With over 13 Million people living in the city of Manila, 43% Lives in informal settlements (Slums). While Manila has one of the largest slum population, the housing crisis is massive. This has resulted in many people migrating to the Cemetaries in the city, where they can live at a low cost amongst the dead, while they work at the site.
The North Manila Cemetary has over 10,000 residents and though I could not make it there due to lack of time, I did manage to visit the South Manila Cemetary, where there are some residents that still live there after most of them were evicted by the local law enforcement.Â
Members of a family that lives inside the cemetery and literally on top of a grave. They have all their belongings with them and the children are not afraid to live with the dead.
With many graves in the compound, there is almost enough for each person to call home.Â
Still there is not enough space for all the dead bodies, many of the bones are taken out of their large graves after a period of time and placed inside smaller boxes stacked on top of each other in order to make space for newer bodies.Â
Another Grave Sleeper, one of the residents who seems to be quite at peace with her surroundings.
People aren't the only residents, plenty of dogs and cats too reside here, who are looked after and fed by the residents. Many of them are pets too, the cemetery perhaps provides a refuge for these stray animals too.Â
One of the grave care takers, she also lives in the cemetery and cleans the graves.Â
Although in great poverty, and having to live in such an unusual place, not all the residents are upset.Â
Another couple of young residents pose for a photo at one of the large roads inside the Graveyard.
One might think that a graveyard is an usual place to live, but for these people, just a shelter over their head and a safe place to rest their heads at night is all they can ask for. Although, many of them get evicted from the graveyards with no other alternative places for them to live in, many of them still live in these Graveyards around the world and specially in the Philippines.Â