Some Catholic churches in the Bicol Region have opened their doors to evacuees seeking shelter as Severe Tropical Storm Opong approaches.

According to the weather bureau, tropical cyclone wind signals have been raised in some areas of the region.

The following churches are providing temporary shelters for evacuees:

  • Holy Family Parish in Daraga, Albay
  • St. John the Baptist Parish in Tabaco, Albay
  • St. Gregory the Great Cathedral in Legazpi City, Albay
  • Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Taysan, Legazpi, Albay

The weather bureau stated that Opong is expected to make landfall in Northern Samar or the northern part of Eastern Samar on Friday, with another landfall expected in the Bicol Region.

Holy Family Parish

The Holy Family Parish is a Catholic church in Barcelona, Spain, famously known as the Sagrada Família. It is an iconic basilica designed by architect Antoni Gaudí, whose construction began in 1882 and remains unfinished to this day. Renowned for its unique and elaborate modernist architecture, it is one of the most visited monuments in Spain.

St. John the Baptist Parish

St. John the Baptist Parish is a civil parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana, on the east bank of the Mississippi River. It was established in 1807 as one of the original 19 parishes after the Louisiana Purchase, with a colonial history rooted in French and Spanish plantation agriculture. The parish is historically significant for its role in the sugar industry and is home to several historic plantations.

St. Gregory the Great Cathedral

St. Gregory the Great Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral located in the city of Łódź, Poland. It was constructed between 1901 and 1912 in a Neo-Gothic style to serve the city’s growing Catholic community, which was predominantly German at the time. The cathedral is dedicated to Pope Saint Gregory I and remains a significant religious and architectural landmark.

Our Lady of the Assumption Parish

Our Lady of the Assumption Parish is a Roman Catholic church that traces its origins to the early Spanish colonial period in the Philippines. It was established in the 16th century by Augustinian missionaries, making it one of the oldest parishes in the country. The church is renowned for its distinctive architecture, which combines earthquake baroque and neo-classical styles.