A VISIT TO PACO PARK/CEMETERY

By Rene Calalang
Scarborough-Canada
March 26, 2016



WHEN I told a friend that I would be writing a short article about a historical cemetery in the Philippines, he looked amazed and asked me, “Which one?”

SO HERE WE GO.

BECAUSE of the outbreak of cholera epidemic in 1807, an administrative order came for the construction of a municipal cemetery as the burial place for the affluent and powerful members of the Spanish families living in the Old Manila, or the city within the walls of Intramuros.

Maestro de Obras Don Nicolas Ruiz designed the original circular cemetery with niches built in on its walls, named Cementerio General de Dilao or Paco Cemetery. It is located approximately two kilometers from Intramuros.

On April 12, 1822, it was officially inaugurated despite it being already in use for two years earlier because of the cholera epidemic.

In 1859, Governor General Fernando de Norzagaray proposed the expansion of the cemetery to its present size of 4100 square meters by building an outer wall, concentric and encompassing the original walls, where at present, in between the two walls is a landscaped space for walking and strolling.

In the middle of the cemetery is Saint Pancratius Chapel - a small, oval shaped chapel with domed roof, named after the memory of Saint Pancratius, a Roman citizen who converted to Christianity, but was beheaded at age fourteen for his faith, making him, because of his young age, the Patron Saint of Children. It is under the jurisdiction of San Vicente de Paul Parish, Ermita, Manila.

The cemetery would also be a resting place to some Filipino heroes, one of which, though temporary, would become our National Hero.

During the early part of American colonial period, American soldiers killed in action in the Philippines were temporarily buried in the cemetery, as their remains would later be shipped to their final resting place in the United States. Most prominent of this was Major General Henry Lawton, the highest ranking American soldier killed in the Philippine American War of 1899-1902.

Internment in the cemetery was stopped in 1912 by the Americans, and descendants of those buried there had the remains of their ancestors exhumed and transferred to other cemeteries.

But there are still some who were not exhumed, as there are still sixty five, most notable of which is one by the name of Dorotea Mateo, who died on August 14, 1882, buried in the cemetery. It also includes twenty two children who were buried on the burial place dedicated to infants.

DURING World War II, the Japanese Army used it as a supply and ammunition storage, and because of its thick and high adobe wall, used it for the defense of Manila against the advancing American Forces.

In the 1960’s it became a project of the National Park Development Committee, with Ildeponso Paez Santos, a renowned landscape architect who would later become a National Artist, designing the cemetery into a National Park.

In 1966, it was made into a National Park by the then President Diosdado Macapagal.

During the Marcos era, when culture was given more emphasis, Paco Park was chosen to host such events.

On October 29, 1980, the Federal Government of Germany through its Press and Cultural Attache at the German Embassy and the then Vice Chairperson of the National Park Development Committee held a classical concert at Paco Park to celebrate the Philippine-German Month, which would become a weekly Friday afternoon tradition known as Paco Park Presents, featuring the exchange of German and Filipino artists.


·       Fathers Gomez, Burgos and Zamora – Leaders of the Cavite Mutiny were buried in a common grave after their execution on February 17, 1872 in Bagumbayan. Ironically, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, who was then ten years old was one of those who witnessed the execution and vowed to one day avenge the death of such victims, would be buried, albeit temporary only, in the same cemetery.
·       Major General Henry Lawton – the highest ranking military general killed in the Philippine American War was temporary buried at the cemetery with full military honor before his remains were transferred to his final resting place in the United States.

SO you see Virginia, cemeteries, which houses the remains of the mortal bodies of heroes, is just as historical as the museums, which houses the memorabilia of their heroism.

TODAY, the former cemetery, because of its history, is a favourite venue among romantic couples for weddings and other milestone celebrations. It is also used for movie and TV productions.