Each year on November 1 and 2, Filipinos dedicate their time to remember and honor loved ones who have passed away.

Families gather in cemeteries to spend time praying for their dead. They offer flowers, clean and sometimes decorate the tombs. "Pag-atang" is also observed or the offering of food to the deceased loved one.

Yet behind these scenes, there are unsung heroes—caretakers who tend to tombs for families who cannot visit.

Ninfa Sanisit, a 66-year-old woman, is one of them.

A Rappler article cited Sanisit's hardwork in cleaning and taking care of tombs to prepare them for the visit of relatives and loved ones.

It was in the 1980’s that Sanisit started working at the cemetery when she was encouraged by her neighbors, she told the website.

Ever since, she has been tasked with maintaining tombs in Kabankalan City Public Cemetery in Negros Occidental, for families who didn’t have time to visit their departed loved ones. By helping others, she was able to help herself and her family to gain extra income.

Sanisit dedicated her time to maintaining the cleanliness of the graves, despite her advancing age, she ensures that each tomb entrusted her is taken care of properly. Her customers, who became loyal to her, can testify to this.

In return, she’s paid P600 for each tomb that she cleans, repairs, and letters.

Sanisit takes the job seriously and her clients know this, she told Rappler in Hiligaynon.

However, for Sanisit, cleaning and caring for the tombstones isn’t a one person job. And overtime, as they gained more clients, her family started to pitch in— including her husband, children and grandchildren.

And then— it became more than a job. It became a family business that allowed them to spend more time with each other.

According to Sanisit, they earn up to P10,000 each Undas, and as soon as the holiday has passes, they return to their business of selling vegetables at the local wet market to sustain their daily needs.


As of now, there are only about 10 elderly caretakers left— most of them has passed away and is currently buried at the same cemetery they worked at.

This year, however, has been especially challenging. Heavy rains have complicated the work, and Sanisit worries they may not reach their usual earnings. Still, she perseveres.

Today, only around ten elderly caretakers remain at the cemetery. Many who once worked alongside her have passed on and are now buried in the same cemetery they tended to with care.