Preparing to see the Pope

We’re a little discouraged by the mammoth crowd that greeted the Pope everywhere he went around Manila. There’s worry in our hearts that we might not stand a chance.

After attending the Saturday mass, instead of watching a movie as initially planned, we prepared for our big challenge the next day— to try to see Pope Francis.

Our game plan was to go to UST thru Dapitan gate or at least stand along Lacson Avenue, formerly Governor Forbes Ave., in Sampaloc, Manila to get to see the Pope.
Oyen———“Are we sure about this? Because I am not sure”.
We all agreed that we would at least try. If we see him, we see him, if not, at least we tried.

Seminarians.

Since the forecast was 60% rain,  we went to Shopwise in Libis to buy raincoats.  Ubos na,  only a few were left and they were all for little kids.  I grabbed the last Large one.  As back up,  we bought a roll of garbage bag

I don’t trust their check-out counters. Natye-tyempo na meron silang mali. Eto na naman. The clerk started scanning the three sets of hangers. She just assumed they all have the same prices. Eh hinde, ang isa eh mas mura. If I wasn’t looking, eh di napamahal na agad kami.

We got a few raffle tickets.
A——-“Ano’ng Wigo?”
E——-“Eto oh”.
There’s a big poster hanging on the ceiling. Van pala ang Wigo. Kala ko scooter, ay tange.

A———“Tart, di ba there’s a Chinese restaurant on the ground floor? Dyan na lang tayo kumain para mabilis”.
E———“Sige”.

Every order, they would say 15-20 minutes waiting.

Maingay, mga pinggan at kutsara na nagkakalampagan. Merong bata na nabasag nya yung tasa. The lady customer at the next table got so irritated
Lady customer to the mother of the boy——“Buti hindi tinamaan ang paa ko”.

The mom of the boy didn’t even apologize. Nakaka-irritate talaga.
She sneezed so loudly, nagulat ako, napa sigaw ako ng “Ay bastos ka!”. Nagulat naman sa akin ang mga anak ko. It was a comedy of errors.

We proceeded to UST after dinner to survey the area to assess our chances of seeing the pope.

At 10 pm,  there were dozens of students who were already camping out at the gates of UST. More were walking to UST.   The whole stretch of Lacson to Nagtahan bridge was still empty.

I was worried that when we come back in a few hours,  the 4 corners of UST would be full of millions.

We didn’t prepare beforehand. We could have contacted some people so we could get a little closer to the pope but it’s too late for that. It didn’t enter our minds. It’s okay.

I was able to go to sleep at 12:30 am.  I woke up at 2:30 am and I was up and ready by 3 am.

We left our house at 3:15 and arrived in Rotonda at 3:40 am.  The stretch of Espana was already closed to motor vehicles so we got off in front of McDo and started our walk towards UST.  I’ve walked that stretch 35 years ago.  The road was a little downhill which helped me survive the 3 kilometer walk. Yah, that’s short, but I have no exercise. No practice.

Selfie at 3:45 am.

There were millions people  walking in the dark cold morning towards the same goal.  To be blessed by the Holy Pope”s presence.   I brought a rosary from the house of Virgin Mary  in turkey, while Oyen brought also something.  I also brought a white towel from my giwang-giwang panata.

Nyke was the one carrying our clear plastic bag with chips, cookies, two small bottles of water, tissue, etc.  We’re ready for battle.  I have my medicine box– Ponstan, Biogesic, Bonamine.

I was also prepared not to pee for the next 10 hours.  Or if I couldn’t control it anymore,  with firm resolve,  I would quietly pee in my pants.

We stood at the corner of Espana and Lacson Ave,  There was some disorder because the policemen did not put a barrier beforehand to guide the crowd.  They waited until the crowd was already too thick before telling them,  “umusod kayo, atras.”  How do you move 25 layers of people who were glued to each other.   Not wanting to move back and lose the chance of seeing the pope,   lalo kaming naipit.

At 4 am.  Sige nga,  iusod mo nga ito?

