The Daughters of St Paul during the Apostolic Visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines

The Papal Visit to the Philippines from January 15-19, 2015 is described as a truly impressive and wonderful celebration where more than six million Filipinos gathered at the Luneta Park to be with Pope Francis. It was not only a moment of grace for the country but a manifestation of the beauty, grandeur and joy of the Catholic Faith for the entire world.

The Daughters of St. Paul have been involved in the different activities from the moment the visit of the Pope was confirmed in early 2014. Sr. Consolata Manding and Sr. Rose Agtarap were members of the Committee on Media and Information headed by Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara.

The media and information team ready to welcome the Holy Father and the Vatican Accredited Media Personnel (VAMP) at Villamor Airbase.

Sr. Consolata and Sr. Rose at the Papal Visit General Headquarters in Intramuros, Manila.

Sr. Rose Agtarap assisted in the planning, creation, editing, and research for the official papal visit website www.papalvisit.ph while Sr. Bernardita Dianzon, Sr. Anna Yap, and Sr. Alice Candido helped in the editing of the articles and texts for the website.

Sr. Consolata with Fr. Francis Lucas, guests of Tina Monzon-Palma in the TV program Talk Back, ANC TV channel.

Sr. Consolata and a Muslim Imam were guests of Mitzi Borromeo in 9 TV’s News Cafe program.

Sr. Consolata Manding was one of the resource speakers for the papal visit and was part of the panel for ANC’s Talk Back with Tina Monzon Palma, 9 TV’s (CNN Philippines) News Cafe with Mitzi Borromeo.

Sr. Rose was also interviewed by Kara David for GMA 7′s 24 Oras TV News.

Sr. Carmel Galula with other members of the choir, including the Pious Disciples of the Divine Master.

The choir at the Manila Cathedral.

Sr. Carmel Galula was one of the 1,000+ choir members who sang for the different venues, particularly the Manila Cathedral. Weekly rehearsals began as early as September 2014, since they had to learn songs which incorporated seven major languages in the Philippines.

Getting ready for the media personnel entrance at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Sr. Ding scans the ID of Jessica Soho, one of the celebrity broadcast journalists of GMA 7, at the Villamor Airbase.

Sr. Consolata, Sr. Rose and Sr. Praxedes Paloma were designated as media coordinators for Villamor Airbase for the arrival and departure ceremonies, for the Encounter with Families at the Mall of Asia Arena, and Sr. Rose assisted at the International Media Center at Manila Hotel. Their duties included coordinating with security personnel, the operation managers of the venue, technical support team and the media people including the Vatican Accredited Media Personnel (VAMP).

A young delegate when asked what he’ll tell Pope Francis said: “Ti voglio bene!” (I love you!)

Parents with their children coming all the way from Cotabato, Davao and other parts of Mindanao.

At the Mall of Asia Arena where delegates were issued tickets, the sisters served as liaison for particular needs of the delegates who didn’t know where to turn: parents who brought their child/ren and had no one to leave them because they were not issued tickets; the elderly, the infirm and those with disabilities; and with over 4,200 media people some of whom were not accredited to the event or were not issued tickets.

Sr. Alice Candido and Sr. Anna Yap on duty at the Media and Information General Headquarters.

Sr. Anne Marie Nemenzo, Sr. Des Ebro, Sr. Noemi Vinoya and Sr. Yolanda Dionisio.

Sr. Anna Yap and Sr. Alice Candido assisted at the Media and Information General Headquarters for editing the content of the website throughout the four-day-visit. While Sr. Anne Marie Nemenzo and Sr. Reajoy San Luis documented the different events they were assigned and contributed the photographs to the media committee.

Sr. Bernie Dianzon, Sr. Rose Agtarap and Sr. Ding Paloma at the International Media Center, Manila Hotel

While waiting for the Pope to pass by, the sisters served as human barricade and led the people in prayer.

Sr. Bernardita Dianzon served as translator at the International Media Center for the January 18 events – the Encounter with the Youth at the University of Santo Tomas and the Concluding Mass at the Luneta.

Novices and postulants also served as human barricade.

Taking a breather before the crowd press on – human barricade.

Many sisters and the young sisters in formation also served as human barricade on the papal route, and led the people in prayer as they flocked to the roads waiting for a glimpse of the Holy Father as he passed by.

Sr. Gemma Dela Cruz who is stationed in Tacloban worked with the team there and coordinated with security. She also produced two video plugs encouraging Leytenos to join the events of the papal visit which was aired over local TV stations and was shared on social media via YouTube.

Paulines Publishing House also coordinated with the Papal Visit Liturgy Committee for the publication of the Liturgical Booklet Tu Es Petruswhich included the music pieces used by over 1000 choir members for the celebrations during the entire Apostolic Visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines.

