THE PEOPLE’S POPE
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| Photo credits to assets.rappler.com |
Until now I’m still overwhelmed by
the pontiff’s 5-day state and pastoral visit to our country. This morning as I
watched his motorcade taking the way to Villamor Air Base, I feel like a seven
year old child feeling sad as her grandpa is waving goodbye to her. Yes, that’s
exactly how I feel. Within me, there’s a voice saying, “I’m gonna miss you
paps, please be back very soon.”
I won’t mind feeling this Pope
Francis’ fever until forever – because the Pope’s effect on me is so divine and
inspiring. It gives me the strange chill, that whenever I look at him or listen
to his words, I’m filled by the Holy Spirit. I’m truly inspired by his holiness
and his call for us Filipinos, to be missionary disciples of Jesus. He keeps
reminding us that he is not the focus of this visit but Jesus Christ, and his
words really touched each and everyone, reminding us all that Jesus is never
letting us down and never will He ever let us down. I think that the Pope
Francis’s effect is coming from the One that he represents. The holiness in him
is overflowing that we get to share with this divine experience. We are drawn,
we are affected, and we are touched.
Even before his arrival to the
Philippines I’m already filled with so much excitement. That moment he arrived,
when I saw his face peering through the airplanes’ window, I couldn’t help
smiling and adoring the cute pope. He was smiling as he glanced outside where
thousands of people were eagerly waiting to see and meet him. I was only
watching on TV but I was affected by his contagious smile. Imagine all the
people wearing that Pope Francis’ smile, what a peaceful world it would surely
be!
I’m no longer a TV person but
during the 5-day visit of Pope our TV has become active every day for 5
consecutive days. I kept up with all his activities from his first mass at the
Manila Cathedral up to the send off coverage where I felt a strong emotional
attachment, realizing to myself that I’m more than just a fan but I truly love
Pope Francis deep within my heart. Who would not love this Pope who smiles so
genuine and sincerely, who humbles himself in front of the many, who never
judges the sinners but loves them instead? Indeed, Pope Francis is sacredly living
in the Holy presence of God, in the Words of Jesus, in the presence of the
Holy Spirit. And that divine truth is what makes him into a superb rockstar.
SUPERB EXPERIENCE, A GRACE-FILLED
DAY AT QUIRINO GRANDSTAND
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SPPSC laid their mats in front of the museum
Photo credits to Kuya Gerson Ranario |
With our transparent bags and
packed foods, the St. Peter Parish Shrine Choir camped overnight at the Luneta
Park Saturday night. We wished to get a good spot on the concluding mass of the
Pope so we got there as early as the night before. We arrived 10PM and found
the areas around the statue of Lapu-Lapu almost jam packed with people who were
planning the same thing: to be among the firsts to enter when the gate to
grandstand opened at 6AM.
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Picture time while waiting for the dawn
Photo credits to Kuya Gerson Ranario |
We spread our mats in front of
Museum of the Filipino People and in just few minutes the areas near us were
also filled with many campers. People were nonstop from coming and the line to
comfort rooms were unimaginably long. At 4AM we packed up and started walking
towards the gate. At that time there was already a traffic congestion of
people, who were shoulder to shoulder, skin to skin, and moving in a very slow
speed. I didn’t know exactly at what time did the gate opened but around 5AM
the slow pacing of the people improved. As expected of the always hyper
Filipinos, everyone was anxious to get on the gate and there were surges of
the crowd. You didn’t have to make an effort at all to move forward because
you’d be carried away by the rush of people. When we got passed the scanner
gate, the pace got slower again and this time was much challenging as it got
harder to pass through the heavy swell of people in the area. The sluggish
speed was even made slower by the people who did not proceed forward. Many had just
laid their mats there, barring the path to walk on.
We persisted and cautiously squeezed
our way through. From time to time we were hearing some groups shouting,
“Medic! Medic!” It meant someone passed out and in need of medical attention. After
we crossed the street going towards the Rizal Park the thick mob finally loosen
up. We took the time to breathe and waited for our other companions who were
left behind. People passed us by in haste, all racing to the grandstand area
where the quadrants were close to being filled. We were quite confused because
back in the scanner gate we encountered some people who were turning back. They
said they had reached the grandstand and found it full already. But then it
seemed like there were still spaces to occupy up there in the front because the
people were still moving forward.
