Devotees in Kidapawan City flock to Blessed John Paul II statue. Catholic devotees on Sunday, April 27, 2014, flock to a statue of Blessed John Paul II at the Jesus the Good Shepherd Parish in Barangay Amas, Kidapawan City in Cotabato, hours before the canonization rites in Vatican City for the late pontiff. Williamor A. Magbanua
Thousands of Filipinos joined in the celebration of the canonization of Saints John Paul II and John XXIII on Sunday.
According to GMA reporter Sandra Aguinaldo, who covered the celebration of the canonization at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao on Sunday afternoon, Quezon City might as well have been Vatican City.
People from all walks of life packed the coliseum, “24 Oras” reported.
Multiple big screens were set up in the coliseum so the audience could witness the historic event.
After watching the live feed of the canonization rites in the Vatican, a procession of the relics of Saints John Paul II and John XXII followed.
Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis Tagle then celebrated a Holy Mass.
In his homily, the cardinal opined that everyone could be as holy as the two new saints.
“I have to convince myself, these faces are faces of people that can be holy…called by God,” he said. “Kahit ganyan ang mga mukha natin,” he quipped.
Tagle turned emotional as he recalled how he, who used to sleep in class in his younger years, was called by God and now serves as a cardinal.
Apart from the canonizations, the Catholic audience also celebrated the Feast of the Divine Mercy, of which Saint John Paul II was a devotee.
After the Holy Mass, special commemorative stamps of the popes-turned-saints were released.
Meanwhile, At Eastwood mall in Quezon City, children dressed up in pope costumes and paraded around with the Popemobile.
After showing the live feed of the canonization, a concert and a flash mob, in honor of the two new saints, started.
The mall ended the program with fireworks.
The devotees
Meanwhile, Pinoys hailed the canonization of the saints, especially of Pope John Paul II who visited the country in 1981 and 1995.
“Eh, kasi naman parang napaka-saintly talaga ng mukha niya. Kung may hihilingin ka sa kanya parang mapapakinggan niya kasi ‘yun bang malapit ang puso niya sa mga Pilipino,” a devotee said.
“Kami sa mga youth e talagang excited kasi siyempre magiging saint na siya. We really admire him [and] how he loves us, the youth. Sobrang nakakatuwa naman na saint na siya. Na-eexcite po kami,” another devotee said.
For his part, Fr. Ronal Jojo Monis of Sto. Domingo Church noted: “Kahit pa man sila ay medyo matagal nang namatay pero ‘yung biyaya ng kanilang mga ginawa ay nararamdaman pa rin natin.” — Rouchelle R. Dinglasan/JDS, GMA News
