The crowd gathered in front of the San Sebastian Cathedral in Bacolod City broke out in loud applause and cheers as the plane carrying Pope Francis landed on Philippine soil at 5:32 p.m. yesterday.

Their cheers were accompanied by the ringing of church bells and fireworks. The Bacoleño crowd of about 200 coming from a cross section of society shouted “Viva el Papa” and “Papa Francisco we love you”.

Elsewhere in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental people gathered to watch the live television coverage of the pontiff’s arrival at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City for a five-day visit to the country.

The Pope disembarked from his chartered plane at about 5:58 p.m. and was met at the bottom of the stairs of the aircraft by President Benigno Aquino.

Thousands of Filipinos gave the Pope a rousing welcome as they lined the roads to catch a glimpse of him on board his popemobile as it headed towards the Apostolic Nunciature on Taft Avenue, Manila, last night.

In front of the San Sebastian Cathedral in Bacolod, a beggar, trisikad driver, child, youth representative and a lay leader placed leis around the neck of a standee of the Pope.

“Since we cannot all be in Manila, we are symbolically welcoming the Pope to the Philippines here in Bacolod,” Fr. Felix Pasquin, rector of the San Sebastian Cathedral, said.

“We are thankful that the Pope has arrived in the Philippines and we pray that his visit will strengthen our faith in God,” Pasquin said.

He said he hopes the Pope’s visit will be a “reminder” for us to imbibe the spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ as pronounced by him, which is to be merciful and compassionate.

Pasquin said he is thankful for the enthusiasm of the people who joined the symbolic welcome of the Pope at the Cathedral.

At 10 a.m. Sunday, about 50 young boys aged 5 to 11 years old dressed in the Pope’s garb to imbibe the spirit of charity and humility of Christ will join the mass at the San Sebastian Cathedral, which will be repeated on January 20 during the feast of San Sebastian, Pasquin said.

Fr. Narciso de la Cruz, who led the crowd in chanting “Viva El Papa,” urged the faithful to listen to the Pope’s message and to live it.

He also called on the faithful to pray for the safe stay of the Pope in the Philippines and good weather during his visit to Leyte.

Beggar Jessie Cervantes, trisikad driver Jonie Alfonso, youth representative Ica Disoy, Jemboy Lamig of the Youth for Christ and Gawad Kalinga, Sister Sol Anna of the Franciscan Order and Alison Acebedo of the Parish Pastoral Council, also welcomed the Pope and thanked him for visiting the Philippines, at the program in front of the Cathedral.

Today the Pope will pay a courtesy call on President Aquino and meet the diplomatic corps in Malacañang, celebrate Mass with select clergy at the Manila Cathedral at around noon, and attend an “Encounter with Families” at the Mall of Asia Arena.

On Saturday, he will meet with victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda in Tacloban and Palo, Leyte, while on Sunday, he will meet religious leaders and Filipino students at the University of Santo Tomas and celebrate an open-air mass at the Rizal Park in Manila.*CPG

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