Centuries-old Bulacan church inundated by monsoon-induced floods
MANILA, Philippines — The 446-year-old St. Francis de Assisi Parish Church in Meycauayan City, Bulacan, was not spared from the onslaught of the Typhoon Carina-enhanced monsoon rains, as it submerged in chest-high floodwaters on Wednesday, July 24, causing damage to pews and religious images.
The church built in 1578 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 St. Francis de Assisi Parish Church in Meycauayan City, Bulacan. (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.)
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 St. Francis de Assisi Parish Church in Meycauayan City, Bulacan. (Photo courtesy of Kenneth Guban and Armando Berroya/St. Francis de Assisi Parish Church – 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/St. Francis de Assisi Parish Church – 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.)
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 St. Francis de Assisi Parish Church in Meycauayan City, Bulacan. (Photos from Kenneth Guban and Armando Berroya/St. Francis de Assisi Parish Church – 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.
