The 50-year-old St. John the Baptist Parish Church at MH del Pilar Street in Barangay 1, Ilog town, was razed by fire at about 4 a.m. yesterday.

The town has no working fire truck so the blaze was put out only when help came from firefighters of neighboring areas, Fr. Custodio Ananoria, Ilog Parish priest, said. He is grateful that, at least, the church was not gutted during Holy Week, Ananoria said.

Ananoria estimated the value of the Church that went up in flames in about one hour at P5.5 million. Faulty electrical wiring was tagged as the cause of the fire, he said.

Perhaps if Ilog had a working fire truck the church could have been saved, he said. Fire trucks from Kabankalan, Himamaylan, Binalbagan and Cauayan helped put out the blaze, he said.

The wooden church that served about 20,000 parishioners was built 50 years ago by the Columban missionaries, said Ananoria, who, in May last year, suffered a heart attack and is just recovering.

He said Fr. Ramon Florete, treasurer of the Diocese of Kabankalan, estimates that it will cost about P8 to 10 million to build a new church.

Ananoria said he is praying that they will be able to build a new church for his flock and that he will talk to his parishioners so they can come up with a plan.

He said he hopes those who have means will help build the new church with him.

Meanwhile, he said they will have to hold mass, perhaps amid the ruins, or at the plaza of the Ilog Catholic School.

He said they were able to save the church's relics from the fire.

The pastor of the Baptish church and priest of the Aglipayan church in Ilog have come to see him to express their concern, which shows a spirit of unity and caring in Ilog, he said.*CPG

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