Sisters walk to Luneta Park for the concluding Mass as roads were closed and people flocked to the venue en masse.

Tu Es Petrus features music pieces for the celebrations during the Apostolic Visit of Pope Francis

A good number of sisters went to the Luneta for the concluding mass and were one with the people in this historic event, despite the long wait in the rain. Meanwhile, the elderly and infirm sisters who could not go were glued to the television as they witnessed and listened to the inspiring words of Pope Francis. Each one offered prayers and sacrifices for the success and fruitfulness of the Pope’s visit.

Ready with their caps and raincoats, the sisters, novices and postulants wait in the rain, together with 6 M Filipinos.

Paulines patiently wait under the rain… at Luneta.

It was a great privilege and a very big grace to have contributed to this momentous event in the history of the Church in the Philippines through our Pauline mission. What added to the joy was that the Pauline Family, particularly the Society of St. Paul, the Pious Disciples of the Divine Master and the Daughters of St. Paul were actively involved in the different aspects of the papal visit.

Primo Maestro must have been very happy to see his sons and daughters working together in assisting the Holy Father in proclaiming the Good News that saves.

With our brothers Society of St. Paul: Fr. Tony Atole, Bro. Bong Losbanes and Bron. Dominique Ramos, in charge of documentation at the MOA Arena.

Sr. Rose with Buboy Samar and Sr. Gemma Victorino, PDDM at the Diamond Hotel Media Center.

By: Sr. Rose Agtarap, fsp
Photos by: Srs. Consolata Manding, Rose Agtarap, Praxedes Paloma, Anne Marie Nemenzo, Mildred Chan, Mennen Alarcon, Carmel Galula, Alice Candido, the PDDM sisters and Chassy Tesoro

Parents with their children coming all the way from Cotabato, Davao, and other parts of Mindanao.

Sisters walk to Luneta Park for the concluding Mass as roads were closed and people flocked to the venue en masse.

Sr. Gemma Dela Cruz with Bishop John Du and the papal visit committee in Tacloban and Palo, Leyte.

Media ID scanning at the MOA Arena.

Sr. Carmel Galula with other members of the choir, including the Pious Disciples of the Divine Master.

Novices and postulants also served as human barricade.

Daughters of St. Paul volunteers at the Papal Visit Media and Information General Headquarters for final briefing.

Sr. Ding and Sr. Bernie captured on camera during the evening press conference on Sunday, January 18, 2015 which was broadcast on live TV.

Sr. Alice Candido and Sr. Anna Yap on duty at the Media and Information General Headquaters.

While waiting for the Pope to pass by, the sisters served as human barricade and led the people in prayer.

Sr. Consolata and a Muslim Imam in Mitzi Borromeo’s News Cafe program of 9 TV.

Sr. Consolata with Fr. Francis Lucas, guests of Tina Monzon-Palma in the TV program Talk Back, ANC TV channel.

Taking a breather before the crowd press on – human barricade.

The joyful wait…

Getting ready for the media personnel entrance at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The choir at the Manila Cathedral.

Sr. Ding, Sr. Rose, Ms.Teresa Tunay and the technical team at the Media checkpoint in Villamor Airbase.

The team ready to welcome the Holy Father and the Vatican Accredited Media Personnel (VAMP) at Villamor Airbase.

Daughters of St. Paul volunteers at the Papal Visit Media and Information General Headquarters for final briefing.

Sr. Rose and Sr. Consolata at the Media and Information General Headquarters in Intramuros, Manila.

Sr. Consolata with some of the delegates to the Encounter with Families.

Ready with their caps and raincoats, the sisters, novices and postulants wait in the rain.

Trembling in the rain and cold, Pauline sisters joyfully waited for the Mass with Pope Francis at the Luneta.

Media team members: Fr. Lito Jopson, executive secretary for CIM; Edwin Lopez, president of EWTN Philippines; Sr. Consol, Sr. Rose and Teresa Tunay, OCDS.

Tu es Petrus features all music pieces for the celebrations during the Apostolic Visit of Pope Francis.

Sr. Bernie Dianzon, Sr. Rose Agtarap and Sr. Ding Paloma at the International Media Center, Manila Hotel

With our brothers Society of St. Paul: Fr. Tony Atole, Bro. Bong Losbañes, Bro. Dominique Ramos

Journalists gather for the daily press conference at the Media Center, Diamond Hotel.

Members of the Media and Information Committee with Bishop Mylo Vergara, the chairman.

Some of the valiant men in uniform who made sure the Pope and the VAMP were safe and secure.

Sr. Mildred Chan and Sr. Precy Foronda joined forces with other sisters as human barricade.

The gates have opened and here they come.

Sr. Rose and Sr. Fe captured on camera during the evening press conference at the Manila Hotel on Sunday, January 18, 2015 which was broadcast on live TV.