Typhoon "Cosme" left the Parish Church, Rectory and Catholic School damaged; thousands  homeless!

22 May, Thursday. Five days after Typhoon "Cosme" unleashed its fury and destroyed millions worth of properties, leaving hundreds homeless, the people of San Fabian, one of the worst hits towns in Pangasinan, are now slowly rebuilding destroyed homes, putting order back to their lives, arousing hope amidst the destruction brought about the strongest typhoons to hit the country in decades.

"In all of my 80 years, I have never experienced so strong a typhoon than this one!" Mrs. Felomina Sagun,  long time resident observed. This was the same observation echoed by many of the town's older residents. The howling winds were so devastating that the roof of the almost one third of the front part of the parish church was blown off. Several other parts of the roof were blown off. Masses and other liturgical celebrations are temporarily being celebrated at the Parish Center which suffered only slight damages. The Archdiocesan School of San Fabian suffered almost similar destruction as the parish church. Classrooms of Grades I and VI were partially damaged, as well as the main administration building.

The winds and the rains came at around 6 o'clock in the evening of 17 May, Saturday. At 6:30 PM, the fifty year old tree in front of the church belfry fell, and for the next three hours, Typhoon Cosme battered the small town of San Fabian, and the rest of the province of Pangasinan. Those badly hit were the coastal towns of the province: Infanta, Lingayen, Binmaley, Dagupan City, San Fabian, as well as the towns of Mangaldan and Calasiao. Besides the parish church and the school of San Fabian, the parish church of Sts. Peter and Paul, Calasiao, Pangasinan was heavily damaged by the strong winds of Typhoon Cosme. The Mary Help of Christians High School Seminary was also damaged. The roof of the building housing the dormitories and the dining hall was destroyed. The chapel was not spared by Typhoon Cosme.

Other structures which were heavily or partially damaged were the St. Columban's College, Lingayen, Pangasinan, the St. John's Cathedral School, Dagupan City, the Binmaley Catholic School, Binmaley, Pangasinan, the Sto. Tomas High School, Mangaldan, Pangasinan.

Communications and electricity have not been restored five days after Typhoon Cosme hit the province. Several electric posts were broken and destroyed. The Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council reported 28 casualties, and billions of pesos of infrastructure, crops, and properties were lost.

Repairs have begun

A day after the Typhoon, Fr. Oliver E. Mendoza, inspected the damages of the parish church, rectory and the church. Repairs were immediately began. Repairs of the Parish Rectory began after two days. It may take about 2 weeks for the full repair of the rectory. In the meantime, Msgr. Renato P. Mayugba, DD, the Auxiliary Bishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, who resides in the Catholic Rectory, is temporarily staying at the Archdiocesan Lay Formation Center, Bonuan Gueset, Dagupan City.

The repairs of the Parish Church may take longer because of the extensive damage it suffered. Engr. Santiago Alhambra is supervising the repairs.