Pinoy in Paris on Notre-Dame fire: Wala kaming magawa eh, feeling helpless

People who witnessed the fire that engulfed the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France were in shock at what happened to the centuries-old cathedral on Tuesday (PHL time), a Filipino student said.

The Pinoy student based in Paris said most of them felt helpless as they witnessed how the blaze had consumed the 800-year-old cathedral.

"Ang general mood ng mga tao dito sa kalye ay in shock at walang magawa... Wala kaming magawa eh, feeling helpless to witness this really horrible... one of the most visited places in the world na nasusunog sa harapan mo. Hindi kami makapaniwala," Franco Maigue said in a phone interview on GMA News' Unang Balita.

People watch from a bridge as smoke billows from Notre-Dame Cathedral during a fire in Paris, France April 15, 2019. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

Maigue said he and his friends were taking pictures when they noticed a small smoke from the Notre-Dame Cathedral. They stayed to watch it until the smoke grew bigger.

"Well nandito lang ako kasama ng mga kaibigan ko galing Pilipinas... the usual selfie galing kaming Notre-Dame... Pagkaraan ng ilang sandali, pagtawid namin ng bridge may nakita kaming maliit na usok," Maigue recalled.

"Nanatili kami para panoorin hanggang sa lumaki nang lumaki... Lumiliyab pa rin nu'ng pag-alis namin," he added.

Maigue speculated that the incident may be connected to the renovation that was ongoing inside the cathedral.

"Definitely mayroong renovation na ginagawa sa Cathedral. Ang hula namin eh kasi maraming chemicals for renovation. Ang usok kasi ay kulay yellow. Hindi pa namin alam kung bakit," Maigue said.

The cathedral, which dates back to the 12th century, was the setting in Victor Hugo's classic novel "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame."

It is a focal point for French Roman Catholics who like Christians around the world are celebrating Holy Week, marking the death and resurrection of Jesus.

The archbishop of Paris called on all priests in Paris to ring church bells as a gesture of solidarity for the Notre-Dame. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KG, GMA News