Leian Lieza Galang and Gilbert Chico married on Sept. 1 at St. John the Baptist Parish in Hagonoy, Bulacan, despite waist-deep floodwater inside the church and parish advice to postpone. The couple shortened the bride's train and arrived by elevated rickshaw; fewer than 15 people attended the abbreviated ceremony. The Philippine Department of Health had warned of leptospirosis risks and reported 4,285 cases as of Aug. 22.
Waist-Deep Flood Couldn't Stop Them: Couple Marries Inside Flooded Church in Bulacan
Image Credit: KHOU 11 / YouTube.
Leian Lieza Galang and Gilbert Chico went ahead with their wedding on Sept. 1 at St. John the Baptist Parish in Hagonoy, Bulacan, even though murky floodwater reached roughly to guests' waists inside the church.
The parish had advised the couple to postpone because water flowing from upstream was still rising. Photographer Mikko Rey Alfonso told AFP that parts of the church had been submerged for nearly a month, but the couple chose to proceed with an intimate ceremony attended by fewer than 15 people.
To cope with the conditions they made practical adjustments. Galang had the train of her white gown shortened so it would be easier to move through the water. The pair arrived in the church courtyard aboard a motorized rickshaw fitted with an elevated chassis to keep their clothes dry until they stepped into the church. Flooding had also disabled the building's sound system; the parish used a portable speaker instead.
Photographs from the ceremony show how little of the interior escaped the inundation: one ring bearer negotiated water that reached his waist as he made his way to the altar.
Health Concerns
Public reaction focused as much on safety as on romance. Days before the ceremony, the Philippine Department of Health warned people to avoid wading, swimming or playing in floodwaters because they may be contaminated with animal urine and can transmit leptospirosis. As of Aug. 22 the department had recorded 4,285 leptospirosis cases nationwide and opened dedicated treatment lanes at 33 government hospitals.
"They love each other," photographer Mikko Rey Alfonso told AFP. "Nothing could stop their union."
The groom offered a pragmatic explanation: "We did not mind that our gown and coat got soaked." Parish workers assisted where they could once the couple decided to proceed, ensuring the brief ceremony could take place despite the conditions.
While the wedding drew admiration for the couple's determination, public-health officials' warnings serve as a reminder that floodwater poses real risks. The ceremony stood out as a human-interest moment in a community still managing the broader consequences of prolonged flooding.
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