# La Loma Cemetery

The La Loma Catholic Cemetery (Spanish: Campo Santo de La Loma) was opened in 1884 and is largely located in Caloocan, Metro Manila. A portion of the southern part of the cemetery is located in Manila.

## History

The La Loma Cemetery is one of the oldest cemetery in Manila with an area of slightly less than 54 hectares (130 acres). After an earthquake struck Manila in 1863, the Spanish authorities saw the need to find a new cemetery for the city as Paco Cemetery was already running at full capacity. The task was given to Vicente Carranceja, the Inspector General for Public Works. With a budget of P30,000 from the Ayuntamiento he worked with Marcelo Ramirez and began the project on August 3, 1864. The cemetery opened in 1884 and was originally known as Cementerio de Binondo (Binondo Cemetery) as the area was then under the jurisdiction of Santa Cruz during the Spanish Colonial Period.
Spanish officials warned Filipino rebels that once they joined the uprising, they can no longer be buried in Catholic cemeteries on the consecrated ground like La Loma and thus denied of what then was considered a "decent" burial in their time of death.
During the early phases of the Philippine-American War, the cemetery's chapel was the focal point of the Battle of Caloocan. Gen. Arthur MacArthur and his forces occupied the chapel and Blockhouse 2, while Filipino forces under Gen. Antonio Luna were on the northern end of the cemetery.
Campo Santo de La Loma is one of the few sites that escaped ruin during World War II in the 1945 Battle of Manila where most of the city's collection of architecture was destroyed. That leaves it as a crucial piece of the country's historical heritage of architecture. An anti-aircraft mortar launcher can even be seen in the cemetery grounds as well, that still stands today.

## Notable burials

* Felipe Agoncillo (1859–1941), First Filipino Diplomat, now buried in the Santuario del Santo Cristo Cemetery
* Marcela Agoncillo (1860–1946), wife of Felipe and creator of the national flag of the Philippines, along with their daughter and Delfina Herbosa in Hong Kong, now buried in the Santuario del Santo Cristo Cemetery
* Lorenza Agoncillo (1890–1972), daughter of the principle seamstress of the first and official Philippine flag, now buried in the Santuario del Santo Cristo Cemetery
* Maria Carpena (1886–1915), Filipina stage actress and soprano singer, also 1st Filipina recording artist.
* Carmelino G. Alvendia (1906–1982), a former justice of the Court of Appeals
* Cayetano Arellano (1847–1920), 1st Chief Justice of the Philippine Supreme Court. Arellano is buried in Cayetano Arellano Mausoleum, beside wife Rosa Bernart (died on April 7, 1929) , Asunción Arellano de Singian (1881-September 4, 1923) beside the tomb of Gregorio O. Arellano (September 6, 1921 – January 19, 1943) and Josefa Arellano.
* BGen. Rafael Crame (1863-1927), 1st Chief of the Philippine Constabulary. Crame was first buried at his Family grave at La Loma Cemetery. He was buried beside Juan Crame Y Fernandez (1870-1945), Concepcion Fernandez Crame (1870-1945), Antonio Crame Fernandez (1898-1942), Jose Crame Fernandez (1901-1945), Teresita Crame Puya (1928-1945) and Merceditas Crame Puya (1933-1945), Leandro M. Crame (May 25, 1965 age of 65), Rosario Perez de Tagle, Filomena F. Crame (March 12, 1906 – May 1, 1987), Juan F. Crame (September 7, 1907 – February 10, 1945) and Ines F. Crame (April 9, 1912 – October 1, 1985), Soledad F. Crame (November 8, 1897 – March 31, 1985), Tereasa C. Conrado (July 31, 1895 – January 22, 1976) and Concepcion C. Vda de Tagle (December 27, 1888 – April 27, 1977). Remains have been exhumed in August 7, 2003, and transferred to Libingan ng mga Bayani.
* Librada Avelino (1873–1934), founder of Centro Escolar University
* Brother Hyacinth Gabriel Connon (1911–1978) FSC, onetime president of the De La Salle University
* Felisa P. Dayrit (1876–1962), a revolutionary nurse
* Josefa Llanes Escoda (1898–1945), women's rights advocate and founder of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines; in an unmarked grave.
* Vicente Lava (1894–1947), Communist Leader before and during the Second World War
* Victorino Mapa (1855–1927), 2nd Chief Justice of the Philippine Supreme Court
* Pablo Ocampo (1853–1925), resident commissioner to the US Congress
* Josephus Stevenot (1888–1943), Founder of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines
* Ignacio Villamor (1863–1933), Delegate of Ilocos Sur at the Malolos Congress (1889); First Filipino President of the University of the Philippines (1915); Associate Justice of the Philippine Supreme Court (1918).
* Jaime C. de Veyra (1873–1963), former Resident Commissioner of the Philippines
* Tomas Mapua (1888–1965), 1st Registered Architect of the Philippines, founder of Mapua Institute of Technology
* Ricky Belmonte (1947–2001), actor and father of Sheryl Cruz.
* Maria Lorena Barros (1948–1976), founder of the Malayang Kilusan ng Bagong Kababaihan (Free Movement of New Women) (MAKIBAKA)
* Kian Loyd delos Santos (2000–2017), a senior high school student fatally shot by police officers conducting an Anti-drug operation in Caloocan.
* Pedro Adigue, Jr. (1943–2003), boxer
* Augusto Buenaventura (1929–2006), actor and director
* Angelo Buenaventura (1927–1996), actor
* Domingo Principe (1912–1990), actor
* Victor "Banahaw" Sevilla (1912–1975), actor
* Dr. Giovanni Calvo (1952–2001), actor and TV host
* Arsenia Francisco (1923–1971), actress
* Jose T. Padilla, III (1947–1994), actor
* Potenciano Gregorio (1880–1939), composer and musician
* Joaquín María Herrer y Rodríguez (1840–1917), Master Painter
* Max Laurel (1944–2016), actor
* Joaquín María Herrer Joaquín María Herrer y Rodríguez (Madrid, 1838 - Manila, 1917)

## Gallery

* Chapel of St. Pancratius in 2020
* Burial site of Joaquín María Herrer y Rodríguez