Thursday, August 6, 2015

PNoy joins millions in Pope Francis’ Quirino Grandstand mass

January 18, 2015 3:07pm
President Benigno Aquino III on Sunday joined millions of Filipinos at the Quirino Grandstand to hear the Holy Mass to be officiated by Pope Francis.
A GMA News live video showed a heavily escorted Aquino, who was wearing a black jacket, walking towards the designated area for officials.
The concluding Mass is the third event in Pope Francis Philippine visit participated by Aquino III. The President welcomed the Roman Catholic leader at the Villamor Airbase last Thursday.
Interviewed on their way to the Mass of Mercy and Compassion at the Quirino Grandstand yesterday afternoon, former President Fidel V. Ramos compared the January 18, 2015 crowds to the mammoth attendance during the Pope John Paul II’s January 12-16, 1995 Manila visit for the 10th World Youth Day.
Ramos described the Papal Visit as “very joyous, participated in by millions of our people not just here in Metro Manila” but all over the country.
“Here, I would estimate that the crowds over the 3-day period of activities… could have been as big as the crowd during the late Pope’s final Mass on the fourth day of his Manila visit here on January 15, 1995 for the 10th World Youth Day,” he said.
He was referring to the crowds that jammed Roxas Boulevard on Saturday midnight and Sunday morning, from the Baclaran District, Cultural Center of the Philippines complex all the way to Bonifacio Drive in Intramuros, and those on streets crossing the boulevard, such as Padre Burgos, T.M. Kalaw, UN Avenue, Padre Faura and Quirino Avenue.
Mr. Aquino III was also appreciative of the congratulatory messages sent by foreign governments, either in writing or relayed by special envoys.
On Saturday, he said several world leaders sent written messages of congratulations to the Pope on his state visit and apostolic journey to the Philippines, among them Presidents Barack Obama of the United States, Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation, Michael D. Higgins of Ireland, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey, Mamnoon Hussain of Pakistan, János Áder of Hungary, Tammam Salam of Lebanon and Raúl Castro of Cuba.
From Barack
In a letter to Mr. Aquino III dated January 17, 2015, Obama said he was pleased that the Philippine Visit of Pope Francis were being complemented by events throughout the United States which highlighted the significance of the contributions of Filipino-Americans to America’s heritage.
“I know this Papal Visit is of special significance to you as it comes just before you [Aquino III] leave office on June 30, 2016,” Obama said.
He said that since Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo first laid out his vision of an independent Philippines on June 12, 1898, the country “has grown into a respected, active, and valued member of the Family of Nations.”
“We can take pride in the close bonds forged between our two countries over the past century,” Obama said. “We have stood together in war, in peace, and in our effort to ensure that the world's people increasingly share the fruits of democracy, respect for basic human rights, and economic prosperity.”
He said the Philippines’ economic resilience, strong democratic institutions and determination to take advantage of the opportunities presented by globalization demonstrate clearly the country's achievements and potential.
Obama added that he was confident the strong friendship between the American and the Filipino people would continue to flourish in coming years.
Big boost
Aside from the congratulatory messages from foreign governments, Mr. Aquino III also cited the extensive media coverage and public interest in the Papal Visit activities.
“All of that combined has given a great boost to the Philippines in terms of its attractiveness as a nation after 116 years of challenges, crises, calamities, revolutions, wars, coups d’etat and all the other difficulties of developing countries,” he told reporters yesterday.
“And so we can expect a lot of goodwill and material investment, economic interest and commercial expansion in the Philippines,” he said.
His administration is particularly hopeful of some economic gains from the Papal Visit as the country continues to endure the effects of the 1997 Asian currency turmoil, 2005 “Hello, Garci” scandal and the July 2013 Priority Development Assistance Fund scam alleged misuse by several members of the Congress of the Philippines of their Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF, popularly called “pork barrel”), a lump-sum discretionary fund granted to each member of Congress for spending on priority development projects of the Philippine government, mostly on the local level.
Mr. Aquino III said the Papal Visit also thrust the Philippines into the world stage as a model for democracy that evolved through self-determination and people's struggle.
“We're showing that we have proven democracy and sustainable development can go hand in hand,” he said.
He believes there has been a tremendous boost in the people's self-confidence and optimism in the future.
Into the next administration
And this early, he urged the government, police and the people to start preparing “for the Pope’s visit in Cebu, Bohol and Leyte next year for the 51st International Eucharistic Congess on January 23 to February 3,” and the 25th year of World Youth Day in the country and second time to host the religious event in January 2020.
He called on the nation to look toward the future under the leadership of his successor, Jejomar C. Binay or Manuel A. Roxas, II, and the country's second century and the third decade.
“With the friendship and support of all the nations… I am certain that the world will see that the best is yet to come,” the President said.
New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos--all Philippine partners in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation--sent deputy prime ministers to the Papal Visit.
Among the guests were Foreign Ministers Ali Alatas of Indonesia and Ahmad Badawi of Malaysia.
At least 36 governments sent special envoys, excluding their resident ambassadors.
International organizations such as the United Nations and its various offices, World Bank-International Monetary Fund and the International Committee of the Red Cross were also represented.
The Pope, meanwhile, met Aquino at the Malacanang Palace on Saturday.
During the Pope's courtesy call, Aquino openly lambasted Filipino clergy critical of his administration.Andreo Calonzo/NB, GMA News

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