ON A PAPAL VISIT
Pope Francis' extraordinary impact on people attending the World Youth Day in Brazil reminded me of my own experience of a Papal visit, of Pope John Paul II's first visit to the Philippines (yes, he visited the Philippines twice! ). I woke up at 2am to travel from my city (Cadiz City) to Bacolod City together with other CAT cadets to provide augmentation security for St. Pope JP II. My mother prepared the night before my baon of a few bites of hotdog sandwiches, lunch of rice and fried fish, and 1 liter of drinking water . We rode a cargo truck (used for sugarcanes), standing, back and forth. Stood up from 7am till after JP II left at around 3pm. We were fortunate enough to have been stationed immediately below (not under) the stage where JP II addressed the people. Our fatigue uniform was soaked with sweat, and we were literally squashed by the pressure of the swarming crowd. Up to this day, I still wonder how or where we got all the strength to withstand the physical challenges that tiem we were by JP II's stage. Surely I can't forget his smile when he was directly above us as he went around the stage so as to wave and greet the faithful present. I can't understand why, but I still remember my tears freely flowing as he was smiling at us. I didn't know so much of the Catholic Church then, as I was practically a "Sunday Catholic". Everything I've learned in grades 2 and 3 in a Catholic school, were all vague memories then. However, that afternoon with "Lolek" (JP II's nickname), gave me that poignant sense of God and of my being Catholic. I won't be surprised if my experience with JP II were also identical to what those in WYD also experienced or felt. VIVA IL PAPA! VIVA PAPA JOHANNES PAULUS! VIVA PAPA FRANCSECO! AD MAIOREM DEI GLORIAM!
Pope Francis' extraordinary impact on people attending the World Youth Day in Brazil reminded me of my own experience of a Papal visit, of Pope John Paul II's first visit to the Philippines (yes, he visited the Philippines twice! ). I woke up at 2am to travel from my city (Cadiz City) to Bacolod City together with other CAT cadets to provide augmentation security for St. Pope JP II. My mother prepared the night before my baon of a few bites of hotdog sandwiches, lunch of rice and fried fish, and 1 liter of drinking water . We rode a cargo truck (used for sugarcanes), standing, back and forth. Stood up from 7am till after JP II left at around 3pm. We were fortunate enough to have been stationed immediately below (not under) the stage where JP II addressed the people. Our fatigue uniform was soaked with sweat, and we were literally squashed by the pressure of the swarming crowd. Up to this day, I still wonder how or where we got all the strength to withstand the physical challenges that tiem we were by JP II's stage. Surely I can't forget his smile when he was directly above us as he went around the stage so as to wave and greet the faithful present. I can't understand why, but I still remember my tears freely flowing as he was smiling at us. I didn't know so much of the Catholic Church then, as I was practically a "Sunday Catholic". Everything I've learned in grades 2 and 3 in a Catholic school, were all vague memories then. However, that afternoon with "Lolek" (JP II's nickname), gave me that poignant sense of God and of my being Catholic. I won't be surprised if my experience with JP II were also identical to what those in WYD also experienced or felt. VIVA IL PAPA! VIVA PAPA JOHANNES PAULUS! VIVA PAPA FRANCSECO! AD MAIOREM DEI GLORIAM!
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