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| Photo credits to Richard Combenido |
We reunited with our colleagues in
front of the Chinese Garden. Being stressed by the active pack of believers,
and fearing the possibilities of stampede, many of us had decided to just stay
and get a spot near the huge monitor that was set up in the area. I understood
their main concerns. Safety should always come first. But personally I really
wanted to proceed; I wanted to try because there might be some little space
left there for me in the upfront. One of my choimates, Sef, said he wanted to
go and I said I wanted too. So we decided to try our luck and pushed our way through the swarm of the crowd.
It was a hard endeavour, squeezing
through and squashing ourselves in the midst of other hopefuls. Every time we
passed a tight gate there was always the surge of relief within us. It was like
we were oxygenated after being choked up. Then another gateway would be braved
and we would experience again the same feeling.
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| Photo credits to assets.rappler.com |
Finally we made it to the
grandstand and it was so much joy for us. With our legs and feet crying in
pain, arms bruised, and body soaking in sweat, we luckily found a quadrant in
the back area. The front was already filled but it was fine to be at the back,
as long as it was within a quadrant where portalets were available. We spread
our mat and took some rest. It was only 8:30AM by then and there were still
long hours ahead of us before the holy mass. The line in the portalets was
terribly long especially the line for the girls. I waited 2 hours before I came
back to our spot and it was starting to drizzle already. We took our raincoat
and enjoyed the light tapping of rain to our ponchos but in few hours the rain had
poured out. It was around 12NN, still 3 hours before the Pope arrived. We were
freezing in cold; our hands soaked in the rain, pale white and wrinkled. Our
bags drenched and our shoes got a swimming pool inside where our feet were drowning.
But we stayed and waited. And we didn’t mind waiting in the rain. The faith of
the Filipinos is indeed, waterproof. No rainstorm could ever stop us.
SINGING AND DANCING IN THE RAIN
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Photo credits to newsinfo.inquirer,net
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/files/2015/01/0119Luneta.jpg |
I’ve always fancied singing and
dancing in the rain and the grandstand experience granted me this. The
concluding mass of Pope Francis coincided with the Sinulog Feast so some of the
attendees had brought their model of Sto. Nino. The emcee led the rehearsal of
the Sinulog dance as preparation for the arrival of the Pope. It was followed
by the rehearsal of the songs for the Holy Mass. Some might not find the
emcee’s way amusing as he made the whole thing as entertaining as he could make
it, such as teaching to the people the “Francis’ Wave”. It was the usual wave
activity wherein the people waved their arms up from left to right, and the
wave would be done in group from left to right as well. I’ve read some bashers
wherein they thought the emcee had disturbed the solemnity of the event. While
I shared with them the belief that the event was meant to be solemn, I quiet disagreed
with the statement that the emcee had ruined it. We even prayed the rosary in
between the rehearsal of the Sinulog dance and the Mass Songs. So how could
they say that the emcee turned the event into a “Showtime” entertainment? In
fact, it helped us to somehow stand the cold and the trembling that
overpowering us. Standing there under the rain without moving or doing anything
was a terrible suffering. But we endured it and when we go dancing the Sinulog
dance the coldness was somehow lessened if not totally eased. The “Francis’
Wave” was also amusing that it diverted our attention from chilling to
participating in the waving activity. I don’t think the bashers would say such
a thing if they have stood there under the rain for long hours.
PAPA FRANCISCO, MAHAL NG PILIPINO!
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| Photo credits to newsinfo.inquirer.net |
At 3PM Pope Francis arrived in his
jeep-inspired pope mobile and the crowd became energetic and alive. The loud
cheering of the people was the kind of merriment that I have never heard
before. It wasn’t a fake or pretentious applause. The joyfulness was straight
from the heart. And by just hearing the cheer of the crowd I’ve already had goose
bump and tear-jerking emotion within me. Without seeing yet the pope but hearing only the
people shouting, “We love you Pope Francis” I was already touched by what this
good pope has done to Filipinos. He uplifted our spirit. He renewed our faith. And
yes when he passed by our area the crowd was applauding and teary-eyed, you can
feel the love that was coming from their heart because you feel it in your own
heart too. And in there my emotional attachment to Lolo Kiko was made even
stronger.
