IN THE KNOW: Familia Luzuriaga Cemetery Interesting Facts

1.    The cemetery is accorded the distinction in the Guinness Book of World Records as “the only cemetery in the world at the intersection of two highways.”

2.    The cemetery is included in Ripley’s Believe it or Not’s list of all weird things.

3.    The cemetery is listed in the "Philippine Book of Amazing Places."

4.    The cemetery is situated at an island of Lopez Jaena Street which intersects with Burgos Street, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines.

5.    The cemetery became locally known as Bangga Patyo (Cemetery Corner).

6.    The cemetery is privately owned by the prominent Ruiz de Luzuriaga family in Negros who donated the property to the city government under one condition, that is, the cemetery must remain there.*

7.    Other prominent members of the clan include movie director Peque Gallaga.

8.    The cemetery is lined by rows of frangipani (kalachuci) trees whose white flowers which produce strong scent was believed to protect the spirit of the dead.

9.    The cemetery is surrounded by graves of prominent families:  To the east of the Familia Luzuriaga Cemetery is the Bacolod Public Cemetery. Across the public cemetery is the Mausoleum of the Lopez Family. Then, to the west of the Luzuriaga Cemetery is the Mausoleum of Jayme-Gamboa.

10. The cemetery is guarded by a sturdy fence and barb wire whose gate padlocked the whole year round except during All Saints Day and All Souls day when the caretaker of the cemetery opens the gate and allows visitors to have a quick tour.

 *The first Ruiz de Luzuriaga was Don Eusebio Ruiz de Luzuriaga who settled in Bacolod in1840. He had two sons, Luis and Jose. His son, José Ruiz de Luzuriaga, a rich sugar businessman, became part of Philippine history when he was appointed the President of the Constituent Assembly of the short-lived Negros Republic that existed in 1899 following the Negros Revolution or the Al Cinco de Noviembre against the Spanish colonial government. The remains of Luis are still buried in the cemetery, while Don Eusebio’s remains are now laid to rest at the San Sebastian Cathedral. The whereabouts of Don Jose’s remains are still unknown up to this day.

 

Photo Credits © Rightful Owners of the photos used herein.

References:

http://ezinearticles.com/?Cemetery-at-the-Middle-of-the-Street&id=7684574

https://ajpoliquit.wordpress.com/2011/10/11/cemetery-corner/

http://www.experiencenegros.com/familia-luzuriaga-cemetery-only-in-bacolod-city/

http://www.filipiknow.net/cemetery-at-the-middle-of-a-street/

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/bacolod/lifestyle/2011/11/05/visit-familia-luzuriaga-cemetery-188838

Charter Day of the City of Bacolod

75 years ago, on October 19, 1938, President Manuel Quezon declared the town of Bacolod a City, becoming the Fifth city of the Republic of the Philippines.—Hon. Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, Bacolod City Councilor and Co-Chair of Bacolod Charter Anniversary

Finally, the National Historical Commission (NHC) put an end on the legal dispute on the correct day for the celebration of Bacolod City’s Charter celebration.

Here’s an online article, “NHC rules: Bacolod Charter Day is Oct 19, not June 18,” by Danny B. Dangcalan of The Freeman posted last February 5, 2013.

The legally correct date for celebrating the Charter Day of the City of Bacolod is October 19, which had been so for 72 years, not June 18 as what Mayor Evelio Leonardia had ordered two years ago, the National Historical Commission (NHC) said.

Based on the document dated Jan. 9, 2013, NHC chairperson Dr. Maria Serena Diokno wrote Golez that the Commission holds that the City of Bacolod started its “corporate existence” on October 19, 1938 thus it should celebrate its Charter Day every Oct. 19.

The NHC added that for 72 years, the city’s celebration of its Charter Day every Oct. 19 have “already acquired the character of custom and tradition” which the commission finds no compelling reason to set aside.

In 2011, Leonardia issued an executive order effectively moving the date of Charter Day to June 18. His position was that the date June 18, 1938 was the proper Charter Day, because it was when former President Manuel Quezon approved Commonwealth Act No. 326 or the Charter Day of Bacolod.

Leonardia’s stand was supported by the Provincial Board, which issued Ordinance No. 588 on May 2, 2012, commemorating June 18 every year as the date of the signing of the Charter day of the City of Bacolod.

The NHC said the issue between June 18 and Oct. 19 on the correct date of Bacolod Charter Day was already resolved by Congress when it enacted Republic Act No. 7724 on May 19, 1994, declaring Oct. 19 of every year as a special non-working public holiday in the city to be known as Bacolod City Charter Day.

“Oct. 19 is the lawful Charter Day, that being the date when President Manuel Quezon went to Bacolod City for its formal inauguration as a chartered city, highlighted by the assumption to office of Alfredo Montelibano as the first appointed mayor,” the NHC said.

Diokno has reportedly “certified” that Commonwealth Act No. 326 was signed on June 18, 1938. But the NHC further asserted that the date of signing of that law is distinct from the beginning of the corporate existence of Bacolod City.

“Given the provisions of Commonwealth Act No. 326, therefore, it cannot be said that Bacolod City came into being simultaneously with the approval of its charter on June 18, 1938,” the NHC said. “This Commission finds no irreconcilable conflict between Commonwealth Act No. 326, Commonwealth Act No. 404 and Republic Act No. 7160 on the beginning of the corporate existence of Bacolod City,” it added.

Source: http://www.philstar.com/region/2013/02/05/905079/nhc-rules-bacolod-charter-day-oct-19-not-june-18