MANILA, Philippines — The 356-year-old Parish of St. Francis of Assisi in Meycauayan City, Bulacan, was not spared from the onslaught of the Typhoon Carina-enhanced monsoon rains, as it got submerged in chest-high floodwater on Wednesday, July 24, causing damage to pews and religious images.
The present religious building constructed in 1668 is one of the oldest in Bulacan and has weathered past calamities.
Not even Typhoon Ondoy in 2009 brought that much floodwater inside the religious building, according to church authorities.
This photo shows the flooded Parish of St. Francis of Assisi in Meycauayan City, Bulacan. Photo from Fr.Patrick Gumasing/Parokya ng San Francisco ng Assisi – Meycauayan
“Hindi gano’n kalaki ‘yong taas ng baha no’ng Ondoy. Ito na ‘yong pinakamalaki sa history ng simbahan,” said Sacristan Mayor Armando Berroya in an interview with INQUIRER.net on Thursday, July 25.
(The floodwater from Typhoon Ondoy was not that massive. The church never had this kind in its history.)
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Berroya recalled that as early as 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, the floodwater had already reached chest level inside the church, while the floodwater around the patio area outside the church was neck-high.
This photo shows the flooded Parish of St. Francis of Assisi in Meycauayan City, Bulacan. Photo from Kenneth Guban and Armando Berroya/Parish of St. Francis of Assisi – Meycauayan
While floodwater subsided inside the church on Thursday, the torrential rains’ fury was evident in the damaged pews, religious statues, and other church properties.
One of these is the cracked statue of Our Mother of Perpetual Help.
The church was undergoing renovations when the flood struck.
A portrait of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. (Photo courtesy of Kenneth Guban and Armando Berroya/Parish of St. Francis of Assisi – Meycauayan)
According to Berroya, they will meet with the city mayor on Friday to discuss plans for the church’s operations.
“Wala munang Misa hangga’t hindi humuhupa ang baha,” Berroya added.
(There will still be no Mass until the floodwater subsides.)
READ: Carina floods leave PH capital in state of calamity
Berroya said floodwater inside the church fully subsided as of Friday morning. Cleaning operations will also be conducted inside the church.
“Ang tantya po ay magmi-Misa ng Sabado ng gabi ‘pag naisaayos na po hanggang bukas ng umaga,” said Berroya on Friday.
(Based on estimates, the church will have a Mass on Saturday night if cleaning is done until Saturday morning.)
This photo shows the flooded Parish of St. Francis of Assisi in Meycauayan City, Bulacan. Photo fro, Kenneth Guban and Armando Berroya/Parish of St. Francis of Assisi – Meycauayan
Bulacan was placed under a state of calamity due to the effects of Carina and the typhoon-boosted southwest monsoon, which is locally termed habagat.
Bulacan towns that were hit the hardest included Sta. Maria, Obando, Baliwag, Plaridel, and Pulilan.
In a Palace briefing on Wednesday, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. reported that Central Luzon was among the most affected regions by incessant rains in recent days.
As Carina further weakened and left the Philippine area of responsibility on Thursday morning, cloudy and rainy Friday is expected in Luzon, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration.