Philippines: Churches Open Doors as Tropical Storm Opong Nears Bicol

Catholic churches across the Bicol region, Philippines, have opened their doors to residents seeking shelter as Severe Tropical Storm Opong moves closer to landfall.

The Bicol Region, located about 400 kilometers (250 miles) southeast of Manila, has been placed under storm signal warnings as the weather system threatens low-lying and coastal communities.

In Albay, the St. Dominic de Guzman Parish in Sto. Domingo, Our Lady of Salvation Parish in Anislag, and St. Roch Parish in Taysan, Legazpi City, have welcomed evacuees since Wednesday morning. The Diocese of Legazpi has directed all parishes, chapels, and parish halls to make their facilities available as temporary evacuation centers.

By Thursday evening, the Saints Peter and Paul Parish in Polangui, Albay, reported that it was sheltering 87 families, or about 347 individuals, according to a parish Facebook post at 6:30 p.m.

In neighboring Sorsogon province, the St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Gubat prepared its church compound for families moving to safer ground. Residents have already sought refuge inside as rains and winds intensified.

Also in Sorsogon, the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish Church in Casiguran rearranged its pews on Thursday evening to make space for evacuees expected to arrive as Opong intensified, according to a parish update.

In Camarines Sur, the Archdiocese of Caceres issued an Oratio Imperata, urging the faithful to unite in prayer for protection. “Let us join our minds and hearts together in prayer as we seek maternal protection of our Ina and the mercy of the Holy Face of her Son to spare us from the wrath of the forthcoming typhoon,” the archdiocese said in its statement.

Volunteers and parish workers across the region assisted evacuees by preparing spaces with mats and distributing basic supplies. Local disaster authorities warned that flood-prone and coastal areas remain under threat, urging residents to head to higher ground.

Community support groups and church facilities are expected to remain open for as long as needed while the storm passes through the region.

As of 5:00 AM on Friday, 26 September 2025, Severe Tropical Storm Opong (international name: Bualoi) was located over Masbate in the Bicol Region, packing maximum sustained winds of 110 km/h near the center and gusts of up to 150 km/h.