Philippine couple ties the knot in flood-hit church despite rising waters
Wedding goes ahead despite rising floodwater
Leian Lieza Galang walked through muddy, hip-deep water inside Saint John the Baptist church in Hagonoy, north of Manila. Wearing a white off-shoulder gown and carrying white flowers, she made her way to the altar to marry Gilbert Chico.
The couple, both in their 30s, exchanged vows during a shortened ceremony conducted by the parish priest. Wedding photographer Mikko Rey Alfonso said the church had been partly underwater for almost a month.
“We were in complete uniform. We did not mind that our gown and coat got soaked,” the groom told AFP. The parish had advised the couple to delay the ceremony because of the rising water, but they decided to continue.
Church staff help make the day special
“The parish had advised them to postpone the wedding due to the rising floodwaters from upstream. It was their decision to proceed,” Alfonso told AFP. He said parish workers did everything possible to help the couple have a special wedding despite the difficult conditions.
“Since they wanted to see it through, we the servants of the parish did the best we could to make this a special day for them.” Fewer than 15 people attended the unusual ceremony, according to the photographer.
A video shared on the parish’s Facebook page showed the bride receiving a hug from her parents inside the nearly empty church. Plastic flower decorations could be seen on the pews, while one photograph showed a young boy carrying the wedding rings through waist-deep water.
Bride and groom take unusual journey to church
The couple travelled together in a rickshaw with an elevated chassis to keep their wedding clothes above the floodwater. They only got out after reaching the church courtyard, helping them keep their clothes clean before the ceremony.
The bride also needed to make a change to her dress so she could move safely through the water. Alfonso said she had to “have her wedding gown altered to shorten the train”.
“They love each other. Nothing could stop their union,” Alfonso said. The couple’s determination turned their flooded wedding into an unusual moment that attracted attention online.
Heavy rains cause deaths across Philippines
The wedding took place after unusually heavy monsoon rains affected the northern part of the mainly Catholic Philippines. Landslides and flash floods linked to the rains killed 34 people in August, according to the latest official tally.
The flooding has affected communities for weeks and made normal activities difficult in several areas. Despite the conditions, the couple decided that another delay was not what they wanted for their marriage.
Chico, who works as a rigger in the Middle East, said the wedding was originally scheduled for December. However, a basketball injury forced him to return home earlier than planned, giving him an opportunity to marry before going back to work.
The couple’s wedding shows how some people choose to continue with important moments even during difficult circumstances. Their decision also highlights how badly flooding has affected communities in parts of the Philippines.
The ceremony was unusual, but it was carefully managed by the couple and church staff. With heavy rains continuing to create problems, the wedding became a small but memorable story of determination and commitment.
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