A couple in the Philippines have gone viral after tying the knot inside a church that was partially submerged due to severe flooding caused by Tropical Storm Wipha.
Jade Rick Verdillo and Jamaica Aguilar were married on July 22, 2025, at the historic Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan. Despite knee-deep floodwaters filling the aisle, the couple went ahead with their wedding as planned.
“We just mustered enough courage,” Verdillo told People. “We decided today because it is a sacrifice in itself. But there will be more sacrifices if we don’t push through today.” Aguilar added, “It’s just one of the struggles that we’ve overcome.”
A couple married in a flooded church goes viral
Video footage showed Aguilar lifting her gown as she waded through the water toward the altar, while Verdillo waited in a soaked traditional shirt. Guests stood barefoot or in rolled-up trousers, with flower girls and family members joining in the unconventional ceremony.
This isn’t the first time a wedding at Barasoain Church has gone ahead during a flood. As noted by The Washington Post, in July 2023, another couple was married at the same location during ankle-deep water caused by Typhoon Doksuri.
In fact, flooding is a long-standing issue in Malolos and other parts of Central Luzon. The region’s flat coastal geography, combined with outdated infrastructure, makes it highly vulnerable during the rainy season.
According to Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan, much of the country’s sewage system dates back to the early 1900s and is now up to 70% silted or clogged. In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Bonoan described the drainage network as “very old” and “inadequate” for modern conditions.
The BBC has also reported that Metro Manila’s ongoing rubbish disposal crisis contributes heavily to flooding. Uncollected waste often clogs drainage systems and pollutes waterways, compounding the effects of outdated infrastructure.
Combined with rising sea levels and increasingly intense monsoon rains driven by climate change, these factors have made widespread flooding a frequent reality across the region.
Despite the ongoing issue, the wedding has proven popular on social media, where many have shared the footage as a symbol of love and resilience amid worsening environmental conditions.
