Sto. Nino de Pandacan Church reconstruction 80 percent complete, open by August

May 15, 2024

The Sto. Nino de Pandacan Church will open its doors in August this year following their reconstruction project of nearly four years from 2021 to 2024, according to Parochial Vicar Rev. Fr. Joseph Sigfred S. Arellano during the second Balitaan sa BGPOP 2024 on Wednesday, May 15.  

The Pandacan community alongside the parish officials of the church of Sto. Niño de Pandacan Parish said the reconstruction was 80.31 percent complete in May 2024.  

“We still have more things to do for its full completion, such as raising funds for the interiors and other necessary equipment inside the church,” Arellano said in a statement.  

The parish has already spent around P100 million for the reconstruction after a fire that razed the church in July 2020. The money came purely from donors and volunteers. 

The church also lost many of its prized possessions, including the 400-year-old titular figure of Sto. Niño which turned into ashes in the blaze.  

Despite the losses, several volunteers with a majority of Pandacan’s youth took the initiative to promote the reconstruction of the church through a rap music video.  

“Pandacan is a place of talent—they (the youth) are using their talents through channels in social media to spread the word, the church, and the community. The only ones [na] pwedeng maglabas nito ay [ang] kabataan natin,” said Lem Santiago, the Parish Secretary and Youth Ministry Adviser of the church.  

The youth ministry adviser also mentioned that the youth of Pandacan were raised with strong faith, pointing out that they attend mass, participate in the church’s procession, and recite the rosary every day. However, that routine was disrupted for them when the church burned down amid the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.  

“Normal lang sakanila [‘yun]... Especially that hindi sila makalabas, in the midst of the pandemic, they are very heartbroken. Once na nadisheartened ka sa isang bagay, mahirap ibalik. But these young people, ‘yung kanilang faith habang tinatayo ang simbahan, mas lumakas,” Santiago said.  

“The role of the church is not just to give them the encouragement to help, kung ano man meron sakanila but of course, the role is to boost the spirituality of the people,” he added.  

- Aabgina Cos