For casual photographers or random tourists looking for new and more interesting subjects to shoot, visiting the Manila Chinese Cemetery is a nice exercise. It's not as morbid as it sounds, it isn't in poor form, and the practice is not as uncommon as you'd think.
Things of interest are the Chong Hock Tong Temple, the Martyr's Hall or Liat See Tong, the Ruby Tower Memorial, and the Carlos Palanca Memorial or Tan Quien Sien. There are plenty of other interesting mausoleums as well, like the famed mami magnate Ma Mon Luk (yay for alliteration!). Most of the bigger mausoleums have caretakers living inside, complete with airconditioners. Bicycles can be rented on site so you can roam around and explore. You can visit all year round, but it is best to go right after All Saints' Day, as there are still plenty of candles and flowers to add drama to your shots. read more