A couple is making headlines for holding their wedding as planned in a church flooded up to waist height.
According to AFP and local media, Reian Lieza Galang and Gilbert Chico were married on September 1 at the St. John the Baptist Church in Hagonoy, Bulacan, located north of Manila. The church was filled with muddy water due to continuous heavy rain.
The church officials advised the couple to postpone or change their wedding plans as the water levels continued to rise. However, the couple decided to proceed with the ceremony. Parts of the church had been submerged for about a month.
There was a reason for their decision to stick to the schedule. Chico, who works as a rigger in the Middle East, was originally set to marry in December. However, after injuring his ankle while playing basketball, he returned to the Philippines earlier than expected and decided to use his vacation to hold the wedding before returning to work abroad.
Photos and videos shared online show Galang walking through the murky water in her white wedding dress. A child carrying the wedding rings also walked down the aisle through the flooded church. Fewer than 15 guests attended the ceremony.
To navigate safely through the flooded church, the bride shortened the train of her wedding dress. When the power went out, the church provided portable speakers for the ceremony. Floral decorations remained in place on the submerged church seats.
The couple arrived at the church in a high-bodied tricycle. Chico told AFP that he was not concerned about his wedding attire getting wet. They officially became husband and wife during a simplified morning ceremony.
The wedding photos were quickly shared on the church's official social media, generating congratulations, though some expressed concern about health risks associated with wading through floodwaters. In the Philippines, recent heavy rains and flooding have raised fears of leptospirosis infections. According to the Department of Health, there have been 5,835 reported cases of leptospirosis in the country this year.
Last month, northern regions of the Philippines experienced stronger-than-usual seasonal monsoon rains. Authorities reported that 34 people died due to sudden landslides and flooding. Hagonoy has also been affected by flooding due to its geographical features that collect water from upstream.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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