San Fabian – 27 December 2009. Typhoon Cosme unleashed its fury last 18 May 2008 and destroyed hundreds of properties, including houses, mainly along the coastal areas of Pangasinan. San Fabian was battered by the strong winds of Typhoon Cosme which at that time blew away the roof of the rectory, the parish church and several buildings of the parochial school.
The chapel of Barangay Binday was one those destroyed by the strong winds of Typhoon Cosme. Its roof was completely blown away; its walls were rendered dangerously unstable. The chapel was immediately abandoned, but plans were also immediately made to reconstruct it.
For more than a year, masses were regularly celebrated not in the chapel but at the Day Care Center, and sometimes at residential houses of the faithful. Understandably, mass attendance went down. While the people were raising funds for its reconstruction, they were hoping and praying that their chapel would soon be opened once again for the celebration of the Eucharist.
The floodwaters of Typhoon Pepeng
On 9 October 2009, another calamity struck the province of Pangasinan. San Fabian was not spared by the rushing floodwaters brought about by Typhoon Pepeng’s continuous downpour which inundated almost the whole province of Pangasinan. Twenty-three houses in Barangay Binday were swept away by the rushing waters of the swollen Bued river which also destroyed the irrigation canals of the place.
Colliers International
In 4 November 2009, Fr. Francisco Ungria, Jr., a native son of San Fabian, and presently the parish priest of St. John the Baptish Parish, San Juan, Metro Manila, brought with him a check in the amount of Phil. Pesos One Hundred Thousand (P100,000.00). In lieu of the traditional gifting of the company to their clients, 
Colliers International has on behalf of their valued clients donated the amount to assist the reconstruction efforts of the people of Binday. Immediately, the much needed materials for the reconstruction were bought; while the labor was provided by the people, “tagnawa” or “bayanihan” style. The reconstruction of Binday Chapel started immediately. A little more than a month later, the reconstruction was finished.
Fiesta of the Barangay Chapel
Binday Chapel is dedicated to the Holy Family whose feast falls this year on 27 December 2009, the last Sunday of the year. The Most Rev. Socrates B. Villegas, DD went to Barangay Binday to join the people in celebrating their fiesta, and to bless the newly reconstructed chapel.
Archbishop Villegas was welcomed by the residents at the barangay boundary. The Anonang Drum and Lyre Corp was there to welcome the archbishop on his first visit to a barangay in San Fabian. There were hundreds who participated in the procession carrying the patron of the place, and the image of the Divine Mercy. Initially, the people adorned a local “koliglig” for the good archbishop to ride during the procession, but Msgr. Socrates Villegas opted to walk with the people.
The mass was celebrated in the chapel with hundreds in attendance. The Archbishop spoke about the love for God manifested by the people of Binday as shown in their desire to reconstruct their chapel in spite of the many difficulties they had encountered brought about by the calamities.
The people of Binday could only say with so much gratitude and love: “Salamat ya balbaleg ed sikayon amin!”
Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas, DD with Fr. Oliver E. Mendoza, parish priest and Rev. Estephen Espinoza, parish deacon.
--------------------------------------------
To see more pictures of the Fiesta and blessing of the chapel in Binday, please click HERE.
