Cementerio de Binondo (La Loma Cemetery)
Fr. Ramon Caviedas, the Franciscan friar who built the Sampaloc cemetery located at the hills of Balic-balic, Sampaloc, Manila, was himself buried on a cemetery located on the hills of La Loma (called cementerio de Binondo as it was formerly part of the jurisdiction of Santa Cruz, Manila during the Spanish colonial period).
Photo right: Today, one enters the former Binondo cemetery from Jose Abad Santos. Note the iron gate with the “campo santo de la loma” sign. The design shows a degree of similarity with the original, and very beautiful, wrought iron grill gate of Binondo cemetery.
According to Architect Lorelei D.C. de Viana, the cemetery of Binondo was surrounded by a three meter high stone masonry fence and had distinctive wrought iron grill gate with statues of angels guarding it. Below is an 1899 image taken from a stereograph printed by Underwood and Underwood.
The photo above shows the original iron grill main gate (with two smaller side gates) of Binondo cemetery located at La Loma. The funerary chapel can be seen from the background with the distinctive dome design. However, what is interesting to note are the two iron column pairs which bears strong resemblance to the iron columns that stands in today’s entrance to La Loma cemetery. What happened to these very beautiful cemetery gate?
Photo above shows what remains of the once very beautiful gate of Binondo cemetery – a mute memorial to the neglect of historical and church heritage architecture. The wrought iron gates are no more…one asks again, were the gates sold to scrap iron dealers, or to antique dealers?
Close-up of what remains of the right stone column of the main entrance to Binondo cemetery complete with graffiti.
I don’t know about this interesting site. Is it in Santa Cruz or Binondo?
eric aka senor enrique said this on September 4, 2007 at 12:12 am |
La Loma cemetery closer to the Chinese cemetery and the North Cemetery of Manila.
curatormuseo said this on September 7, 2007 at 2:29 pm |
is this the same as the Binondo Catholic Cemetery of the 1900’s? I am in search of my great grandmother’s remains. Hope someone can help.
doc bimbo said this on May 29, 2009 at 8:03 am |
yes, same cemetery. You may proceed to La Loma Catholic cemetery and check if the burial records contain the name of your grandmother. However, you need to have an idea of date of death or date of burial.
curatormuseo said this on May 29, 2009 at 12:01 pm |
[…] Cementerio de Binondo (La Loma Cemetery) July 2007 4 comments […]
2010 in review « Museo Santisima Trinidad said this on January 2, 2011 at 8:25 am |
Thank you for this information. We are doing some research on Manila Cemeteries & I found this website. Can I ask where you got your primary data (on the establishment of the campo santo)? Thank you and your help is greatly appreciated!
Kat M. said this on January 3, 2011 at 2:28 am |
For Binondo cemetery, see work by Arch. Lorelie de Viana, “Public Sanitation and Cemeteries in 19th Century Manila.” UNITAS, 2004, Vol 77, No 1., pp. 87-132.Are you doing undergraduate or graduate level research?
curatormuseo said this on January 3, 2011 at 5:15 am |
Hi, thank you for the reply! I am doing a graduate research at UP.Do you mind if I get your email address for a personal transaction? Thanks again!
Kat M. said this on January 5, 2011 at 5:43 am
mrgaerlan2004@yahoo.com
curatormuseo said this on January 6, 2011 at 2:20 pm |
[…] Around 100 meters from the facade of the old chapel are two stone columns, which used to be the original stone columns of the iron grill main gate of the cemetery. An old image of how the main gate and the church looked like in 1899 can be seen here. […]
Campo Santo de La Loma and its “Lumang Simbahan” | Lakwatsero loves Pilipinas! said this on May 3, 2011 at 1:04 am |
OMG! I don’t think it is a similarity. I think it is all part of the original gate. What a waste of an important heritage structure. I wish the city government would bring it back to how it stood in the late 1800’s.
Dr. Bimbo Sta. Maria said this on February 19, 2012 at 4:35 am |
I was just reviewing the posts and i was surprised that i did ask help from you in 2009. thanks to your reply then and yes, i found my grandmothers remains. She is Maria Carpena, Philippines’ first recording artist. She is not listed though in the personalities buried at La Loma. Sad that she has been long forgotten and her contribution to Philippine Music and Theater.
Dr. Bimbo Sta. Maria said this on February 19, 2012 at 4:41 am |
Thank you for your feedback and I am glad that museo santisima trinidad was of some help in your search for the remains of Maria Carpena, your grandma. regards.
curatormuseo said this on February 19, 2012 at 7:51 pm |
finally all my question was answered when I read this. My father was also buried near in the the main entrance gate. its really amazing we always park our car near in that stone, and I thought soul or ghost was inside the old church. and i cant help my self to took a picture every time we visit my father there, old church is really an eye catcher.
Anonymous said this on April 13, 2013 at 1:42 pm |
its like going back to olden days,i guess the most beautiful cemetery in the Philippines
its sad to say the wrought iron grill gate was no longer stand i hope the manila city gov will fix it or replace it same design to bring back its glory days of old manila
dex said this on August 9, 2013 at 11:56 pm |
what are the burial practices during the spanish colonization?
ikatlo buensuceso said this on September 28, 2013 at 2:59 pm |
[…] Museum dan Perpustakaan KepresidenanWikipedia, abmc.gov, boywander.com, kuratormuseo.wordpress.com, davalance.blogspot.com, enterdavao.blogspot.com, Heritagepark.com.ph, ioilometropolitantimes.com, […]
Seberapa baik Anda mengenal kuburan kami? said this on September 16, 2023 at 9:17 am |