about fifteen feet below lies the crypt containing 36 niches buried during the Spanish times. it was cold down there maybe because it was drizzling when we were there.
i went along with Theonoski who drive us all the way from Alabang to Nagcarlan Laguna. we were eight in the group including Orlan who usually joins me on my trips. we had a stopover in the town of San Pablo, which i featured before.
upon reaching Nagcarlan, we had a hard time to look for a parking lot since the road right infront of the site's entrance is quite narrow. we then parked inside the town's municipal hall parking lot which is just a walk away from the cemetery.
the site is well maintained with the ground lawn forming a beautiful landscape surrounded by a wall. from that perspective, it looked more like a park than a cemetery.
240 niches can be seen beside the chapel's wall. people buried there were mostly residents of the town of Nagcarlan during the Spanish era until the early 80s.
straight infront of the gate stands a small chapel where the last rites are being held. we were welcomed by the site's curator who first discussed to us the historical background of the cemetery. 
the curator of the site is a representative of the National Historical Institute of the Philippines, who currently manages this site. Though it is still owned by the Catholic church.
upon entering the chapel, an altar can first be seen and a ceiling partly restored with pieces of woods attached on top. the floor tiles are still intact and on one side a stairway can be seen.
we were allowed to take photos as long as we don't publish them for profit. several steps down leads to a crypt with a limited light source on its pillars. in this area, we were not allowed to use flash as instructed.
according to her, the ones buried down there were mostly Franciscan Spanish priests and some high officials. the first to be buried there was dated 1886 and as a respect, i made sure to pray for the souls of the ones buried there.
this tomb during the revolutionary times was used as a secret hideout making this place a historical site. that's why this is now declared as a national historical landmark.
[what you shouldn't miss there]>>> to visit the crypt, which contains 36niches. a prayer offered to the bodies buried there will be good. the site's curator is really good in terms of service and knowledge about the underground cemetery.[why i should go back] >>> to make a detailed research of its historical background.
trip rate:roadtrip: 3.0
road quality: 3.5
historical site: 4.0
historical significance: 4.5
note: it is open to the public from Tuesdays to Saturday's 8:30pm and 5:00pm.
59 comments:
the place looks good... although i don't think i'll be able to enter the crypt... scaredy cat!!!
Ganda! Isa ito sa talagang gusto kong mapuntahang lugar!
Btw, sayang I may not be able to join you and Lawstude sa photoshoot next week, I will be going to Nueva Ecija for the town fiesta :( It would have been great to finally meet you and Lawstude in person!
such a pristine lawn; i wonder if they allow picnic on the grass?
nice trip again dong.
The tomb is spooky but well preserved. Good to see there were no mummies at the underground tomb
I should really do some rounds of the places around Manila. Still haven't been to this place. Very interesting ang crypts.
ganda! lalo pang napaganda ng mga shots mo Kuya Doms :)
the tomb inside is creepy! pag pumunta ako dyan dapat marami akong kasama... hehehe
pupunta pala kayo ng Cagbalete this weekend.. Sinabi skain ni Nico and Weng, hehehe, sayang me mga lakad na.
This is nice, although i think the visit there will surely give me the creeps... it's a national historical site and that is the most important of all, i would love to know the historical background too...
>gillboard, it's not that creepy down there. there's enough light source and im sure you wont go there alone.
>dennis, maganda nga talaga ang lugar pero yon din lang makikita mo doon. so make sure that you include other sites in the nearby areas.
oo nga. sige lang dami pa naman next time. enjoy your trip to nueva ecija.
>hi photocache, i dont think so. but during all souls day they allow people to stay there during the day.
>borneo, definitely no mummies. i am also inspired on how they preserved this site.
>ferdz, this you shouldn't miss but it's the only thing there so you need to include the other nearby towns in your itinerary when you go there.
>bryan, salamat! mas maganda nga pag group na pumunta doon. daan na rin kayo sa ibang karatig bayan sa laguna pag bumyahe kayo doon.
oo sayang nga. next time next time. haba pa naman ng summer.
>hi sheng, studying its history will definitely be interesting. seeing it will make it more interesting.
i love places like this! old, a bit creepy and with lots of history. interesting post, dong! thanks for sharing.
