WHEN Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle announced the scheduled encounter of His Holiness Pope Francis in the University of Santo Tomas with the youth on January 18, it instantly ignited the hearts of the Thomasian community.

It was not a surprise when as early as 6:30 p.m., on the eve of his visit; a number of people are already lined up alongside the vicinity of the University. Even more surprising has been the hundreds of students who volunteered for this spiritual event.

The relative cooperation appeared to signal an acknowledgment that youth today, which are said to be less concern about the country and was bound to create troubles, perhaps, could not stay that way forever in a life battered by social challenges.

Covering the moment was what this is all about. It was the night before the encounter when I entered the campus. With a Papal media pass, I did not need to join the long line of people who wish to see the Pope up close. Though I have to sacrifice 18 hours of no sleep, I prefer to say that this opportunity was, indeed, a blessing.

I tried to combat the cold night as I roamed around the inexplicably peaceful campus to have a view of growing lines of people on the outskirts of UST. They really did camp out, set up blankets, and endure sleeping and eating on the cold sidewalk. In the streets, vendors and vehicles are eerily invisible.

An hour before the gates opened, I went straight to the grandstand in hopes of being at the front row. But just as I stepped foot on the field, a security officer stopped me to examine my bag and asked me to taste the bottled water I brought. I was baffled to the point that he repeated, “Tikman niyo lang po.” And I did.

And then it happened. After hours of waiting, Pope Francis arrived. Thomasians, and even other attendees, hailed as the Pontifex passed the iconic Arch of the Century. Despite heavy rainfall, Pope Francis put on his most well-loved smile and unwearied waves to the emotionally high masses as they took picture of him and chanted “Pope Francis, we love you!”

Former street child Glyzelle Palomar, then, gave her testimony but broke down in tears even before finishing her speech. She asked the Pontiff, “Bakit po pumapayag ang Diyos na may ganitong nangyayari dahil walang kasalanan ang mga bata?” to which Pope Francis answered by embracing the little girl.

At this stage, I suddenly felt more than just someone searching an enchanting story. I realized that at that very moment, I am part of the perfect scenario that I was about to write.

“She is the only who has put a question for which there is no answer. And she wasn’t able to express it in words but rather in tears.” Those words echoed in my ears and, perhaps, will echo over the years. Those words will serve as my constant reminder to keep myself vulnerable to weep. I have never thought of life that way. Because of this revelation, I learned that life is more than just experiencing it firsthand. It is having familiarity to every layer of life’s bliss and pain.

Young generations like me often face difficult choices and situations. What should we do when friends failed an exam? Should we speak out on their behalf? Should we cry with them? This reaction says something about children today: more kids are no longer afraid of speaking their minds. They have begun looking for solutions and adapt to a faster pace of life.

“Be courageous. Don’t be afraid to cry,” Pope Francis encouraged young people.

It is true, of course, that “Francis’ effect” they call. He has undoubtedly won the hearts of Catholics, and even non-Catholics, with his simplicity, sincerity, open-mindedness and message of faith. A glimpse of the dear Holy Father have made me, for the first time in a long while, free and peaceful. I forgot all about the hunger, the rain, and the cold. People are right. It is like seeing Jesus.

At around 12 in the afternoon, the encounter with the youth ended with Pope Francis giving his final prayer and blessing to all the faithful who eagerly anticipated his visit. This was the most difficult part of the day. Some cried but the weeping did not sounded like a howl of despair. It was a cry of hope and happiness.

Photo By Genevieve Aguilan

“ALL of us are God’s children, members of God’s family.”

These were the words of Pope Francis giving relation to the people of God to the image of Santo Niño during his homily at the Quirino Grandstand on January 18.

As the pope celebrated his holy mass on a Santo Niño Sunday, he gave recognition to the Holy Child of Jesus as the ‘link between God’s Kingdom and the mystery of spiritual childhood’ through the Sunday’s Gospel, “Whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it” (Mk. 10:15).

“That is why the message of Santo Niño is so important,” he said. “He speaks powerfully to all of us. He reminds us of our deepest identity, of what we are called to be as God’s family.”

“The Santo Niño also reminds us that this identity must be protected,” he noted.

“We too need to protect, guide and encourage our young people, helping them to build a society worthy of their great spiritual and cultural heritage. Specifically, we need to see each child as a gift to be welcomed, cherished and protected. And we need to care for our young people, not allowing them to be robbed of hope and condemned to life on the streets.”

The Holy Father mentioned that the Philippines, being the foremost Catholic country in Asia, not only is it a “special gift of God,” it is also a “vocation” to all Filipinos to be”‘outstanding missionaries of faith in Asia.”

Photo by Carmelo Culvera

As missionaries of faith, the pope said that God chose us to be witnesses of His truth and justice amidst the destruction of sin – which, according to the pope is “[to] forget at heart that we are children of God.”

Pope Francis added that lie has always been the ‘great threat’ to God’s plans. “The devil is the father of lies,” he said. “Often he hides his snares behind the appearance of sophistication, the allure of being ‘modern’, ‘like everyone else.’ He distracts us with the promise of ephemeral pleasures, superficial pastimes. And so we squander our God-given gifts by tinkering with gadgets; we squander our money on gambling and drink; we turn in on ourselves.”

He, once again, reminded the people to be witnesses and missionaries of the Gospel in Asia and the whole world.

ALTHOUGH the Pontiff’s visit to the University was successful, a number of people sought medical attention as the volume of crowd continuously increased in and out of the campus.

People in need of medical help were taken to the stationed first-aid centers handled by medical personnel and volunteers from the UST Red Cross Youth Council (UST-RCYC) and RAHA Fire Department.

Each station has received more than 30 patients since 2 a.m. with the most common illnesses such as dizziness, headache, chest pains, hyperventilation, shortness of breath, and acute gastritis.

Some patients also experienced chills, dislocation, sprains and diarrhea.

The University has prepared around two UST Hospital stations, eight health stations, and 24 roving teams that were strategically placed around the campus to tend to people immediately.

The roving teams were placed near the crowd for first-aid assistance, health stations took care of people with minor injuries while USTH stations were for serious injuries.

“Usually stressed, but we’re used to these complaints because we usually see this on a daily basis, it’s just that yung volume ng tao pero nahati naman kasi may several stations so parang na-distribute,” said Dr. Karissa Platon.

Platon said these medical conditions were mainly caused by the heat, waiting too long outside, and most of them haven’t eaten yet.

Happy to serve

The medical teams were happy to have served the people during this event, especially since they prepared for almost six months.

Even if they were already exhausted, they were still happy because they also got to see the Pope.

“Kahit antok o pagod, nabawi naman ng makita si Pope,” Nursing student Huey Javier said.

Shortage of crowd control

Many people were hurt due to waiting for hours outside the campus being squeezed by a huge crowd, which they said was caused by the lack of control at the gates.

“Some policemen were seen, but they do not even know what to do. I can hate the undisciplined people trying to get in and not falling in line. But I guess, with proper maintenance of peace and order, the problem will be resolved,” said UST Alumna Christine Dacallos who never had the chance to get inside the campus.

Meanwhile, another UST Alumna Dayanara Uy said the original line of the crowd tied plastic bags together to make a line that would enable them to enter in an organized manner.

“Pero matitigas talaga ulo ng mga tao near sa gate, may nag-aaway at at nagsisigawan na,” she added.

When security officers allowed a huge crowd to enter, they pushed and shoved each other trying to get a spot inside the barricades to easily see the Pope.

At around six in the morning, the people who were unable to enter found out the line wasn’t moving because the officers did not open the gates anymore.

Photos by Carmelo Culvera