NAGCARLAN, LAGUNA PART I: Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery

     

Thanks to friends again, I had a chance to visit the National Heritage Site that is the Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery. And what more appropriate day to explore the site than on a Halloween? Hihi... (sorry for the not-so great pix... We forgot, of all the things, to bring a decent camera! So we rely on our not-so high end mobile phone cam :{.. )

Underground Cemetery

A BIT OF HISTORY

As posted outside the arched gateway, the Underground Cemetery is one of its kind in the Philippines and was constructed under the leadership of Franciscan missionaries in 1845, and with the simultaneous reconstruction of the Catholic church (St. Bartholomew Church) and its convent. It was here that the leaders of the Revolution in Laguna met secretly during the Spanish regime in 1896. And in August 1973, it was declared as a National Heritage Site.

The altar inside

The stairs to and from the Underground

Tombs inside the crypt

Altar inside the Underground Cemetery

 

There is a legend that says there is an existing tunnel from the Underground leading to the back of the altar of St. Bartholomew Church and which also leads to Mt. Banahaw, but no one could be certain. Imagine that! If the tunnel do exists it spans a great length, for the distance between two structures is about 2km, more so for Mt. Banahaw!

Tombs on the outside, on either side of the entrance

Facade of the Church

Excerpts from National Historical Commission website on Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery:

The Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery Historical Landmark is a fine example of Spanish colonial architecture. Built by the Franciscan Friar Vicente Velloc in 1845, its octagonal grounds are enclosed by a wall decorated with wrought-iron grills and stonework meant to look like drapery.

           

An arched gate leads to the chapel built into the cemetery's inner wall. Wings radiate from the sides of the chapel, forming an arc where the aboveground niches are found.

Arched gateway

Under the chapel, two flights down, is the crypt.  This underground section of the cemetery played an important role in our history.  Throughout the Revolution of 1896 and the Filipino-American War, our fighting patriots used the crypt as a secret hideout, gathering here to plan their moves or to seek shelter.  Similarly, it became a safehouse for guerillas during the World War II.

Arched gateway from inside, with its manicured lawns and wrought-iron walls

THOUGHTS TO PONDER

When you get the chance to visit this historical site, leave your expectations to a minimum. Because as grand as the pictures may seem, I was a bit disappointed. I was envisioning an expanse of underground cemetery full of tombs dating back to 1800's. I was excited to go down under, but to my dismay there was only one room of tombs, and there was a vandal made only just days prior to our visit! It was just like a basement. I thought the space would be as wide as the manicured lawns above. Bummer. But nonetheless I enjoyed the grandness typical of Spanish era buildings. From the gate, to the walls, doors, ceilings, and floors, one could never fathom the grandness that happened in those days. Surely, historical bufsf and architects would be amazed here. And by the way, we didn't encounter any ghosts or out-of-this-world voices as we roamed around ;P

HOW TO GET TO NAGCARLAN

1. Via Sta. Cruz: From Cubao/Buendia/Alabang, ride a bus bound to Sta. Cruz. Get off at Sta. Cruz public market and ride a jeep bound to Nagcarlan.

2. Via San Pablo City: From Cubao/Buendia/Alabang, ride a bus bound to Lucena. Get off at San Pablo City junction (front of San Pablo Medical Hospital, fare approx Php130) and ride a jeepney/tricycle (Php8-15) to the jeepney terminal of Nagcarlan/Liliw in front of the Catholic church. Fare to Nagcarlan would be Php25. Travel time approx 30min-1hour. 

Just tell the driver to drop you off in front of the Underground Cemetery (which is along the National Rd., and in front of a gasoline station). The site is open from Tuesdays-Sundays 8am-4pm, and it has no entrance fees. Pictures taken are for personal use only ;)


click here  to read the rest of our Nagcarlan trip :)