Very nice! I like the shots of the crypt
Sa postcard ko lang to nakita. Mabuti at nami-maintain pa rin nila ang kalinisan. Mukhang masarap mag picnic dyan. I like the last pic most.
sana gabi kayo nagpunta. punta kayo sa halloween. :)
I'd like to visit this. The last time I went to Liliw, Laguna we almost dropped by there if not for the time constraints. Although I'm sure I'd be scared after the visit. =)
the view from outside looks beautiful.
contrasting colors of the church and the grass. parang old and young din. very nice!
great shot of the brick steps!
im sure ill be holding on someones shirt as i walk around.
i can't be here dong even if i'm in a group. masyado akong matakutin. hindi ako makakatagal sa mga lugar na ganito kahit pa umaga, lalong-lalo na dun sa underground crypt. hahahaha! maiinis lang kayo sa pagka killjoy ko. tama na 'tong mga litratong pinakita mo. hanggang dun lang talaga ang kaya ko.
Very nice information and photos of the cemetery. I think I visited a chinese cemetary in manila, cannot remember the name of it. We could actually see the coffins in there. They were housed in little houses, they must be rich to be able to afford that.
There is something about old places that is both mysterious and appealing and this place is no exception. Would love to go there someday.
I love old churches and crypts: Nagcarlan, Laguna is a treat since it has both. Excuse the pun, but I'm dying to go there!
donG,thanks for this entry...an intresting site,with it's historical value... :)
>hi luna, i notice that because you really enjoy traveling some of the beautiful places around the philippines.
>luke, thanks!
>redlan, thanks! the national historical institute deserve that compliment. they preserved it well.
>hi reena, ayos yon. kaya lang sarado na ito pag alas singko.
>witsandnuts, you should have visited it. it wont take a lot of time. but maybe it simply gives you another reason why you should go back. im featuring the church in liliw in the next post.
>ellesig, thanks! i agree with you. it's a mixture of a rustic site yet the fresh grass lawn revives it. you wont gt scared because the lower ground is just small.
>hi jei, hahaha... but the underground area is small and there's enough light source. the fright in a way though makes it exciting to go there.
>hi alicesg, wow! good that you still remember. maybe it's the big chinese church in manila. never went there yet, but ive seen it from the street.
>oman, i agree. it's what makes the site special. you should visit this national historical site.
>hi andy, that's true! very few knows that because laguna is more known as an industrial site rather than it being a historical pot.
>baboon, my pleasure to take you to places like this.
It's so green and I should say even picturesque. Very nice old place with significant history which is worth visiting.
I LOVE IT!!! i wish i could go here. it's so gothic.
nice shot dong! whatevery visitor should do is to compare the cross above church of nagcarlan and the cross in liliw church. they're the same design =D.
the fortress actually looks majestic. di sya mukhang cemetery.
hi dong! another great post!
i love the green color of the grass! kakaiba talaga!
and the bricks.. I felt like I want to go back to the past. :)
and yeah, the tombs... may they be rest in peace.
i think i know this landmark
we passed by this place before
papunta isang bayan sa laguna na kilalang magaling gumawa ng mga tsinelas
tama ba ako?
malamang hindi
hehe
nice pics....can we exchange links?
You're right in that the place is indeed beautiful and well maintained. The grounds are well kept and it must be nice walking around it. Kudos the people in-charge of the place for doing a very good job keeping it in such a pristine state.
Great photos of the underground cemetery. It must be a place with a rich history behind it. It's good that you took time to offer prayers to the departed while you were there.
creeeppyyyyy..
ASTIG! Well preserved!
Hello,
Very nice photos and compositions.
Greetings,
Ha(rr)y
My dad is from San Pablo and we have cousins who live in Nagcarlan, but I have never been to the Underground Cemetery.
Some say that the crypt used to be larger, and that there was a secret tunnel that connects the cemetery with the old church at the town proper, which is a few kilometers away. I just don't know it that is true.
Did you go to the old church of Nagcarlan, by the way? I remember it was a beautiful brick building. But then, again, that was nearing 20 years ago, so my memory of the place might be wrong.
Great shots, by the way. Cheers!
Nagpunta na ako sa Nagcarlan mga late 70's pero hindi naisip yung lugar na yan. NHI was doing their job well, talagang na-maintain nila ang lugar talagang national treasure na itong maituturing. Sana wala pang vandalism dito.
looks eerie to me. i think i cannot go down inside alone ha ha
parekoi! penge camera? nyahaha!
amp. nakakatakot naman to. mas nakakatakot pa sa paco park.
wow! crypts still creep me out sometimes. and i don't think makakakuha ako ng matinong pics if ever... manginginig yung hands ko for sure. hehe. Your pics are good! The place really does look historic. :D
we were there in 2004! walang nagbago and your shots captured the serenity of the place.
have you tried 'kinulob na itik' while you were in Laguna? :-)
ang creepy naman netoh pero gusto ko subukan :) tara sama mo naman ako sa mga trip mo weee :P
>pietro, really worth visiting. but you really need to travel down south of manila to go there.
