The biggest of these, North Cemetery, has become something of a living village.
Mausoleums that house the bodies of the dead also act as family homes for the living. And as more people arrive in Manila from outside seeking work, and as more people die, the crunch for space is getting worse.
Mario Pormales, 52, came to North Cemetery several years ago because it brought him closer to his work, as a gravestone mason and caretaker for the graves.
He earns US$10 for each gravestone he marks, often earning up to US$150 in a week, good money for locals in Manila.
Unofficial estimates reckon as many as 10,000 people live in North Cemetery, which covers 54 hectares and is the oldest cemetery in the Philippines, dating from the 19th century.
Alongside prominent names from Filipino history -- including literary masters, artists, politicians, war heroes and even former presidents -- these people live out lives that look quite normal, were it not for the gravestones and crypts.
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