From marriage to wading: This Filipino couple got married in a submerged church; here’s why

Like a traditional wedding, this Filipino wedding had everything, a white dress, proud parents, churches and guests were all set to see it.But this marriage was separated that the couple almost exchanged the pledge while standing in the deep flood waters of the knee. In north of Capital City Manila, Jamaica Aguler on Sunday dropped the arm-in-arm with her father in the corridor of the 19th century Barasoin Church in Bulkan and wrapped in a cathedral-lambai veil. But instead of a red carpet, it passes through a heavy monsoon rain and merge water brought by typhoon Vipa, which is locally known as christing. Despite the submerged altar, he and his groom, Z Ric Wordillo carried forward. “It was challenging,” the 27-year-old groom said, “But we focused on what is really important-our relationships and those who love us.” His decision to move forward hit a raga online, going viral quickly with a video clip of flood ceremony, giving another example of Filipino flexibility by many.Although it’s strange, it was not the first marriage of its kind, as two years ago, another couple went down the same corridor at the same time of the year.But why are these couples choosing to get married in the middle of floods between the red carpets and the wedding instead of the floor? Behind such weddings, a deeper issue, chronic floods caused poor urban planning, drainage systems, and rapidly deteriorated with severe weather patterns. The Barasoin Church itself is not a stranger for such scenes, similar waterfall weddings were organized in 2022 and 2018. For aguilar, the most difficult moment was the night before the wedding. “This was 50/50 for me – I was considering to cancel,” she told the BBC. Finally, the couple pushed forward, and celebrated their union with a dose of doxycycline, which was an antibiotic given by the local clinic to prevent waterborne infections such as leptospirosis. Later that day, the flood church still hosted a funeral. The white coffin, located on wooden stilts, stood as a cool reminder of the broad toll of the storm. This year, Typhoon Vipa is the third storm to hit the Philippines, already claiming the lives of six people and displacing tens of thousands. And the rainy season is over, two more tropical systems are expected to hit the country in the coming weeks. Historically, the most powerful typhoon approaches the end of the year. The situation has also put a new pressure on President Ferdinand Marcos Junior, which is ready to distribute his annual State of the Nation address next week. Critics have slammed the priorities of their administration, which promote backlash after images of the President’s banners in a flood Manila. Marcos, currently in Washington, for business talks with US President Donald Trump, defended his decision to travel, saying he fully prepared disaster agencies. Metro Manila, a house of more than 13 million people, is the brunt of floods. According to the Public Works Secretary Manual Bonoan quoted by the BBC, its sewage network in the early 1900s, in the early 1900s, is filled with aging, overburden and 70% silt. Geologist Dr. Experts like Mahar Lagmay have pointed to irregular constructions and roads built on natural waterways as the problem further enhances. He argues that effective flood control should consider Manila Bay’s tide, hurricane growth and dam safety. The government says that a master plan prepared with the support of the World Bank is in the works. In the short term, the authorities aim to resume 32 pumping stations in the capital. Mr. Bonoan said, “We will have to sit to find a solution at once and for all, soon, at possible time.” The newly married Vardilo agrees, and hopefully future couples would not have to go down from a flood corridor. “Improvement cannot be done in a day, but can be done in years … I am positive about it, as long as we focus on all mitigation.”