Undas 2026: Iloilo City cemetery crowd peaks at 33K

ILOILO CITY — Undas drew thousands of families to cemeteries across Iloilo City on Nov. 1, with the crowd estimate peaking at 33,410 in the early evening.

The Iloilo City Emergency Operations Center (EOC) recorded the peak at 6:30 p.m.

Christ the King Cemetery in Barangay Ungka, Jaro, had the largest crowd at 7,000, followed by the Public Cemetery in Barangay Poblacion, Molo, with 4,950.

Aglipay Cemetery along Tanza Road in City Proper had 4,220 people, while Forest Lake Cemetery in Calahunan, Mandurriao, recorded 3,650.

Jaro Public Cemetery in Barangay Cuartero had 2,100, followed by Green Garden Memorial Park in Tagbac, Jaro, with 2,000, and Arevalo Public Cemetery with 1,450.

By 9 p.m., crowd estimates had declined at most monitored sites.

Forest Lake Cemetery was the exception, with its crowd more than doubling to 8,000, the highest among the listed locations at that hour.

Christ the King had 2,000, followed by Molo Public Cemetery with 1,500, Green Garden Memorial Park with 1,300, and Mandurriao Public Cemetery with 1,200.

Aside from cemeteries, the EOC also tracked passenger traffic at major land and sea gateways.

Maritime traffic peaked at Parola Wharf on Oct. 31, with 800 to 1,000 passengers. The Fastcraft Terminal handled 630 to 1,100 passengers.

Tagbak and Mohon terminals each accommodated about 600 commuters during peak morning hours, according to the EOC.

The city had projected an influx of 250,000 to 350,000 residents and travelers for All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

Undas refers to the Filipino observance of All Saints’ Day on Nov. 1 and All Souls’ Day on Nov. 2, when families visit the graves of departed relatives.

18 get medical attention

The city’s Health and Sanitation Cluster reported that it had attended to 18 patients as of Nov. 2.

The cases included an 81-year-old woman who briefly lost consciousness for about 30 seconds at Christ the King Cemetery and a 72-year-old woman who experienced chest pain at La Paz Old Cemetery.

At Molo Public Cemetery, responders assisted a 54-year-old woman with hyperglycemia and a 70-year-old woman who slipped and complained of lower back and hip pain.

Other cases, several involving elderly visitors, included dizziness, headaches, knee pain, and minor injuries.

The Philippine Red Cross treated patients with forehead and foot lacerations. Among them were a 23-year-old man assisted by a roving ambulance in Balabago, a 28-year-old man at Iloilo City Public Cemetery, and a 40-year-old man at Tanza 2 Public Cemetery.

Several visitors also sought blood pressure checks at Tanza and Molo public cemeteries.

Over 1,100 personnel deployed

The Iloilo City government remains on Blue Alert until Nov. 3. Under a Blue Alert, the EOC is partially activated and response agencies are on standby.

The EOC is coordinating the deployment of police officers, traffic personnel, firefighters, medical responders, and utility workers to cemeteries, transport terminals, and seaports.

The Iloilo City Police Office deployed 487 personnel, supported by 28 mobile patrol vehicles, 10 motorcycles, and four bicycles.

The Public Order and Safety Management Office mobilized 413 personnel to manage traffic and pedestrian movement.

The Bureau of Fire Protection deployed 122 personnel, 11 fire engines, and three emergency ambulances.

The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office assigned 20 emergency medical services personnel with five ambulances.

The office’s Urban Search and Rescue unit conducted aerial monitoring of crowd density and potential bottlenecks.

The Philippine Coast Guard stationed 45 personnel at maritime gateways for security inspections and patrols.

MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power), the city’s power distributor, mobilized 58 linemen and technical personnel with 12 service vehicles to help ensure power supply and emergency lighting around memorial parks.

In all, the six agencies deployed at least 1,145 personnel for the observance.