 Police Assistance Desks to manage public safety and maintain visibility along major expressways like the North Luzon Expressway and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.

Photo by Juan Carlo de Vela — Photo: Sunstar

Further south in Occidental Mindoro, Provincial Director PCOL Ali Jose A. Duterte conducted personal readiness inspections at the San Jose Public Cemetery and the Central Public Cemetery, executing red-teaming exercises to evaluate emergency responsiveness, as detailed by the Daily Tribune.

As the holiday draws to a close, law enforcement focus has shifted decisively toward managing the massive northbound and return traffic heading back into Metro Manila. National Capital Region Police Office Director Brigadier General Christopher Abrahano appealed directly to motorists for patience and discipline, urging drivers to avoid dangerous practices like counterflowing and illegal parking that choke major transport hubs.