akame2304 仁ジエ⚽진제

Pope Francis left at around 10AM today. he was carrying his own bag upon arrival at the Villamor Air Base, walking the red carpet, going up the stairs to his waiting flight back to Rome. he was sent off by a number of students/teachers, just like when he arrived, some government officials & members of the Catholic church. before getting inside, he stopped, turned, and waved for the last time to the people present at his departure. it was a sunny day, a really nice day to fly, as oppose to the past two days when he celebrated mass at Tacloban & visited Palo, and another mass at the Quirino Grandstand.

and the Filipinos are back to being Filipinos. i think. or maybe not. i hope not. or perhaps, it's more accurate to say that some are really touched by the Pope's coming that they will really try their best to follow his example. some will be back to being their usual selves, doing what they are doing before the Pope's arrival & stay, which is really sad.


thank you, Pope Francis. salamat, Santo Papa. thank you for coming to the Philippines and letting us feel that you are with us. you had travelled so far just to reach us. i hope and i pray that your message will reach the deepest, darkest hearts of all those corrupt people in our land. may they realize that they are not the only ones living in this beautiful country; that they are not the only blessed people who must enjoy everything that life has to offer; that they are not where they are if not for the those under them. i also pray that truly, all Filipinos will show care and respect towards the other; that they are not the only being in the land and therefore they should mind others.

maraming, maraming salamat, Santo Papa sa iyong pagpunta at patuloy na pag-aalala sa sambayanang Pilipino. makatitiyak kang ikaw ay lagi naming ipagdarasal.

the long wait is over. after 20 years, my country is once again blessed to be visited by the Head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis. he's the 3rd Pope to have come but the 4th time that the Philippines has been graced by the Pope. then Pope John Paul II visited the country 2x, 1st in 1981 (i was just a year old) and in 1995, i was 14 and already a junior high-school student. i didn't get to see him up-close but i did see him while riding his Pope mobile when he passed by the street where i was waiting with some of my family members. i don't remember how exactly i felt back then but surely, i know that i was truly happy that i get a glimpse of the Pope.

i pray that Pope Francis will have a safe stay while in the country. may he be able to accomplish what he came for in the first place, to be with the survivors of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), as well as the poor people, to let them know that Jesus has never forgotten them. He is always with them.