Today’s All Soul's Day. It has been a tradition to us to
visit, pray, offer candles and flowers for our departed loved ones on this time
of the year. Some have to travel far to their provinces just to visit which became
their habit already every year. With all the talks about this day, I remember
one time when we had a trip at Cagayan De Oro and able to do a side trip to
Camiguin. We were able to visit a cemetery along the way which I find really
unique and very historical.
Sunken cemetery is located in Bonbon Catarman, one of the
towns in Camiguin Island. There is a huge white cross built in the sea in 1982
which serves as the mark of the gravesite of the province’s locals or ancestors
which were buried underwater after Mt. Vulcaan Daan erupted in 1871. According
to the history, the whole area of the town and sea including its local cemetery
were washed out after a volcanic eruption and strong earthquake happened. Now,
the whole cemetery land is submerged deeper around 20 meters high where
tombstone can’t be seen.
The place is now one of the most visited tourist spot in the
island. From there you can actually take a boat ride to have a closer look of the
cross, but we didn’t find time to do it as we were rushed to visit other sites
in Camiguin. There are also divers who get to see underwater some of original relics
from the sunken cemetery. But then we just took some pictures having different
poses with the cross. And it was fun that the local men out there have some
great skills on taking creative shots. Just like the image above. Cute shot! J
I wrote this short blog for us to remember - All Soul’s day and to know more about our burial grounds that we don’t
actually see every day or not familiar with. It’s really a great thing to see such historical place and learn so much about it.
Sunken Cemetery
Bonbon Catarman at Camiguin Island
Province of Camiguin rests 10 kilometers off the coast of Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao
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