Desk Report,
Why are people in the Philippines getting married in flooded churches?
It was a moment that would normally be seen on a wedding day.
Jamaica Aguilar walked down the empty aisle of the church, holding her father’s hand. She wore a white gown and a long, flowing veil that perfectly matched the historic church.
Why are people in the Philippines getting married in flooded churches?
But there was one difference. She and all her guests were standing in knee-deep water. The church had been flooded by heavy rains caused by monsoon rains and typhoons.
Still, the newlyweds didn’t give up. “It was challenging, but we focused on the real things,” they said.
The wedding, held at the Barasoin Church north of the Philippine capital, Manila, quickly went viral on social media. It once again highlighted the indomitable spirit of Filipinos in the face of disaster. But surprisingly, this is not the first time such a wedding has happened.
Two years ago, a couple got married in the same church, walking across a flooded floor at the same time. In 2018, a church in Bulacan province, north of Manila, was also flooded.
These incidents are not just a sign of courage or determination. Rather, they have brought to the fore a deeper problem. Frequent floods caused by heavy rains are causing suffering to millions of people.
The problem is exacerbated by outdated drainage systems, unplanned urbanization and increasingly inclement weather.
The 27-year-old bride said the hardest part of her wedding was the night before, when they were debating whether to hold the wedding.
The wedding planners had warned her that the rain would increase.
“It was the hardest decision for us — to cancel or postpone the wedding? I almost canceled it,” the bride said.
But in the end, they decided to go ahead with it.
“It was challenging, but we focused on our relationship and the people who love us,” said groom Z. Rick Verdillo. “They were both very happy after the wedding.”
The first thing the couple did after the wedding was to take an antibiotic called doxycycline. The medicine was obtained from a local health center. It is given to prevent the water-borne disease leptospirosis, which can attack the liver.
Hours after the wedding, another ceremony took place at the same Barasoin church—a funeral. The white coffin was placed on stilts. Typhoon Wifa (known locally as ‘Krising’) was the third storm to hit the Philippines this year.
The Philippines, located on the Pacific Ocean, is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world. It is hit by about 20 typhoons each year, half of which hit the country directly.
The rains that began last week have killed six people and left thousands homeless.
Two more typhoons are expected to form or hit the Philippines this month. History shows that the strongest storms hit towards the end of the year (especially before Christmas).
The president’s message and criticism
Amid the heavy rains, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is scheduled to deliver his annual address to the nation on Monday. Many are hoping that he will announce a plan to control the floods.
But earlier this week, as the rain continued, a debate erupted over the government’s campaign to post pictures of the president on social media. Critics say the government should have focused on disaster management, not politics.
Marcos is currently in Washington to negotiate a trade deal with US President Donald Trump. He claims that he has made all preparations for disaster management before going abroad.
Old drainage system and unplanned urbanization at the root of the problem
Manila, the capital of the Philippines, is home to more than 10 million people. Its residents are most vulnerable to flooding.
According to the government, the city’s “very old” and “inadequate” drainage system is to blame for the situation. It dates back to the 1900s. After more than a century of use, more than 70 percent of it has already been clogged with garbage.
The construction of roads on natural waterways is adding to the problem.
