Pandacan youth revitalize community through faith years after fire incident

May 15, 2024

[Left to Right]: Moderator and Journalism Instructor Nathaniel Melican; Parochial Vicar Rev. Fr. Joseph Sigfred S. Arellano, Knights of Columbus Grand Knight Ramon delos Reyes, Parish Secret and Youth Ministry Adviser Lem Leal Santiago talks about the Santo Nino de Pandacan Parish at the second Balitaan sa BGPOP press conference on Wednesday, May 15. (Photo by Christian Querol/The Manila Warden)

The youth are the soul of the Pandacan community, as they will not only inherit the church, but the devotion that comes with it, parish officials said during the second Balitaan sa BGPOP press conference on Wednesday, May 15, at the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building at the University of Santo Tomas. 

Parish Secretary and Youth Ministry Adviser Lem Leal Santiago explained that due to the youth’s environment on being raised primarily with faith and spirituality, they have been helpful in revitalizing the faith that comes along with the reconstruction of the Sto Nino de Pandacan Parish.  

“[The] microcosm of the Filipino youth. Dynamic. Sila yung lumaki sa pananampalataya. So, with regards to taking steps, they are very active, especially online. Sa social media, they are very creative, in terms of the content, and we are very happy because they are using their talent. Last year, nagstart sila mag-organize ng pilgrimage and part of the proceeds, binigay nila sa reconstruction,” Lem said. 

With Pandacan as a place of talent, the drive to spread the word on social media was by the youth’s faith. 

"Iba yung pakiramdam ng kabataan ng Pandacan youth. Faithful sa Pandacan kasi karamihan sa kabataan na ito, lumaki sa pananampalataya. SIla yung lumaki sa simbahan. Araw-araw ng pagsisimba, rosaryo, prusisyon, normal lang sakanila. Especially that hindi sila makalabas, in the midst of the pandemic, they are very heartbroken. Nung nagkaroon ng opportunity, they made sure they can help not just financially but other people,” Lem said.  

He added that it wasn't just youth, but young people from Pandacan who shape and contribute to the spirit and image of the church. 

Parochial Vicar Rev. Fr. Joseph Sigfred S. Arellano and Knights of Columbus Grand Knight Ramon delos Reyes also echoed Lem’s statement. 

“Wala tayong simbahan, pero nandito pa rin kayo. Kung talagang sinabi ni father ay napakainit po talaga, napupuno pa rin po ang simbahan,” Ramon delos Reyes said. 

Consequently, the reconstruction will see more than doubling its capacity from 700 to a maximum capacity of 1500 people, as the church have been conducting masses at the first floor, which is the columbarium area, and the under-construction second floor as the main grounds for masses.  

Four years ago 

On July 10, 2020, the church and its over 300-year-old convent, both located in Jesus Street in Pandacan, Manila was destroyed by a fire that reached the third alarm. 

The fire razed everything; the church building, including the roof and convent, and left many antique religious images heavily charred and destroyed. Even the original centuries-old Santo Niño image wasn’t spared. 

In January 2021, the church received from the Archdiocese of Manila a new Santo Niño image made from a 300-year-old yakal beam. A finger from the previous image, which survived the fire, was placed at the chest of the new image. 

Amid the pandemic, it took exactly a year after the July 2020 incident to have the groundbreaking ceremony for the reconstruction of the Pandacan Church, which was led by the Archbishop of Manila.  

Former Manila City Mayor Francisco Moreno Domagoso donated one million pesos, followed by a 10 million pesos donation from the Archdiocese of Manila, for the reconstruction of the church. 

In the name of Sto. Niño's image, Santiago hopes to see more youth in the future, and Rev. Fr. Arellano said that it is his duty to encourage the youth because they bring life within the church. 

With 80.31 percent finished, the parish officials hoped to have the fully reconstructed church, with full interior and exterior structures, to be launched by the end of the year before the Sto. Niño feast. But they will be opening their doors this August, even if the interior is not yet finished.  

Rev. Fr. Joseph Sigfred S. Arellano said that the progress is due to the continuous generosity of donors, and the unity behind such a community. 

“Based sa nakikita ko, nagiging strong sila. The way they help, parang impossible. Pandacan is not raised rich, but they are kind para sa construction. They are one. Nagkaisa,” Arellano said.  

Arellano added that the #BangonPandacan is a resemblance of a phoenix rising from the ashes and Pandacan will indeed “babangon.”

- C. Q.