The family of 3-year-old Christian Candido Paz, the Olongapo toddler who died after being swept away by floodwaters, is now mourning him in Forestry P-4, Old Cabalan.
A family update posted on Sept. 2 showed Christian’s memorial photo beside flowers and his urn as relatives gathered for the final day of his wake. Christian’s ashes are scheduled to be brought to St. Vincent Chapel in Old Cabalan at 9 a.m. on Sept. 3 for a blessing before being taken to the family’s new home.
Christian was swept away after powerful floodwaters entered their home in Olongapo. His father searched for him before the toddler’s body was recovered a day later.
His death has sparked an outpouring of grief following PGMN’s post about the tragedy, with actress and singer Vina Morales, Kevin Balot, China Cojuangco, and PGMN Lead Anchor CJ Hirro among those who shared their condolences and support for Christian’s family.
Morales left broken-heart and crying emojis, while Balot wrote, “PANGINOON ano po ngyare sa aming bansa.” Cojuangco described the tragedy as “so painful,” while Hirro wrote, “Anak ko ’yan! Anak nating lahat ’yan!”
The same comments section has also filled with anger over corruption and the failure of flood-control projects, with many Filipinos directing their outrage at former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and demanding accountability.
Christian’s death comes as Romualdez now faces multiple complaints before the Ombudsman for plunder, direct and indirect bribery, violations of the Anti‑Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and money laundering tied to the ₱56‑billion flood‑control kickback scheme. Investigators accuse Romualdez, ex‑Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, and others of amassing ill‑gotten wealth from 2022 to 2025 through diversion and misuse of public funds.
Romualdez stands at the center of a corruption scandal that pushed the culture of corruption in Congress to a level the Philippines had never seen before.
The consequences are no longer measured only in budgets and government investigations. Families are losing their homes. Communities are going underwater. Children are dying.
And after the billions spent, the projects questioned, and the devastation Filipinos continue to endure, Romualdez still isn’t in jail.
