Photo by HAROLD ORARA

The scenes are scary, horrifying, bloodcurdling. You can hardly bear to look at the TV screen. You hear the despair and desperation in the voices of the characters and it’s enough to chill you to the bone.

No, that was not part of a Halloween movie scarefest on cable TV. The scenes are of ordinary people caught on TV newscasts, while they are being interviewed by reporters about their ordeals while visiting their departed loved ones at the cemetery.

Every year, it is the same. Broadcasts about lost kids, long lines, vehicular accidents, petty thievery, fainting spells, and mauling incidents fill the All Saints’ Day hours. And the soaring prices of Undas staples such as candles, flowers, soda, and crackers do not help either.  It seems to be a given, that in order to pay your respects to the dead, you would probably have to risk your own life in the process.

No Thrillers, no Chillers

But according to Amando C. Ombiang, Detachment Commander of the Manila Memorial Park Cemetery in Parañaque, this does not have to be the case. All people need to do is to prepare and exercise a lot of common sense.

Here are some practical tips on how to put your own soul at ease when heading out to the cemetery with your family.

1. Limit the headcount.

The phrase “Take only what you can carry” is given a new meaning by Ombiang. “Bring only the number of kids that you can manage. We see parents who bring a collection of small children when they visit here. The mom is carrying a baby, then there are other small ones hanging on to her shirt, her skirt, her bag… you get the picture. If there are many young kids running about, there are more chances of one of them getting into trouble because you really cannot keep an eye on all of them!”

2. Run a drill.

If you are bringing children to the cemetery, make sure that they know where to go in case they get lost. Teach them to look for uniformed guards or policemen if they cannot find your group. Point out where the handy helper stations are located. Ombiang says that cemeteries in the Metro are covered under the government’s Oplan Kaluluwa, which means policemen, barangay officials, and the Red Cross will be present and on alert during the holidays for the deceased.

3. Let them wear bright colors.

Make sure it will be easy to spot your kids even from a distance. If you are staying at the cemetery after dark, for example, don’t outfit them in dark-colored clothing. That way, you can easily spot them, even with a throng of people surrounding them.

4. Pack the necessaries.

Bring adequate food and water, a change of clothes, wipes or hand sanitizers, an umbrella, and a fan. Bring your own baon in case there are long queues at the food stands. “We also have had instances of elderly people fainting because of the heat, so their needs should also be taken into account. If they are on medication for hypertension, they should bring their medicines along, just in case.”

5. Arrive early.

Ombiang advises people to avoid the rush at the gates by coming in earlier than the crowd. “Maybe they can also opt to go to the cemetery before or after All Saints’ Day,” he says.

6. Leave the valuables at home.

Don’t lug laptops to the cemetery or wear expensive jewelry when you know that you will be joining a throng. Keep it simple. Keep a close watch on the items that you do bring such as cellphones, wallets, or ipods.

7. Don’t panic.

If in case your child gets lost, or an article has gone missing, keep a cool head and proceed to the authorities. Ombiang says, “You have to keep a sharp mind in describing your child, for example. You should at least have a clear memory of what your child is wearing to make it easier for us to help you find him or her.”

8. Bring lots of patience.

Your deceased relatives are probably not going anywhere. So keep a cool head when encountering traffic or looking for a parking spot. Many of the incidents reported during last year’s Saints’ Day holiday at Manila Memorial involved small vehicular accidents, reports Ombiang. On that note, he also advises that people look into traffic rerouting schemes so they’ll know where to go when they encounter traffic.