NHCP Museo ng Libingan sa Ilalim ng Lupa ng Nagcarlan — Attraction in Nagcarlan

We were on our way to Liliw Laguna when we had a brief stop at Nagcarlan. Since the town is synonymous to its underground cemetery, we decided to drop by to look around.

I was already familiar with the place as I have been there 20 years ago. But as we entered the Chapel, I was surprised to hear an unfamilar choir piece coming from the catacomb. I thought they installed speakers below and played recorded Latin or Italian music to give an eerie effect to the visitors. At first, my companions were hesitant to go down the catacomb partly because of the music.

But being familar to the place, I came in first to encourage my companions to follow me. Surprise, there were teenagers below singing. Apparently, they are members of a choir. We looked around while they were singing, and searched for the oldest crypt based of date of birth and death of those buried. As the catacomb was small, only around 10 x 5 meters, we sat on the stairways and listened to the singing teens. When they finished their piece, they softly talked among themselves oblivious of our presence. Then, I asked, "are going to sing again? Co'z were waiting." They giggled.

Their voices were enchanced by the walls of the underground cemetery. And who knows, the souls of those buried there were joining them, rejoicing at the heavenly music.

Before they started a new piece, I asked them where they are from. San Pablo City. I asked them what was the title of the song they were singing. They said it's "Ili-ili." Is that an Italian or Latin song, I asked aloud, thinking about one of the seven last phrases of Jesus: Eli Eli lama sabachtani. No, it's a Capampangan song, they said. Later, I theorized that it's a lullabye. When letter "E" preceded by "H," Capampangans drop the H. So it must be Hele-hele, or lullabye in Tagalog. I confirmed my theory through Youtube.

They sang a Mass song and Anak before we left the Chapel and proceeded to the museum located at the left side...

Our CLASSROOM today....

The only underground cemetery in the country

📍 Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery Bambang, Nagcarlan, Laguna

National Historical Landmark and Museum

It was built in 1845 under the supervision of Franciscan priest, Fr. Vicente Velloc as a public burial site and its underground crypt exclusively for Spanish friars, prominent town citizens and members of elite Catholic families.

During the Philippine Revolution, the cemetery served as a meeting place of revolutionary leaders of the Katipunan in 1896. Pedro Paterno and Gen. Severino Taiño of the "Maluningning" command held a meeting at the cemetery where they planned the historic Pact of Biak-na-Bato in 1897. It also served as hideout for Filipino leaders during the Philippine–American War and of guerillas in World War II.

The Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery was declared as a National Historical Landmark by virtue of Presidential Decree no. 260, date August 1, 1973 with amendments by Administrative Order 1505, dated June 11, 1978. Since the declaration, no more burials were allowed in the cemetery. It underwent renovations before it was again opened to the public during the unveiling of the marker on October 24, 1981. The oldest tomb is dated 1886 while the last interment was in 1982 when it was formally declared as a National Historical Landmark

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So no pictures are supposed to be taken inside but it has to be shared. From what the worker told me, the cemetery was made in 1845 so the citizens of Nagcarlan will have their own place to rest. The priests are buried underground along with officials.

During several wars, it was used as a sanctuary anong other things. There were three restoration actions done and the last burial was in the 1980s.

When I heard about this place, I thought we had a mini Paris catacombs. I didn't know how mini it was. Downstairs, there is basically a basement with crypts. The first picture shows the main area downstairs. If you go left, you'll get to the stairs. You go right, it's a couple of crypts.

Other than the small size, it's a very peaceful, serene, beautiful place that holds a special place in the hearts of the citizens...