Wrap: People who wait for Pope Francis along streets

All the possible positions and locations to get a good glimpse of Pope Francis were already filled by people hours before his motorcade from Malacañang Palace to Manila Cathedral. For children who couldn’t see the pope, they were either sitting on their father’s shoulders or were being carried by their mothers.

Two children chose a different location by sitting on a tree instead. Their names are Cris, 10 years old and Stanley, who is 12. While waiting, they roamed around Manila Cathedral to sell water to the pilgrims.

When asked who Pope Francis is, they answered in unison, “Pinuno ng Simbahang Katolika!” (Head of the Catholic Church)

“Gusto ko makita si Pope para sumaya kami,” Stanley said.

Their age did not hinder them from being aware and compassionate about their surroundings.

If Stanley could talk to Pope Francis personally, he would say, “Sana makatulong ka sa mga nasalanta ng bagyo.”

Despite of her old age, 80 year old Pilar Iturralde braved the crowd and came to see Pope Francis along his motorcade on Friday, January 16.

This is her 4th time to see a pope as she made sure not to miss a single papal visit in the country. In her first encounter with a pope, she caught sight of Pope Paul VI in Malacanang on 1970 when he made his historic visit in the country.

She have always cried during her each encounter with a pope.“Hindi gaanong maraming tao nung unang may pope dito (Not many Filipinos came to see the pope during the very first papal visit in the country),” Pilar recalled.

It was much different when Pope John Paul II came to the Philippines in 1991 when droves of Filipinos came to see him. She also described her encounter with Pope John Paul II as something like seeing a saint.

In Pope Francis’ visit, Pilar prayed for the same things she have always prayed for: peace in the country and health for everyone.

For Jose dela Cruz, Pope Francis did not just strengthen his faith, he also brought his livelihood back to life.

“Nakakatuwa siya na dumalaw sa bansa siya. Naiiyak ako sa tuwa sa pagdating niya,” Dela Cruz said.

Since Pope Francis’ first day in the country, his items are selling like hotcakes. Among his items, the fan with Pope Francis’ image which costs P25 and the stainless necklace with Pope Francis as its pendant which costs P50 got sold out fast.

Dela Cruz will not just follow the Pope as he roams around Manila for his visit. He is also all set to follow him and his teachings about the gospel.

Nenita Honrales, 60, who works at a networking site came all the way from Olongapo city to see Pope Francis.

She came early to Manila with her friends on Friday to find a good position along the motorcade of Pope Francis. 

Even though it was just for a split second, she said seeing Pope Francis was very fulfilling. 

Non-Catholic excited to see the Pope

Melanie Asuncion, a pregnant woman, joins the crowd hoping to have a glimpse of Pope Francis on Januray 18, 2015.

She is not Catholic but she is determined to see the Pontiff together with her family.

“I’m not Catholic but he seems kind the way he treats people,” Asuncion said.

She believes her child will be blessed if she sees  the Holy Father.

A woman carrying Sto. Nino

At Quirino Avenue on Sunday, 67-year-old Binelda Alaba patiently waited for the papal convoy. She brought the statue of Sto Niño she has been keeping since 1987. 

“I heard we could bring Sto. Nino images for them to be blessed by the Pope,” Alaba said in Filipino.

She believes the image of the child Jesus saved her when she suffered a stroke in 2009 and when she almost drowned in a river in the same year. – with reports from Gwen de la Cruz, Sarah Olan, Raisa Serafica, Jene Pangue/Rappler.com