Philippine couple married in hip-deep floodwaters

In a remarkable ceremony, a Philippine couple exchanged their vows on Tuesday at a church submerged in floodwaters, despite the heavy rains that had battered the country for a month. Leian Lieza Galang, dressed in a white off-shoulder gown, walked gingerly into the murky waters of the Saint John the Baptist church in Hagonoy town, north of Manila, to marry Gilbert Chico. The groom, clad in a coat and gown, told AFP that they were in "complete uniform" and did not mind getting soaked.

The parish priest officiated the abbreviated late-morning ceremony, declaring the couple, both in their 30s, husband and wife. Wedding photographer Mikko Rey Alfonso confirmed that the church had been partially underwater for nearly a month, as heavy rains from upstream had caused the rising floodwaters. The couple, however, decided to proceed with the wedding, defying the parish's advice to postpone it.

Alfonso, who served the parish, praised the couple's determination to see their union through. "They love each other. Nothing could stop their union," he said. A video clip of the wedding, posted on the parish's Facebook page, showed the bride being embraced by her parents in front of empty pews adorned with plastic flower bouquets. Another photo depicted a boy holding the wedding rings walking down the aisle, with floodwater up to his waist.

Galang and Chico arrived at the church on a rickshaw with an elevated chassis, ensuring their clothes remained clean until they reached the church courtyard. The bride's wedding gown had to be altered to shorten the train to safely navigate the floodwaters, Alfonso explained.

A total of fewer than 15 people attended the wedding, including the bride and groom's families. Chico, who works as a rigger in the Middle East, had originally planned the wedding for December. However, an ankle injury sustained during a recreational basketball game forced him to return home for vacation earlier than expected. The downtime allowed him to finalize the wedding plans before he returned to his job.