IN PHOTOS: ‘Mother of All Bicol Churches’ submerged due to Kristine
MANILA, Philippines – One of the most powerful symbols of the Bicolano faith, the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral, endured the wrath of Tropical Storm Kristine (Trami) after it was submerged in knee-deep flood in the evening of Tuesday, October 22.
“At the height of Tropical Storm Kristine last night, floodwaters reached knee-height levels inside the cathedral church and waist-height levels inside the cathedral office. Waters have now receded and clean-up is on its way,” said the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral, considered the “Mother of All Bicol Churches,” in a Facebook post on Wednesday, October 23.
“We continue to pray for the safety and well-being of everyone. May our patron, Saint John the Evangelist, and our Inâ, Our Lady of Peñafrancia, intercede for us all,” the cathedral added.
Kristine, the Philippines’ 11th tropical cyclone of the year, has affected around 382,300 people across four regions, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council as of 8 am on Wednesday.
Bicol is the region worst hit by Kristine, where nearly 378,800 or 99% of affected residents live.
Symbols of faith such as the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral are an intricate part of the Bicolano identity, because it is the Philippine region with the highest percentage of Catholics. According to the latest government census, 93.5% of total residents belong to the Catholic Church.
How are different religious groups responding to Kristine? Share photos or anecdotes in the faith chat room of the Rappler Communities app.
For general discussions on the tropical cyclone, visit our Project Agos chat room. – Paterno Esmaquel II/Rappler.com