MANILA, July 23 (Bernama-dpa) — A long-time couple from the Philippines did not let a severe tropical storm stop them from tying the knot as they said their I Do’s in a flooded church, reported German news agency dpa.
Jao Verdillo and Jamaica Aguilar waded through one-foot-deep floodwaters inside Barasoain Church in Malolos City in Bulacan province, just north of Manila, for the wedding ceremony on Tuesday.
“Nothing could have stopped us,” Aguilar told ABS-CBN News. “We have been waiting for this for a long time.”
“This is just a flood. We have much more to brave through together,” she added.
The couple had booked their wedding in the church two years ago and had taken time off from their work for the ceremony.
Family and friends also waded through the flood water, with some taking their shoes off to keep them dry.
Verdillo folded his pants to his knees, while Aguilar walked down the aisle with the hem of her gown submerged in water.
A wide area in the Philippines was flooded due to heavy rains brought by severe tropical storm Wipha.
At least 12 people were reported dead in the floods and other accidents brought about by the inclement weather, according to the police.
Most of the fatalities died from drowning, while at least two people died when struck by falling trees or debris, the national disaster agency said.
About 1.2 million people were affected by Wipha’s onslaught and the monsoon rains, including over 286,000 residents displaced and forced to stay in evacuation centres.
Wipha blew out of the Philippines on Saturday, but the weather bureau said a new tropical storm was barrelling towards the northernmost part of the country and would bring more rain until the weekend.
–BERNAMA-dpa