Sementeryo

‘Sementeryo’ reveals a profound intersection between life and death in the evocative setting of two cemeteries in Metro Manila (Philippines): the Manila North and South Cemetery.   
Melissa Peritore's photographs invite us to consider the cemetery not only as a place of mourning, but also as a testimony to resilience and adaptation. Thus becoming a ‘place’ - a locus of intertwined histories-where life persists in unexpected forms. They highlight the paradox of a community that flourishes in the shadow of mortality and invite us to reflect on the capacity of human beings to adapt, even in the most unusual places.   
Capturing the everyday life of those who reside there, they challenge preconceived notions of place and function. The cemetery becomes a stage where the boundaries between life and death blur, offering a narrative of hope and resistance.   
The phenomenon of people living inside cemeteries in large Philippine cities has been a complex and deep-rooted reality for decades. The Philippine authorities have tried several times to evict these communities, but with limited success. In fact, many families have returned after being driven out, due to the lack of affordable housing alternatives and the safety that these places offer compared to urban slums. The Manila North Cemetery, one of the largest cemeteries in the metropolis, in addition to accommodating one million departed souls, is also a shelter for about 6,000 people: many families have lived there for several generations and have created a veritable microcosm within its walls. The inhabitants in many cases work as custodians of the tombs and mausoleums, build tombstones or take care of the burial of the dead, and have created an informal economy that allows them to support themselves and of which many small businesses such as food and beverage kiosks, emporiums and other businesses are part.  

Melissa Peritore