Maniolas

Two weeks before Pope Francis’ arrival in Manila, the makers of his Filipino-style popemobile still had to raise the roof of the white jeep to accommodate the pontiff’s tall swiss guards, GMA News’ “24 Oras” reported on Monday. Edison Cham, the maker of the popejeep, said it underwent several revisions before it was approved by the Vatican as the Pope Francis’ motorcade ride. ““It underwent several revisions. Kasi it was very low but these [Swiss Guards] matatangkad sila,” Cham said. “So [we cut] at ni-raise namin ng buo,” he added, gesturing the roof of the vehicle. Cham was also one of those behind the creation of the bulletproof popemobile used by Saint John Paul II during his visit to the country almost 20 years ago in 1995. “Ang pang masa naman natin dito is jeepney so sabi ko this is a chance na gamitin ang jeepney to promote our jeepney also,” Cham said. The pope-jeepney was made with an engine and parts usually found in actual public utility jeepneys in the country.  “I was thinking of sending it to parish churches and have it displayed para makita naman,” Cham said. Pope Francis rode the popejeep on Sunday en route to the Quirino Grandstand, where he celebrated mass before a record turnout of six million people.  Aside from the popejeep, Pope Francis also rode two other popemobiles during his stay in the Philippines—a customized Isuzu pick-up and a modified Kia vehicle. —Andrei Medina/NB, GMA News

A day removed from the event that brought them closer to Pope Francis, former streetchildren Glyzelle Palomar and Jun Chura already knew that it would change their faith for the rest of their lives “Hindi ko po makalimutan… Ganun rin po minsan yung tatay ko, ganun rin po kabait,” Palomar told GMA 7’s “24 Oras” on Tuesday. “Ang ganda talaga nung yakap sa kanila, parang pinapatunayan sa kanila na tulad ng lahat ng mga bata ng mundo, puwede silang magmahal at puwede silang mahalin,” said Fr. Matthieu Dauchez of Tulay ng Kabataan Foundation Inc., the charity looking after the children. Meanwhile, Chura said the encounter was meant for all the marginalized children in the Philippines who still suffer from conditions he and Palomar conveyed to the Pope. “Yung mga ibang bata po sa Pilipinas ay medyo nahihirapan na po. Kaya gusto ko po sanang iparining sa kanila yun, na mabigyan ng solusyon kung pano mabalik yung dating buhay nila,” Chura said. Numerous former streetchildren received tight hugs and reassuring words from Francis during their encounter with the pontiff in an unscheduled trip after presiding mass at the Manila Cathedral. “You see his eyes getting cloudy and beginning to fill with tears and you could see he was trying to show his affection to the children and at the same time trying to fathom this deep wound and pain,” said Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the encounter. Palomar and Chura received the same affection during the Pope’s encounter with the youth Read More …

Though it was an abbreviated Leyte trip for Pope Francis, it was also full of new experiences for the 78-year-old head of the Roman Catholic Church. Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said on Saturday that it was the first time the Pope experienced a tropical storm and celebrated a Mass wearing a poncho. “I have experienced occasional rain but this type? No, no, no,” Pope Francis told the Filipino cardinal. When Tagle asked the pontiff if he had celebrated Mass in a raincoat, the pope said, “No, this is the first time!” Despite the Signal No. 2 warning over Leyte due to Tropical Storm Amang, Pope Francis pushed through with the open-vehicle motorcade from Tacloban Airport to Palo—a 12-kilometer ride—leaving him exposed to the cold, rain, and wind.  Tagle said that there were suggestions the Pope travel in a closed vehicle. But, Pope Francis would not hear of it. “Ah, no no no! This is the reason why I am here. I am here to show solidarity. If people had waited and sacrificed under the heat of the sun or cold of the rain, then why should the pastor not be with them,” said the Pope according to Tagle. Meanwhile, Vatican Press Office director Father Federico Lombardi said that the Pope has been informed of the death of a 21-year-old woman, who was killed after scaffolding fell on her after the papal Mass. The pope is looking at different ways to offer help to the victim and her family, Read More …

Pilgrims can expect zero mobile phone signals Sunday at the Luneta when millions of people gather for the Catholic mass Pope Francis will preside over. A security advisory of the Bureau of Immigration posted on Facebook for its security personnel indicated that there “will be no cell sites signal” at the Luneta Sunday Mass with the pope. The BI advisory was posted Saturday afternoon. Most mobile phone though are useful not just for sending and receiving calls and texts, so it is unclear why the BI security personnel where told not to bring their cellphones just because there will be no mobile signals. The official Papal Visit website has an advisory from the Department of Health which reminds pilgrims to bring with them some necessities for their security, safety and personal health. Among the necessities are flashlights, sanitary napkins, wet wipes, hand sanitizers, drinking water, raincoats, hand towels, paper bags and food that does not quickly spoil. In a televised address, President Benigno Aquino III urged pilgrims going to the papal events to exercise discipline and help authorities secure both the pope and people who come to see him. Aquino tasked Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas to coordinate security measures. The Philippine National Police is attached to the DILG. Roxas said the Luneta “will be divided into grids” which will double as buffers and emergency exits. “Eto yung tinatawag na breaker para kung magkatulakan may pupuntahan ang mga tao (this is what you call breaker so that people Read More …