Doña Pepang cemetery to be closed, made a park

For nearly a century, members of the Ruiz family have been laid to rest in the Doña Pepang Cemetery in Carreta, Cebu City.

By the end of the month, surviving clan members will have to transfer all the mortal remains somewhere else.

Today the  crowded graveyard, whose dominant structure is the private Osmeña  Mausoleum with its tall Greek columns, is part of Cebu City Hall’s plan to convert the cemetery into a public park.

“This is a really good place. Instead of closing it, why not let  the city develop it as a cultural and heritage site?” said Arnel Ruiz, who visited the Ruiz mausoleum yesterday on the Day of All Souls.

The Doña Pepang cemetery is  named after the late wife of former president Sergio Osmeña Sr.,  Estefania Chiong Veloso, who owned vast landholdings in  Cebu City.

The almost 1-hectare lot in barangay Carreta used to be owned by the Cebu Archdiocese before it was included in a lot swap deal with the Cebu City government in 2011.

Ruiz said his family was never consulted about the  plan to convert the cemetery into a park although he heard talk that the place would be demolished.

Tarpaulin signs of the Office of the Mayor are posted around the area announcing that the  Doña Pepang Cemetery will be closed to the public starting Nov. 15 to “give way to the redevelopment and beautification project of the City of Cebu.”

“Family members or relatives of the deceased interred in the Doña Pepang Cemetery are advised to have the remains of their departed loved ones transferred before November 30,” said the notices posted by the Cebu City Hall’s Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP).

Ruiz said the family would like to know what the city really plans with the area.

“If we respect the relatives of the dead  who still come to visit, we should also respect the dead who are resting here,” Ruiz added.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he plans to clear the cemetery to build a public park but will leave the Osmeña Mausoleum intact since “it has already become a monument.”

The mausoleum is the resting place of former President Osmena and his son Sergio “Serging” Osmeña Jr. the first elected mayor of Cebu City.

Former congressman Tomas Osmena, his wife Cebu City Councilor Margot Osmena and his son Miguel arrive at the Dona Pepang cemetery in barangay Carreta past 11 am. (CDN PHOTO/ JUNJIE MENDOZA)

But former city mayor and south district rep. Tomas Osmeña, whose mother is also buried there, wasn’t happy.

“What about everybody else? Don’t single out the Osmeñas. I don’t want special treatment,” Tomas said.

He was with his wife Councilor Margot and their son Miguel and daughter-in-law when they visited the Osmeña Mausoleum yesterday morning to pay their respects.

Budget
Tomas said the plan to convert the area didn’t pass City Council approval.

Councilor Margot also said the council didn’t approve any budget for any project in the area.  The Osmeñas arrived at the cemetery at 11 am yesterday.

A few minutes later, Rama arrived on board a van  as part of his routine  to inspect the different public cemeteries  in the city on All Saints and All Souls Days.

Apparently he noticed the Osmeñas visiting , and chose to avoid an uncomfortable encountery.

He opened the van’s door but stayed in the vehicle reading a  newspaper.  A few minutes later, the mayor left.

Rama later said he will talk with the relatives of those whose families  buried in the Doña Pepang Cemetery.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama arrived at the Dona Pepang cemetery a few minutes later than the Osmena family but chose to stay in his van and read a newspaper before driving off. (CDN PHOTO/ JUNJIE MENDOZA)

Like Paco Park

“If they insist, we won’t really need to remove the remains. It could even be a part of the park,” Rama told reporters.

The mayor said the city government won’t impose a deadline on removing the dead buried there.

Rama said he plans to construct a road that will connect MJ Cuenco Ave. to barangay Tejero through the cemetery.

An open space in the area will also be ideal for people especially in times of disasters.

Rama said he would want the cemetery to be like Paco Park in Manila which used to be the Manila Municipal Cemetery and is now a recreational garden and park.

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