Edmund knew I would not be able to withstand such situation,  he wiggled his way out of the pile of people and walked farther away towards Nagtahan bridge.   After he found a perfect spot where we could be in front of the line,  he called us.

Nyke and I had difficulty getting out.  Siksikan na talaga.   There were two black vehicles which came squeezing thru the crowds.  One almost ran over my son’s feet.  Napasigaw ako.  Naku kung hindi babasagin ko talaga salamin ng kotse nila.  Parehong merong driver, may pasahero sa likod.

HOY kung sino man kayo, muntik nyo ng mabundol ang anak ko at magulungan ang paa nya.  Sa susunod, gumising kayo ng mas maaga para wala pang tao sa kalye bago kayo dumating.  Alam nyo naman na milyun-milyon ang tao na mag-aabang.  Alamin nyong mabuti kung anong oras kayo dapat dumating.  Hindi yung para kayong mga hari at reyna,  na itutulak ang mga tao para dumaan kayo.    Mga pangit na kwasong!

Edmund indeed found a good spot on the sidewalk, beside the dirty canal.  I used the raincoat to cover the sidewalk.  Oyen and I were able to sit down comfortably for a good two hours.

yen asked her brother to sit beside me and hold her bag for a minute while she stretched her legs.

People were looking at Edmund while he scatters the newspapers. That’s the demarcation line. No standing here. He’s ready to fight for our rights. Pagka merong sumisimple na kunwari tatayo-tayo, he would say “Ops ops ops, pwesto namin ito”.

Edmund and Nyke sat on the cemented road, guarding our spot.

Our neighbors (close na kami after several hours of waiting) followed Edmund’s strict guarding. They also shooed away other people wanting to stand in front of them.
Woman sitting on the sidewalk———–“Oy, dito kami, aming pwesto ito”.
Another group of women who just came—-“Bakit, nabili na ba ito?”

Hahaha magkakamatayan talaga para sa pwesto.

The only person we allowed passage was the taho vendor.
Female Customer #1——“Doble naman ang presyo, taga! Lima lang yan, ngayon sampu na”.
Woman #2————-“Yung sampo beinte na, ano ba yan”.
Woman #3———-“Dumating lang si Pope, nagmahal na agad”.

Edmund————“Pare, ang lakas ng tinda mo ah”.
Vendor————“Pangatlo na ito” (third round since 1 am).
Edmund————“Pupunta ka pa sa Luneta nyan, ayos).
Vendor————“Bukas hindi na ako makakatayo sa pagod”.
A—————–“Dami mo namang pera”.

We didn’t mind the long hours of waiting,  We didn’t mind sitting on the dirty cement.  I was having migraine but I was ready with my medicines.  Among the 4 of us,  I was the one who didn’t leave our spot to pee.  I didn’t want to leave my spot, for fear of missing the chance of seeing the Pope when he passes by.

A———“Anak, lumiliwanag na, konti na lang”.
Oyen——“It’s seven o’clock”.
A———-“Tart, two and half hours na lang, yey”.

It was drizzling intermittently.   The overcast sky made the waiting more bearable.  I couldn’t imagine waiting outdoors,  under intense humidity and body heat.   People were dikit-dikit.    Panay ang lagay ko ng perfume kasi naaamoy ko yung canal pag humahangin.

I was praying for strength.  I didn’t want to faint.   Every now and then tumatakbo yung paramedics kasi merong mga hinihimatay.  I told Oyen not to call the paramedics if I fainted.  Paamuyin lang ako ng Kotinco o peppermint, magigising na ako,  kasi ayaw kong umalis,  hindi ko makikita si Pope.  Awa ng Dyos,  I didn’t faint.  Although a couple of times I had to sit down and close my eyes kasi tired na ako talaga.  Nawi-wee wee pa,  may migraine pa.  Gutom pa, uhaw pa.  I didn’t want to drink,  lalo na akong maiihi. By 7 am,  I was seriously thinking of peeing in my pants,  but the thought that it would be uncomfortable to stand with wet pants and legs,  ay pinigil ko na lang.

The marshalls from the nearby parish chuch of San Roque arrived. Mukhang malapit na talaga. Yey.

to be continued