Delegates miss date with Pope

CEBU, Philippines - They were supposed to be in Tacloban City to witness the historic visit of Pope Francis but weather did not permit almost 200 Boholanos from going beyond their Cebu stopover.

The 170-member delegation from Diocese of Tagbilaran in Bohol was yesterday stranded at Pier 1 in Cebu City after trips to Leyte were suspended due to tropical storm “Amang” (international name Mekkhala).

Father Warli Salise Jr., chaperone of the delegation, said they boarded the 820 fast craft in Tagbilaran City heading to Ormoc City via Cebu.

However, as public storm warning signal Number 1 was hoisted over Samar and Leyte, authorities prevented their fast craft from leaving on their supposed 10:30 a.m. trip.

“We were supposed to arrive in Ormoc at 1:30 p.m. Naabtan gyud mi sa signal Number 1. Sayang lagi kay nagpaabot na unta ang bus nga among sakyan paingon sa Tacloban. Naka-book na pud gani mi sa among puy-an didto,” Salise said.

Their group is composed of five priests and 165 parishioners.

Yesterday afternoon, they waited and hoped to find ways for them to reach Tacloban and see the Pope up close.

“Dili man gud ni parehas anang ordinary tour nga puwede ra dili madayon. Santo Papa man gud ni. Kutob sa among mahimo, maningkamot mi makalusot,” the Boholano priest said.

They had hoped to take the slow boat ride to Maasin, Southern Leyte but later on decided to return to Bohol and not take any further risk and be resigned to the fact that they cannot cross to Leyte due to bad weather.

They took the 6:30 p.m. trip last night going back to Tagbilaran, Bohol.

All 58 parishes under Tagbilaran diocese were each given 16 slots but Salise said only about 20 percent of their total slots were filled.

“Apart from shouldering their own fare and accommodation, parishioners shy away from the inconvenience of going on vigil until the arrival of the Pope. Some of them cannot sustain,” he said.

Luckily, the five Bohol earthquake survivors handpicked by church officials to dine with Pope Francis in Palo, Leyte went one day ahead of the rest of the Tagbilaran diocese delegation and missed the trip suspension.

The Bohol earthquake delegation was among the 300 stranded passengers in Central Visayas region as monitored by the Philippine Coast Guard.

At least 11 trips were prevented from sailing from Central Visayas ports to Leyte and Samar following the automatic cancellation of trips if the area is placed under public storm warning signal.

Tropical storm “Amang” is expected to hit northern Samar later today, Saturday, bringing rains to Eastern Visayas as the Pope visits in solidarity with Visayas earthquake and super typhoon Yolanda survivors.  —/BRP (FREEMAN)