How to Make Smart Phone Cemetery Activity Meaningful

A 17 hectare of land for memorial owned by Mr. Fernandez, Forest Lawn Memorial Park located at  Mayon Avenue, Barangay San Jose, Rodriguez, 1860 Rizal, Quezon City provides calm and peaceful resting place for people who have passed on from this life. 

Why This Activity?

BillionGraves is the world's largest source for searchable GPS cemetery data, and is growing bigger and better every day.  You can help collecting headstone images from local and other cemeteries, and then by transcribing the personal information found on the images. (billiongraves.com)

It is a soul-refining, adventure, low-budget activity.  Doing this for strangers will develop a sense of selflessness.  Much more if you could take headstone shots of your deceased family members.  If you have a province and can't go, ask your relatives to do for you or much better you go and experience it yourself.

Basic Things To Have

- iOS or Android operating system

- Camera

- GPS

- Internet Access

- Register at BillionGraves.com using email or fb account

Here's HOW

1.  Download the app

• Search for "Billion Graves" on Google Play or Apple App Store from your mobile.
• Make sure you have enough space

2.  Identify a cemetery

"We identified Forest Lawn Memorial Park since that's where I will get mine.  Sis. Chona Rivera, who agents the land, assisted us."

• Work with your local leaders using map.
• Seek the permit as needed.

3.  Start Taking Pictures

"Howard and his brother, Albert, Ritchelle and I separated ways to be able to cover as many headstones.

We took photos of the headstones on land, as well as in apartment type.

I was able to take 42 photos."  

• Clear off any twigs, grass, or debris of the headstones to make sure it is clear.
• Be aware of the lighting.  Visit day time as highly recommendable time.
• Use landscape photos.
• Fill your screen with entire headstone and at the right angle.
• Remain steady to avoid blurry photos.
• Make sure like fingers or feet aren't in the shot.
• If there are a family members buried next to each other, be sure to link the images.

4.  Organize a group

"Yesterday, Eastwood Ward group of Family History Consultants (Ritchelle, Howard, Carole) met together for our prelude to Billion Graves Activity.  We will soon have our ward's auxiliary activity. In preparation to it, we did ahead of time.

We were accompanied by fellow members Elizabeth, Chesca, Chona, Albert and Ms. Mila.

Ritchelle, Howie and Albert met us at 711, where I parked to wait for them.  I drove for the group and we arrived destination in 30 minutes.  Our activity lasted for an hour."

• Go out and take a few pictures before you take a large group to the cemetery 
• Have the group register and install the app before going to the cemetery. Make sure to have internet data available on phone too.
• Teach group how to take pictures, link successive images, and upload images.
• During main project, leader should NOT take pictures.  He or she should organize the group and be available to answer questions and direct traffic.

5.  Transcribe Images

• Visit the billiongraves.com Transcription Page
• Enter names, dates and any other information on the headstone into the fields provided.
• Headstone can have information for many individuals.  Make sure to add information for each.
• Here's HOW

If you don't have the app on you phone, you can also take photos and upload them later on your computer using any browser. 

Here's HOW

Things to Bring During the Activity

1.  Extra towelette

2. Fully-charged phone

3. Bottled water

4.  Cap or umbrella

5. Chips or snacks