BAGUIO CITY — A blaze razed St. Joseph Parish Church in Tabuk City in Kalinga province just after the midnight Mass welcoming Christmas.
Electric supply inside church went off twice during Holy Mass after the power lines apparently tripped, said parish band guitarist Jessie Maguiya, a high-school teacher who was in the scene.
The maintenance crew tried to directly tap the power line from an electric post nearby.
However, after the liturgical ceremony ended at around 2 a.m., a blaze roared and destroyed the parish church.
Firemen were able to put off the fire after an hour, but the help was too late to save furniture and other equipment inside the church.
There were no reports of injuries.
To accomodate the surge of church goers for Christmas Masses, a provisionary site was set up beside St. Peter Building within the parish compound.