104
North, South and Number 2 Military Cemeteries in Manila, Los Banos, as well as the Protestant Cemetery.
As with so many cemeteries elsewhere in poor tropical countries, deterioration was rapid. Torrential rain washed away the soil around graves, grave stones were stolen to be recarved and used elsewhere and the cemetery became a playground for young and old. The Filipino “Chowkidar” (watchman) could do little to stem the decline.
In July 1973, fourteen years earlier than due, the Cemetery was handed over by the British Consul C.L.F. Parker to the Ayala Corporation, the successors in title to Roxas, who donated P10,000 to help in the transfer of all remains to their new resting place.
The grave stones said to be historically valuable were turned over to a 'British Association': their present whereabouts are a mystery.
The site of the old cemetery was developed by the Ayala Corporation, the developers of the "new town" of Makati, Manila's business district, into a housing estate for its middle management staff and is now known as Barrio Olympia (Olympia Village).
The few British graves in the Sual Cemetery, were at last report, being well tended by the local authorities. Sadly however, the Iloilo "English Cemetery”, (lots 158 and 674) in the very "heart of the city" was closed in October 1946 “for the purposes of health and sanitation and as part of the programme of beautifying the City of Iloilo”, but the British Protestant remains lie peacefully in Southern Manila.
Author's acknowledgement:
I am indebted to several people for assistance in these brief and I am sure, not fully comprehensive notes; in particular, Father Gabriel Casal and Carlos Quirino of the Ayala Museum, Dr. Serafin Quiason of the Philippines National Library and Peter Karmy of the British Embassy in Manila.
¦
104
North, South and Number 2 Military Cemeteries in Manila, Los Banos, as well as the Protestant Cemetery.
As with so many cemeteries elsewhere in poor tropical coun- tries, deterioration was rapid. Torrential rain washed away the soil around graves, grave stones were stolen to be recarved and used elsewhere and the cemetery became a playground for young and old. The Filipino “Chowkidar” (watchman) could do little to stem the decline.
In July 1973, fourteen years earlier than due, the Cemetery was handed over by the British Consul C.L.F. Parker to the Ayala Corporation, the successors in title to Roxas, who donated P10,000 to help in the transfer of all remains to their new resting place.
The grave stones said to be historically valuable were turned over to a 'British Association":- their present whereabouts are a mystery.
The site of the old cemetery was developed by the Ayala Corpo- ration, the developers of the "new town" of Makati, Manila's business district, into a housing estate for its middle management staff and is now known as Barrio Olympia (Olympia Village).
The few British graves in the Sual Cemetery, were at last report, being well tended by the local authorities. Sadly however, the Iloilo "English Cemetery”, (lots 158 and 674) in the very "heart of the city" was closed in October 1946 “for the purposes of health and sanitation and as part of the programme of beautifying the City of Iloilo”, but the British Protestant remains lie peacefully in Southern Manila.
Author's acknowledgement:
I am indebted to several people for assistance in these brief and I am sure, not fully comprehensive notes; in particular, Father Gabriel Casal and Carlos Quirino of the Ayala Museum, Dr. Serafin Quiason of the Philippines National Library and Peter Karmy of the British Embassy in Manila.
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