Three-century-old church burned into ashes, built by youth ground up 

ALMOST four years after the Sto. Nino de Pandacan burned into ashes, the youth of Pandacan continue to build the church brick by brick by showcasing talents, the parish secretary of the church said in a press conference held at the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes O.P. Building on Wednesday, May 15.  

Lem Santiago, also sitting as the church’s youth ministry adviser, said that the youth of Pandacan played an important role in raising funds for the reconstruction of the church that was engulfed by a fire in 2020.  

“They use their art, gumawa ng music video na rap to promote construction efforts, they're maximizing the potential of social media,” he said. “Ang kabataan wala naman talagang silang pera, they’re using this capacity to promote kasi yon ang kanilang vehicle to help the church.” 

Sto. Nino de Pandacan was razed by a fire that broke out at the height of the pandemic in July 2020. The fire started near the Church’s chapel and burned the 400-year-old prized wooden image of the Sto. Nino.  

Other liturgical artifacts that were smoldered by the fire were the Nazareno statue, the Santo Entierro image, and the crucifix at the altar.  

Santiago added that the youth community of Pandacan is “a strong community of God” and is the “soul of the church” as the youth went back to serving the parish after the ease on Covid-19 restrictions.  

“Last year, nag start sila [youth of Pandacan] na mag-organize ng pilgrimage sa Pangasinan, [then] ‘yong part of the proceeds [ay] binigay nila sa construction efforts,” he said.  

Despite losing the important historical and liturgical markers of the church, Santiago said the participation of the youth in parochial efforts is important in faith building that leads to the Pandacan culture of “social attitude” preservation. 

He said that the youth serve as the heir of the parish.  

Meanwhile, Rev. Fr. Joseph Arellano, Parish vicar of Sto. Niño de Pandacan, added that encouraging the youth to continue participating in fundraising efforts is salient in empowering the individuals spiritually. 

He added that the completion of the building is expected later this year and has spent about 100 million pesos on building the historic church.  

The parish launched a donation drive website last year to reach people overseas. With a goal of accumulating one million pesos, the church has now collected about seven hundred thousand pesos.  

“From the ashes babangon kami, babangon tayo,” Arellano said. 

Sto. Niño de Pandacan Parish is expected to be fully constructed later this year ahead of the nine-day dawn eucharistic celebration or “Simbang Gabi.” 

“The church is the people, and the main church is the youth… kasama sila sa pag-tayo ng Simbahan,” Santiago added. -- Marco Luis D. Beech