Where Presidents Rest in Peace

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The death of Tita Cory last 2009 was an event that marked my heart. For the first time, I saw a grieving nation. I was able to witness a president's death, wake and burial. After seeing the death march of Tita Cory from Manila Cathedral to Manila Memorial Park, I became curious. Question started to play on my mind, where do the other past presidents rest in peace? how grand are the graves of our past leaders? do I still know them? And so my quest of searching for these graves has started.

My quest brought me from as far as Batac, Ilocos Norte in the north to Tanauan Batangas down south. It took me 2 years to finally reach all the tombs of our past presidents. From the grandest to simplest, all are indeed noble.




Emilio Aguinaldo (1869-1964) 

In Office: March 22, 1897 – April 1, 1901

President Emilio Famy Aguinaldo is the country’s first and youngest president. Aguinaldo died on February 6, 1964 of coronary thrombosis at the Veterans Memorial Hospital in Quezon City. He was 94 years old. His remains are buried at the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite.

My Visit: June 12, 2011. I visited this tomb during the 113th Anniversary of the Philippine Independence. Read more here.


Manuel Luis Quezon (1878-1944) 

In Office: November 15, 1935 – August 1, 1944

President Manuel Luis Molina Quezon suffered from tuberculosis and spent his last years in a “cure cottage” in Saranac Lake, New York, where he died on August 1, 1944. He was initially buried in Arlington National Cemetery. His body was re-interred at the Manila North Cemetery before being moved to the Quezon Memorial Circle.

My Visit: February 2, 2011. I've been here twice. My last visit was just last February. Read more here.


Jose P. Laurel (1891 – 1959) 

In Office: October 14, 1943 – August 17, 1945

On November 6, 1959, President Jose Paciano Garcia Laurel died at the Lourdes Hospital in Manila from a massive heart attack and a stroke. He is buried at the Public Cemetery of Tanauan City in Tanauan, Batangas.

My Visit: October 12, 2011. Just made my visit a few hours ago. Check out the details here.


Sergio Osmeña Sr. (1878 -1961) 

In Office: August 1, 1944 –  May 28, 1946

President Sergio Osmeña, Sr. died of liver failure  at the age of 83 on October 19, 1961 at the Veteran’s Memorial Hospital in Quezon City. He is buried at the North Cemetery in Manila.

My Visit: March 27, 2011. Visited this grave last March. Read more here.


Manuel Roxas (1892 – 1948) 

In Office: May 28, 1946 – April 15, 1948

President Manuel Acuña Roxas did not finish his term because he died of myocardial infarction. On the night of April 15, 1948, Roxas died at Clark Field, Pampanga after delivering a speech before the U.S. Thirteenth Air Force. He was buried at the Manila North Cemetery. 

My Visit: March 27, 2011. Also last March, I was able to visit this tomb. Read more here.


Elpidio Quirino (1890 – 1956) 

In Office: April 17, 1948 – December 30, 1953

President Elpidio Rivera Quirino  died of a heart attack on February 29, 1956. He is buried at the Manila South Cemetery.

My Visit: April 6, 2011. I visited the grave of President Quirino last April. Read more here.


Ramon Magsaysay (1907 – 1957) 

In Office: December 30, 1953 – March 17, 1957

President Ramon Del Fierro Magsaysay. In the early morning hours of March 17, 1957, President Magsaysay's plane "Mt. Pinatubo," a C-47,  crashed on Mt. Manunggal in Cebu killing 25 of the 26 passengers and crew onboard. President Magsaysay was buried at the North Cemetery in Manila.

My Visit: March 27, 2011. Still at the MNC, I visited this grave last March. Read more here.


Carlos Garcia (1896 – 1971) 

In Office: March 17, 1957 – December 30, 1961

President Carlos Polistico Garcia suffered a fatal heart attack on June 14, 1971 days after he was elected as president of the 1971 Constitutional Convention. He was interred at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

My Visit: April 4, 2011. Visited the grave at LNMB last April. Read more here.


Diosdado Macapagal (1910 – 1997) 

In Office: December 30, 1961 – December 30, 1965

President Diosdado Pangan Macapagal died of heart failure, pneumonia and renal complications at the Makati Medical Center on April 21, 1997. He is buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

My Visit: April 4, 2011. Also at LNMB. Read more here.


Ferdinand Marcos (1917 – 1989) 

In Office: December 30, 1965 – February 25, 1986

President Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos died in Honolulu on September 28, 1989 of kidney, heart and lung ailments. He was interred in a private mausoleum at Byodo-In Temple on the island of Oahu, visited daily by the Marcos family, political allies and friends. The late strongman’s remains are currently interred inside a refrigerated crypt in Batac, Ilocos Norte.

My Visit: April 16, 2010. I visited the crypt last April 2010, taking pictures inside is prohibited. Read more here.


Corazon Aquino (1933 – 2009) 

In Office: February 25, 1986 – June 30, 1992

President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino was laid to rest beside her husband, the late Sen. Benigno Aquino, Jr. on August 5, 2009 at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City after a year-long battle with colon cancer. Aquino died of cardio-respiratory arrest which are complications of colon cancer at the age of 76 on August 1, 2009, 3:18 a.m., at the Makati Medical Center.

My Visit: April 9, 2011. I visited the simple white tombs of Tita Cory and Ninoy last April. Read more here.



*Texts taken from this Manila Bulletin article.

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This is my entry to this month's PTB Blog carnival hosted by Gael Hilotin of the Pinay Solo Backpacker with the topic: "Dark Tourism: Philippines in Focus"
   
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