Pope Francis waved and smiled and
he really glowed in personal. I thought he glowed only in photos because of the
lighting effects but no, at that time, I saw him glowed in his pope mobile. It
was normal for a white skin person to glow especially when he wore bright
coloured apparel and under the strong lighting of the sun. But there was no sun
at that time, and yet he glowed. I believed that was the Holy Spirit that was
in him.
There was a moment of silence
before the Holy Mass started. I must admit that I found it hard to concentrate
to the mass due to the coldness that was killing me inside. But I have braved
my way to get in there, and there should be no reason for me to not brave the
remaining hours under the rain. I struggled focusing to the mass and I did it. In
spite the trembling, teeth-chattering cold, I finished the mass and was
blessed. It made me realized one thing though. The path to holiness is not an
easy trail. We are all called to be holy but no one said it would be
undemanding and trouble-free. There are lots of sacrifices to be made but it
will all be worth it at the end. I realized it because through Pope Francis I
got more inspired to devote myself to ministry, to serve the Lord with all my
heart, with all my life. But yes, that day in the grandstand reminded me that
it won’t be easy but it will all be worth it.
Here on earth there are many
obstructions to our faith. We slide back to sins, we lose ourselves to human
desire, and we forget the purpose of our beings. But through Jesus Christ we
are redeemed and He’s never giving up on us, He’s never letting us down even
though we did let Him down at some point in our lives. That day opened my eyes
to the reality that the road to strong faith is not the smoothly cemented road
with lush greenery and rich fauna on the side, but a rocky, steep, and often
slippery road, that made us a survival at the end of the difficult journey. What
I’m trying to say here is that there would be many things in the future that
will challenge our faith and slide us back to being sinners, but we must get up
after each fall, learn the lessons it taught us, and continue moving forward
with Jesus Christ. There is no other way to do it, but with and through Jesus
Christ. And that’s what Pope Francis keeps on reminding us.
WALANG SINUMAN ANG NABUBUHAY PARA
SARILI LAMANG
The mass has ended and Archbishop
Socrates Villegas delivered his speech of gratitude to our beloved Pope
Francis. Every word spoken was true and sincere from the heart. I knew that we
all shared with the same message that Archbishop Soc had given to Lolo Kiko. He
indeed, is our sunshine in the rain. And yes, we are inspired by his call for
us Filipinos to be missionary disciples of Jesus Christ. It has inspired me
even more, fire up my heart to be a humble servant of Christ, and help in
spreading the Gospel of Jesus’ love and salvation. It was a heartfelt speech of
gratitude because this is what we really wanted to say to Pope Francis. There
was again a loud cheering from the crowd and when the candles were lighted and
the song “Tell the World of His Love” was sang, the whole Luneta was filled by
the Holy Spirit. I knew it because I felt it and I knew the rest of the people
had felt it too. The Holy Spirit was there, guiding us, uplifting us, renewing
us.
Another emotional moment was when
the “Pananagutan” was sung and Pope Francis started roaming around the
grandstand in his pope mobile. Rosaries and handkerchiefs were waved in the
air, hands raised up high, and the people were cheering at the top of their
lungs. It was an overwhelming, tear-jerking experience, cheering and
proclaiming the faith while hearing one of the most meaningful songs in the
Catholic Church:
Walang sinuman ang nabubuhay para sa sarili lamang
Walang sinuman ang namamatay para sa sarili lamang
Tayong lahat ay may pananagutan sa isa’t isa
Tayong lahat ay tinipon ng Diyos na kapiling Niya
This encounter with Papa Francisco
is a moment to cherish for a lifetime. I’m changed and renewed. I’m more
inspired to remember and live by his teachings, etching them deeply into my
heart. After the 5 Day stay of Pope Francis in the Philippines, I’m made
stronger in my faith and for this I’m more inspired to be a missionary disciple
of our brother Jesus Christ, our brother in the Lord our God, our Father.
Thank
you Pope Francis for giving us all the high the we need to uplift our spirit, our faith, our devotion to Jesus Christ. Mahal ka ng Pilipino! Mabuhay Ka! Mabuhay si Hesukristo na
nasa Ating lahat! Amen.
