Sunken Cemetery

SUNKEN CEMETERY

Located in Bonbon, Catarman a huge cross marker has been installed by the Provincial government to mark the community cemetery that sunk during the 1871 volcanic holocaust. Years ago, gravestones were visible during low tide. Today, it is an interesting diving site.

From a distance, one can see how lonely and solemn the place is. Entombed below the Cross are the lives lost to the history the people had been through, and place in itself already gave birth to the residents’ culture, history and tourism.

Today, all that remains of old Catarman are the ruins of an ancient Spanish San Roque church, a convent and a bell tower. 

Remnants of the structures and gravestones of the cemetery were still seen during low tide until 1948 when Mount Vulcan erupted for the fourth time, which buried the area deeper by 20 feet. In 1982, a large cross was built on the solidified lava to mark this old gravesite.

It's a cross, but believe me the main attraction for me was our guide. :)

There was a cemetery underneath and it sank because of an earthquake brought about by the explosion of Mt. Hibok-Hibok. It would have been better if we were able to go scuba diving to appreciate the sunken cemetery better. 

The new cross was just built for attraction/marker purposes (I believe it was built late 1990s). It is a great opportunity for picture-taking. Especially with the great expertise of our boatman/camera man/creative director. He knows a lot of photo tricks and great expressions that will surely put a smile on your face. 

We came around noon. They say it would have been better to come around sunset for a more magnificent picture. Anyways, it was nice.