The St. Ferdinand Parish Church in Ilagan City, Isabela, has been cordoned off following a fire on April 22, 2024.

It is, as of this writing, unsafe to enter the church because of the debris from the fire and due to the possibility of the ceiling collapsing..

Masses have been suspended temporarily, with services relocated to the family park nearby.

Other church activities, like baptisms, weddings, and funerals, will be held in alternative locations.

The church was over a century old and was made of light materials, which made it susceptible to flames.

The church's leadership said that there were ongoing renovations when the fire broke out.

While no one was injured, valuable items inside the church like new religious statues, musical instruments, and monitors were lost to the fire.

“The loob is totally rubbished, lalong-lalo na ang altar, sunog talaga siya. Pati ang mga naipundar naming bagay, kasi kakarating lang namin noong August [2023],” Rev. Fr. Ric Zeus Angobung, the parish priest, said.

Devotees could not help but be saddened by the loss of their church.

“Nakakalungkot talaga dahil taga-Ilagan kami, kaya maliliit pa lang kami nakikita na namin itong simbahan, kaya noong nakita namin na ganyan ang nangyari, talagang mapapaiyak ka,” Editha Lampa, a devotee, said.

“Nalulungkot ako talaga, kasi dito ako ikinasal… sana ma-aksyunan agad ito,” Marilou Maramag, another devotee, added.

The Ilagan City Fire Station continues its investigation into the fire.