“To think. To feel. To do.” These were the words our beloved Pope Francis said in his message to the youth at University of Santo Tomas last Sunday, Jan. 18.

His five-day visit left us with countless things to think about, feel and do. I, along with millions of Filipinos, have been given the chance to do exactly that.

Chosen batch

Late last year, we were informed that Paref (Parents for Education Foundation) Woodrose would be one of the 19 schools associated with the Diocese of Parañaque to participate in welcoming Pope Francis. Much to our surprise, our Grade 9 batch was chosen to represent the school.

We were astonished by this news and viewed it as a privilege, opportunity and challenge we were eager to take on.

With the complexity and speed of the lively dance we were going to perform, it was evident that perfecting it wouldn’t be easy. The one thing that kept me and everyone else enthusiastic about dancing was the mere fact that it was FOR the Pope.

We also kept in our minds and in our hearts that everything we would do was for the Lord. We offered up to Him our hard work for Pope Francis, as well as the safety of the Pontiff and the success of his visit.

We pushed aside the hours of repeated practice under the sun, the thirst, the waking up early and all the other challenges and focused on our responsibilities and his coming.

On the day of his arrival, our feelings were indescribable. We woke up just a bit after the sun rose to be able to arrive early at Villamor Air Base. Numerous security checks and screenings were done to ensure the safety of the people and Pope Francis.

Fast-forward to when we were called to proceed outside as he would be arriving anytime soon. Somewhere in between the last-minute reminders, blaring music and waving fans, the light of an approaching plane appeared in the orange sky, the sun just about to set. This is it, the moment had finally come.

Suspense swelling

“Five, four, three, two, one!” The familiar beat filled our ears and we began to pour our energy and emotions into the dance. We did the first run of the routine even if he was still airborne because our Philippine flag formation, composed of our red, white, yellow and blue umbrellas, had to be viewed from the sky.

Seeing his plane land safely and roll onto the clearing built up the suspense swelling inside each person there; even members of the Philippine Air Force had their camera phones out or moved their heads to get a view of him descending the plane.

Watching him come down waving and smiling at us really was the peak of our endeavors. All our efforts and struggles felt worthwhile—something I wouldn’t mind doing again.

As we performed our second dance number, we noticed Pope Francis was distracted and unable to watch us. We cried out for him to look at us, even just for a while. But our efforts were in vain, for although he wanted to observe, he had to attend to other matters and stick to his schedule.

In all honesty, I, with others, felt disheartened for not being able to see his reaction to our dance or even just his face. Chats with my caring moderators and fellow students and the singing of Bishop Mercado helped lift up my spirits as well as those of my fellow dancers.

Final Mass

But amid the disappointment of barely being noticed, a flicker of gratitude and gratification shone through. Everyone went home cheerful and content with the experience we would bring with us for the rest of our lives.

Even with the estimated crowd of 6 million coming to Luneta to attend his final Mass, I still had hopes of seeing Pope Francis even for a few seconds. Everywhere you looked, people were either carrying Sto. Niño statues or waving at nearby broadcast cameras.

The chilly air made walking seem enjoyable especially with the family. After a few kilometers, an expected blockade prevented us from getting to our originally planned positions. We decided to head back to where we came from.

This did us no good. Everyone seemed to have the same idea, making the streets thick with people. We found a spot in front of the screen near a building with a clean bathroom and a coffee shop. After about six hours we decided to relocate since we couldn’t see anything. With only a few minutes before his arrival, we climbed on to the traffic island and stood on our foldable chairs.

The crowds in front of us began to scream and jump. We craned our necks and tiptoed to see if he was arriving. The automobile carrying a camera zoomed by and before my brain could process it, there he was.

The split-second flashes of his radiant smile in between heads of people left me with many feelings and emotions I could not explain. The sight of him also made me forget the annoyance of tight spaces, soaked shoes and long lines to the bathroom.

My desire to see him was initially met with frustration; later, it was replaced with intense glee and satisfaction. I felt fortunate enough to see him for the second time in the country, even with the probability of my catching a cold.

Despite the fleeting instances of seeing Pope Francis, I think what mattered most were his presence, his reaching out and his enlightening messages to all of us.

Although he flew back to Rome last Monday, he left behind a message, a challenge, a call to think, to feel and to do as Filipinos and as children of God.

Let us continue to pray for him. Viva Il Papa!