Ang mamatay ng dahil sa'yo: Patriots' graves at Manila cemeteries and neighboring provinces

Abstract

From the Introduction: When we think of memorializing Filipino patriots, what may first enter the mind are statues of these persons often in poses that are supposed to recall their heroism. They are depicted in the midst of their patriotic acts, such as wielding weapons in battle or in their moment of martyrdom. However, most of these monuments were erected years and even decades after their deaths. Sufficient time has already passed for their representations and images to be worked and reworked in the collective or social psyche. Burial structures, which are in general erected closer to the person's death, can provide insights about his or her identity that may not exactly be congruent with other forms of memorializations. This chapter seeks to look at the symbols and motifs present on the graves of known Filipino patriots. How do they represent and/or memorialize the individual and his or her contribution to Philippine history? What values and/or meanings are conveyed to the living, and how so are they reproduced and communicated?