Lolo Kiko visits Ph

 

Photo by: Janine Perea

                Several days prior to the visit of the Holy Father, police officials announced that the attendees will not be permitted to camp out the event area but this notice seemed to be of no use after hundreds of people stayed overnight outside the gates of University of Santo Tomas (UST), January 18, 2015.

                Hundreds of people flocked UST hours before the coming of Pope Francis. On January 12, police officials made it clear that the public is not allowed to stay near the event area hours or even days before the coming of the pope.

Photo by: Janine Perea

 The security inside remained strict and guards won’t allow the public to enter without identification cards although some non-volunteer Thomasians were able to enter the campus grounds. Supposedly, only the picked youth volunteers would be allowed to stay the night inside the campus but several students were able to camp in and wait for the Pope’s arrival.

“Patience is a virtue talaga. Maaga pa ko dun at nagbunga naman ng maganda ang paghihintay.” Rio Deluvio, a 4^th year UST student and said.

                Youth volunteers are required to bring transparent bags for easy inspection but this rule was not followed. In addition, monopods or selfie sticks were also prohibited but two outsiders were able to bring it inside the campus entering the gate at Dapitan.

 Cameras without the identification stickers are also banned but this policy was not observed during the visit of the Holy Father. Hundreds were able to take a photo of the pope using their digital cameras and even DSLR’s which are not registered with the stickers.

                The supposed to be peaceful visit of Pope Francis turned into chaos after there was a fear of stampede at Gate 6 of the University. In order to catch a glimpse of the Pope, people lining up at the gate of Lacson Street pushed and elbowed each other to secure a safe spot. Students were disappointed with the police who surround the area because the crown control was poor and the designated places for the public and the students were not followed.

                “Wala naman akong hinanakit sa mga pulis.Sila pa nga nagbigay ng tip sakin kung saan dadaan si Pope. Pero na-disappoint ako sa mga volunteers outside the barricades mismo. Sila yung nasa labas tapos lakas maka-selfie nung dumaan na si Pope. Di tuloy na-maintain yung pila.” Deluvio added.

Photo by: Janine Perea

                                In preparation for the possible rain, UST sold raincoats at the Tan Yan Kee building. These raincoats were enclosed in a plastic ball and priced 30 Php. The students referred to it as ‘Pokeballs’ because of its resemblance with the famous children’s game Pokemon.

                Pope Francis wore the same raincoat as the students showing the meaning of equality and simplicity.

                As the oldest pontifical University in Asia, it is not new to UST for papal visits.Pope Francis, or as Filipinos refers to him as Lolo Kiko, is the third pope who made a trip to the university following Saint John Paul II and Pope Paul VI’s visit.