Afternoon on the same day, I was just about to board a bus bound to Manila. A lot of people were also bound to Manila. Empty seats could be seen usually around the second week of January; however, some bus franchise are fully booked at that day. I was seated on the middle area of the bus and beside me was a young lady. We chatted for a while and got acquainted. She asked me if I was going to the events of the papal visit. I said no. But during the evening, I asked my cousins who were visiting Manila for the papal visit if I could join them to the mass on Sunday, got nothing to do on the holidays.
January 18, 2015. It seems like it's going to rain. The sky was dark and it feels cold. We woke up at 3 am and prepared our breakfast and packed lunch. We left at 5 am, rode the jeepney and walked toward Rizal Park.
I was excited. It was the first time I joined a big religious event like this. Millions of people would be gathered. I had expectations.
This was supposed to be what would happen when we arrive(In my mind):
6:00 am - The entrances would open.
6:15 am - We would pass through the metal detectors.
7:30 am - Arrive at one of the quadrants where we would wait.
7:30-3:00 - Wait peacefully.
3:00 - Holy Mass
When we arrived in Kalaw Ave. at 5:45 am, I saw a lot of people still sleeping on the roads, camping. Some people were taking advantage of the event and were selling goods such as t-shirt and other souvenir items like key chains. Then came 6:00 am.
It was messy.
One of the gate was pushed open. On the small opening, people were flocking and entering. Everybody was headed towards the metal detectors. It was like a funnel. Crowds were entering the metal detectors one by one. People were pushing and pushing so that they could also enter. A police officer in charge of the area was shouting repeatedly "wag magtulakan" or don't push. The people were deaf to those words. They persisted. I searched for the so called "Mercy and Compassion". I saw a few. The police officer let the women and children go in first. I was relieved. That was the whole theme of the event, Mercy and Compassion.
We passed through the metal detectors. I was scared that a stampede might occur. There was none. Thank Goodness. We walked towards the front area. A lot of people were thinking the same. It was getting crowded. Halfway towards our destination, the flow seems to stop, can't pass through. Then some people decided to climb the fence. We tried it as well. The plants in our feet were trampled. I felt guilty about it. We saw a lot of people already seated on the grassy area near us. Some were sleeping again. Then we proceeded forward. Another stop came again. Then another people decided to open one of the barricade. We followed suit. We saw an area with trees and a few people. We decided to go there.
After finding a place to rest and wait, we placed one of the raincoat on the ground and sat on it. A kind old lady allowed us to borrow a plastic sheet so that we would have more space. Great. Now all we need to do is wait peacefully until 3 in the afternoon. Then it rained. It was a drizzle. It got stronger after a while. We decided to walk around since the ground was getting wet.
We waited until 3 pm. The rain was getting stronger. A live coverage of the event in UST was being showed in the wide screen. Pope Francis was talking. We couldn't see it clearly so we listened carefully.
2:45 am. We went closer to the road where Pope Francis might pass through. People around us were steadily increasing. We waited patiently.
Then we heard people screaming far away. Some of the people around us were curious and started to push. Elbows were striking me. Ouch. It was a false alarm. It occurred again 3 times.
We then heard the sirens. Everybody was excited. Very excited. A person was even trying to hold my shoulders and pushing himself up. I protested a bit. He did not hear me or probably just ignored me. Then I stood on my tiptoes. I saw the figure of the Pope. I felt happy. Ahh. I forgot about feeling cold and pained for a moment. The mass started after a while.
What actually occured during the day:
5:00 - Walking towards Rizal Park
5:30 - Searched for an entrance.
6:00 - We went inside a gate near the lapu-lapu shrine
6:30 - We passed through the metal detectors
6:48 - We got as far as the rizal monument
7:09 - We went inside an area with trees at the left side of rizal monument
7:24 - Found a place to sit
10:00 - It rained
10:50 - The rain got stronger
2:45 - Went closer to the road near the Grand stadium
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