A cemetery’s special place for ‘little angels’

Inside the Manila South Cemetery lies a place where angels who did not get the chance to live their lives in this world are given a special place to rest.

Although tiny and shared with stone cherubs, Heaven for the Angels has been giving unborn children a sanctuary where fathers and mothers who they did not even meet can visit and offer them prayers at least once a year.

"It was built way back in 2001. It’s a place where we lay little angels to rest," administrator Tom Torres told The STAR in an interview.

Though there is very little space for them, fetuses brought to Heaven for the Angels are grouped together and are given a proper burial.

"We group them in tens. Each placed in separate bottles or containers and kept inside a compartment about the size of a shoe box," Torres said.

Heaven for the Angels, he added, provides little tombs for the little ones in a condominium-type structure kept clean and maintained by cemetery personnel.

Torres said the Manila North Cemetery also has a similar place for unborn children built under a project by Mayor Lito Atienza.

At present, the Manila South Cemetery is home to some 80 fetuses who were either victims of miscarriage or were prematurely born and abandoned by their mothers.

Makati City police chief Superintendent Gilbert Cruz said he learned of the place just recently while doing his rounds and is amazed at the idea of a place where fetuses are given a place in this earth.

"At least we know that we have a place where we can bring those who were either simply abandoned or thrown away," he said.