Updated July 12, 2020

The historic Santo Niño de Pandacan church in Manila, built in 1760 during the Spanish period, caught fire on July 10.

Among the important items believed to have been engulfed by the fire is the Santo Niño de Pandacan wooden religious statue estimated to be more than 400 years old.

No one was hurt in the incident.

Meanwhile on July 12, Father Sanny de Claro, Parish Priest of Santo Niño de Pandacan church, said a ciborium or receptacle containing consecrated hosts, was found intact.

According to CBCP News (Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines News), Father De Claro said, "This is the biggest miracle. While looking for the image, the sacred host was found. We were pointed to Jesus.”

Father De Claro mentioned the finding of the ciborium in his homily during the Mass celebrated outside the burned church.

The church is holding Masses at the church patio after the fire incident.

The missing religious statue

Earlier, in an announcement on its website, the Archdiocese of Manila said the missing religious image was "carved out of dark wood that is similar to the dark Mexican wood of the images of the Black Nazarene of Quiapo and the Black Madonna of Antipolo. It was brought to the Philippines by the Spaniards via galleon trade from Acapulco Mexico to Manila, Philippines."

Over Catholic station Radio Veritas, Bishop Broderick Pabillo, Apostolic Administrator of Manila, said "Ipagdasal natin na sana itong parokya ay makabangon kaagad, mabuti na wala namang nasaktan, wala namang ibang bahay na tinamaan pero yun nga malaki siguro ang damage ng Simbahan kaya titingnan ko ngayon kung papaano ngayon yun,” Bishop Pabillo told Radio Veritas."