Several days before his arrival, the excitement started building up. First, the 5-day holiday in Metro-Manila was announced, then came the plans and programs that will take place; the international and domestic flights to be cancelled three hours before the arrival; road closure and re routing of traffic and venue preparation.
The D-day yesterday on Pope Francis' arrival was a BIG "fiesta" in Manila. Large crowds were gathered at the Villamor airbase, children danced in welcome, as President Aquino met him along with his cabinet.
Riding on an open, all-white Japanese-made popemobile, Pope Francis was brought to the Apostolic Nunciature where he opted to stay during his visit. He was standing and smiling as he waved to the crowd (who were there as early as 5 hours earlier) that lined up the streets all the way to his destination. They were waving flags, raising religious images and statues; cheering, some giving letters (handed over to his security group); at the same time raising their phones, tablets, iPads and cameras to take souvenir photos and for posting on social media.
Again, today, as he navigated his way to the venue of activities, the crowds on the streets were over-whelming, his famous smile is pasted on his face at all times; though it was reported that children got his sweetest smiles. Everywhere he went, the crowds in the streets got bigger and bigger; and that made him very happy.
This afternoon, as he entered the Mall of Asia arena (MOA), to meet with families; he connected with the crowd, he was so close that they could almost touch him. A child was carried up and he blessed, kissed and embraced the child. It was reported that he is happiest if he can touch and reach as many people as possible. At the MOA this afternoon it was arranged that he encounters with three families; those victims of calamity; the sacrificing family of OFWs and the victims of injustice.
I understand that pope Francis' visit has a dual purpose: as head of state and as head of the Catholic faith. This morning I saw again on TV the warm reception of the crowd on the streets covering his entire route to malacanang palace where he was accorded the ceremony honoring him as head of state.
I had to leave the house and when I got back my husband who continued to watched tv related the interesting incident at the start of the pope's homily during the mass at the Manila Cathedral.
He started with a quote from John, 21: 15-17, in which Jesus asked Peter:
"do you love Me?"
And the hundreds of enthusiastic crowd watching on live stream gathered outside the cathedral mistook it as a question and answered: "yes",
before he could continue. So he replied:
"Thank you very much"
and then he laughed along with the crowd.
Unlike the earlier visit of Pope John Paul 11 in 1995, this visit gathered much more enthusiasm today since there are cell phones and other gadgets to spread the word on social media. I learned that Pope Francis himself has around 17 million followers on Tweeter. According to the Philippine Star, even the conservative bishops in the Philippines turned computer savvy creating a website for Filipinos to send prayer requests. It was reported that topmost were requests for help to heal the sick; bear children and find jobs. When people in the street were asked how and what they feel about this visit, they replied:
"Seeing him gave us hope"
"The hurt and sadness will be lessened if we see him", said a typhoon victim.
"Over-whelming joy that i don't know whether I will cry or smile, it can't be explained".
"I did not wash the face of my child last night after pope Francis kissed her", a mother said. She waited with her child at the gate of the Apostolic Nunciature the night before.
Pope Francis aim to focus this visit on the poor, the exploited and the victims of injustice. His theme is:
"mercy and compassion"
He also mentioned that he is all for freedom of speech but with limits so as not to hurt people so they maintain their human dignity.
It was also mentioned that the visit was to "give momentum in spreading the catholic faith especially that the Philippines is noted to lead in Asia".
In an editorial of Teddy Locsin on ANC: The World Tonight", he said in so many words that one lesson the pope learned in life is:
"to give help the moment it is asked, not any moment later", as such help maybe a matter of life and death. Locsin continued:
"it is therefore not wise in some instances to teach one to fish when he is so hungry that he needs nourishment right away".
As Pope Francis arrived via the flag carrier of Sri Lanka, the SriLankan Airlines, the country of origin; likewise, the country's flag carrier, the Philippine Air Lines (PAL) will bring him to Palo, Leyte, the south of the country and back as he visits the victims of typhoon Yolanda and them back home to Rome on Monday. PAL has no direct commercial flights to Rome.
This historical visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines is a precious gift that gave much hope and inspiration to the Filipino people and shall remain in their hearts as a pleasant memory never to be forgotten.
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