A Power Plant Beside a Cemetery (Ilijan, Batangas City)
Ilijan Public Cemetery and Ilijan Power Plant
Is this a cemetery beside a power plant, or a power plant beside a cemetery? These are different perspectives to a native of Ilijan, Batangas, where this picture was taken, and from a non-native. My parents are natives of this place so my family sees this as a power plant beside a cemetery.
The Ilijan Public Cemetery was already there decades ago before the Ilijan Power Plant came into picture in 1999. There was once a need to demolish this cemetery for the construction of the natural gas powered plant. But after successful negotiations with the contractors, the final resting place of my ancestors was retained, as well as the respect between the community and the operators. I’ve visited this place a couple of times, but I still feel the irony of a cemetery and a power plant being together in harmony.
that of a very good read.