>hi acey, im sure you will.
>theonoski, hahaha... that's something you discovered. thanks. ill be posting the church next.
>r-yo, yes. in some perspective it really looks more like a park.
>hi vic, thanks! it's the green lawn and the old bricks that makes it a nice mix to form a beautiful historical site.
>raft3r, yes you're right. you are referring to the town of liliw, famous for making cheap and beautiful sandals.
>realscore, no problem. thanks for dropping by. nice to see new readers passing by.
>panaderos, that's true! the nationa historical institute deserves those words.
>hi rachel, yes. maybe it's one thing one should do when going there. i think you're just kilometers away from nagcarlan.
>tawidtayo, not quite if you go there in groups and it has enough light source.
>earvin, true. beautiful historical site.
>hay, thanks! i also received your email. ill definitely send some photos.
>shattershards, i too heard of those stories but it remains a myth until now. we were supposed to drop by nagcarlan church but on our way home we forgot about it.
it gives us a reason to go back.
>ysrael, yes. i agree. the national historical institute did a great job in preserving this. i didnt notice vandalism in the chapel and the crypt not unless they are too small to be seen with a low light source.
thanks for dropping by.
>hi bingskee, yes you can. it's just a small crypt and going there in group wont make it creepy.
>punky, hehehe... luma na rin tong ginagamit ko. hihingi na rin ako malamang. hahaha...
>allen, hindi pa ako nakapasok sa paco park. pero dito hindi naman.
>hi cza, i dont think so. just go there in group. there's enough light source when you're there. the cryot is small.
>hi juleste, thanks! i didnt try that. ngayon ko lang narinig yan. ano yon?
>nash, hindi naman masyado pag nandun na. sure. invite ka namin. thanks nga pala sa offer thru email. let's keep in touch.
nge! namali ng comment. hehehe. para kay tonyo yun eh. bat dito ko natype. syete, dami kasing nakaopen na window. hehe sensya na.
ito talaga ang comment ko dito:
beautifully arranged. kung sana lahat ng tombs e ganito ka-neat, pwede syang gawing pasyalan.
kung titingnan ang mga pic, medyo creepy siya.. hehe! cemetery ba naman di ba? gusto ko din subukan pero kailangan may kasama ako!
wow! what can i say?.. GREAT SHOTS! :)
ang ganda talaga ng pilipinas! parang ayokong iwan:D
wow! ang sarap puntahan!
gusto ko yang mga ganyan. nung nagpunta kami ng banaue at sagada may mga hanging coffins dun!
bongga! hehe.
nagcarlan, ill remember that!
ang ganda ng lugar.. pero seryosong nakakatakot sa gabi.. bagay itong pagshutingan ng mga horror films..
http://fjordz-hiraya.blogspot.com
wow---jaw dropped---meron pala nito sa LAGUNA---never heard of it in my 28-year existence---it's a must see---I think it's a crime if I dont since nasa Manila lang ako---thanks Dom for letting me see such an amazing thing----even only in pics---
i remember, Erick also featured this in his blog. i really like the way you choose your angles in capturing the essence of a place. you have a very keen eyes, Dom. :-D
bakit nga pala hindi pwede ang flash photography pag mga underground-underground? may effect ba yung sudden flash of light sa materials sa mga tunnels? ang hirap pa naman dahil usually, hindi enough ang lighting tapos anghirap mag-install ng tripod sa loob.
great pics, dong. gusto ko yung garden area, which reminds me much of Paco Park in Taft.
God bless!
this is so scary but is beautiful
Very interesting place and great shots too.
pwede sa pinatubo ako magcomment?
grabe ang ganda, kakagulat na ganun ang view sa isnag bulkan! great, i mean very great shots!
chyng
What a place! Wow!
wow, the restoration was nicely done ;-) love the photos as usual dong
ganda ng view sa labas. pero medyo creepy yung pics sa loob.hehe. but i'd definitely check the place out kung makapunta ako sa laguna. nice shots kuya dong!
the place is well preserved and yes the underground cemetery is creepy
Wow ! amazinGGGGGGGg ! and nbelievable cemetery
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