A woman in Cebu has called on the Archdiocese to investigate an incident involving her daughter getting wounded during the child's baptism at a church in the southern town of Alegria.
The mother, Ivana Filosopo, was carrying her one-year-old daughter in the church for the baptism ceremony when the child was trying to reach the candle being held near her. She clasped the candle holder, eventually, but cut her middle finger on a sharp portion of the glass material.
The candle, Filosopo said, was what the church reportedly required them to buy for P80 for the baptism.
They brought their own candle at that time only to be told they had to buy the specific candle from the church.
Because blood was coming out, they had to bring the child out of the church to look for ways to dress the wound.
The child was baptized, eventually, but opposite to what she expected, Filosopo said the priest did not acknowledge the incident or speak to them about what happened.
Filosopo said she was disappointed at the church’s supposed nonchalance but she did her best to control her emotions because she did not want to ruin the day.
That day, July 5, 2026, was also her child’s birthday.
“Gusto ko talaga magwala. Gusto ko talaga ihagis ‘yung baso. Gusto kong sumigaw. Tapos pinigil ko talaga ‘yung sarili ko kasi, ano, eh, ayokong masira ang day na ‘yun kasi birthday din po ‘yun ng baby ko,” she told GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak.
The least she expected, Filosopo said, was for the priest to ask how the child was doing. This did not happen.
“Kahit man lang sorry… sorry sa ano, na nasugat pala ang baby, ganyan, ipagdasil natin sa Diyos na sana maayos ‘yung paggaling ng daliri niya… yung mga ganun.. wala talaga, sir, as in… ‘yun talaga ‘yung kinakasama ng loob ko dun,” she said.
Filosopo said she learned later that there were incidents in the past when other people sustained wounds because of the glass candle holder at the church.
She said she wants the Archdiocese to look into the matter to prevent more people from getting wounded.
If given the opportunity, Filosopo said she would share her sentiments straight with Cebu Archbishop Alberto Uy.
The child is recuperating from her wound.
GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak reached out to the church for a statement but the priest declined to comment.
