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‘Rock star’ pope makes presence felt outside Metro Manila

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By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff reporter

Laoag City—As Pope Francis waved his hand to Filipinos eagerly awaiting for his Popemobile along major thoroughfares in Metro Manila, several Ilocano households regardless of faith or religious affiliation were glued to their television sets watching the pope’s arrival in awe and excitement.

“Thank you, dear God, for allowing our family to see your Vicar on earth today. Pope Francis, we love you,” said the Viernes family of Brgy. Sta. Angela here as they shared meals with their two children while watching the live coverage of Pope Francis’ motorcade on TV.  

“Welcome to the Philippines, Pope Francis! Please pray for us,” Nelda Aguete-Quinay said in silent prayer upon hearing the ringing of church bells at the St. William Cathedral to welcome the arrival of the Holy Father.

Catholics and non-Catholics in this northern Luzon province watched the Pope as they listen attentively to his soft words.

“How lucky is the little girl who gave flowers to the pope. I wish I was her!” exclaimed 10-year old Krysthel Sacsac of Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte while watching a girl on TV giving flowers to the Pontiff.

While in Bacnotan, La Union on Jan. 15, Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. told students, graduates and professors of the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University there, to follow the brand of humility of Pope Francis, the third pope to visit the country.

DMMMSU celebrated its 34th founding anniversary with the presentation of university awards and recognition to graduates, retirees and current enrollees in its Bacnotan campus.

Mr. Marcos fondly recalled his first meeting with the pontiff in July 2014 at the Vatican, when he, his wife Lisa and eldest son, made a pilgrimage to be able to catch a glimpse of the Holy Father. He called Pope Francis a “rock star”, whose simplicity and down-to-earth attitude has won the hearts of both Catholics and non-Catholics worldwide.

He said the country is fortunate to be visited after 20 years by a pope coinciding with the 34thfounding anniversary of DMMMSU. The last papal visitor, Pope, now Saint John Paul II, came to celebrate the 1995 World Youth Day when DMMMSU had its 14th founding anniversary.

“The papal visit is very significant to our nation. We desperately need it, especially the strong message of ‘mercy and compassion’ that he brings to the Filipino faithful,” the senator said adding that the visit of the head of the Roman Catholic Church, the spiritual leader of 12 billion Catholic worldwide, would certainly bring about a resurgence and renewal in the faith for some 80 million Filipino Catholics.

He likened 78-year old Pontiff to a “great comet making appearance in our skies” as it is indeed a rare and infrequent occurrence.


He said the humility and simplicity of Pope Francis can be seen from his choice of not wearing the regal priestly vestments, by refusing to live in the Papal palace and shunning reference of being a rock star or other grandiose titles.
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