MANILA, Philippines - On the day Pope Francis was scheduled to arrive in the country, I started my day with a guesting in It’s Showtime as the opening number wherein I had sung Papa Francisco, Mabuhay Po Kayo (written by Pio and Jun Cruz), and then I went straight to the rehearsal for the Encounter with Families event the next day, Jan. 16, at MOA. We were lucky that the roads weren’t blocked yet so I got there quite early. We had to wait for our turn to rehearse the song We Are All God’s Children because there were families who would also perform for the pre-programming.
When it was already my turn, I was joined by adorable children with Down Syndrome, children with neck braces, children with bandages on their heads and children with disabilities. I was so excited to rehearse with the orchestra with Maestro Jojo and the children were eager to do the actions of the song. I was instructed to lead the children and walk towards the stairs of the center stage while singing and holding a hand of a child. Nothing was certain if the Pope would still be there while we sing or if we could go up the stage. It all depended on what the Pope would do.
After rehearsals, all cell signals were cut off and certain roads were already blocked and you could already hear the cheers and excitement on TV. The Pope had arrived. The feeling was unexplainable and there were butterflies in my stomach. I was nervous, happy and excited on our way to a hotel at the back of MOA Arena wherein we would stay overnight.
Inside the hotel, I prepared everything I needed for the following day and made sure that I would get enough sleep for the night (which is a problem because I am an insomniac). I found comfort and calmed my nerves by hugging my daughter in bed and then I fell asleep.
The next day, Jan. 16, I woke up early, ate breakfast and tried going back to bed again but couldn’t sleep anymore. I stood in the hallway looking at Manila Bay and prayed the Rosary, asking for the intercession of Mother Mary and guidance from the Holy Spirit so that I would not forget the lyrics of the song (even though I wrote the song). I also prayed that the Pope would be secure at all times, that no one would get hurt and that it would only be a joyous occasion.
By 1 p.m., we started walking towards the MOA Arena because the gates would be closed by 2 p.m. It was fun walking and having selfies with people and spectators waiting outside the arena. The security was very strict and we had to wear our IDs at all times. By 4 p.m., everyone was sitting on assigned seats and all performers were out of the dugout and cleared for the Pope’s arrival.
At 5 p.m., we were all watching the live streaming of the Pope’s departure from the Apostolic Nunciature and the motorcade heading towards the Arena. When the popemobile reached the globe of the Mall of Asia, we all cheered in excitement! As he got nearer and nearer, the excitement also got stronger and stronger. We could already feel his presence as he got off the popemobile and walked towards the back stage, the dressing rooms and finally, there he was stepping inside the venue, and the arena was filled with joy and happiness with cellphones flashing, cameras clicking and videos pointing towards the pontiff.
Pope Francis blessed the people in wheelchairs and people who were seated in front of the stage before going up the stage. The Encounter with Families began and after an hour, I was already asked to stand with the kids and the orchestra started playing. I sang while walking with the kids and stopped on the first row of chairs. I could then see Pope Francis smiling and listening to Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle (who seemed to be translating the song for him) at the same time watching the kids and I perform. After the song, I was so relieved that I did not make a mistake, then he suddenly made a gesture, calling us to go up the stage for a blessing. I took the hands of the kids as we walked towards Pope Francis and kissed his hand. The feelings were overwhelming but at the same time, I felt responsible for the kids I brought up the stage so I had to assist them as they were being blessed. A staff member of the Pope then gave me a bunch of “stampitas” with the Pope’s picture and Vatican seal for me to distribute to the kids. I was flabbergasted and felt so blessed as I heard all the well-wishers congratulating me and expressing their happiness for the kids.
On Jan. 18, as I woke up at the Domus Marie inside UST (where I stayed overnight), I could hear the youth and students together with the orchestra practicing We Are All God’s Children. I went out to the veranda and saw the crowd at the UST football field waving and doing the actions. Again, it was like going through the nervousness all over again and the excitement was filling my entire body the second time around because this is my alma mater. We were ready by 9 a.m. and off we went to the field and after a while, everybody was already cheering and running around hoping to get a good glimpse of the Pope as the popemobile entered the campus and stopped at “The Arch of the Century.”
It was such a festive mood in spite of the drizzle as the youth chanted and cheered to the tune of Papa Francisco, Mabuhay Po Kayo until the Pope finally got on the grandstand. As the cross of Jesus was being carried towards the grandstand, together with thousands of youth and animators doing the action, I sang We Are All God’s Children.
Surprisingly, I was not as nervous as I was at the MOA Arena. This time, I was more concerned on how I could give the CDs to Pope Francis. Because the night before, I packed five CDs and ribboned it together with the card wherein I wrote the prayer intentions I got from family and friends. I also wrote my thanks for visiting us and told him that we are praying for him.
After the Pope’s encounter with the youth, at 11:45 a.m., I immediately walked towards the road where the popemobile will be passing through and true enough, I was in front of the popemobile with the Pope and Cardinal Tagle riding on it. The popemobile was moving very slowly and it was my opportunity to personally hand him the CDs and card, but where were the CDs and the card? They were with Ipay, my P.A., who got stuck in the crowd and was not allowed to get out of the field. And when the Pope had left the campus, that was when I saw Ipay with my manager Ming Tinana. I was very disappointed but had no time to waste because we had to get to Luneta for the Papal Mass. It took us a while to be able to get out of UST. The gate in España was just slightly opened and the people were stuck, and so were we. We had to pass through slowly by blowing horns every now and then and saying, “Excuse me!” to everyone. We begged to be allowed to exit the gate in España going towards Quiapo. The roads were blocked with those orange triangles but we had to remove them ourselves so we could pass through.
We got as far as Orosa, and then there was no way we could get through with our car. Now, it was time to walk. I couldn’t remember anymore where we were because all I could see was the gloomy sky. It was as crowded as the feast of the Nazareno, and Ming would have to beg to everyone to let us pass through. The last time I had to go through a crowd like this was during EDSA 2 to sing Heal Our Land but this was worst. We couldn’t see where we were going anymore and people were pushing back and front. After a long walk, finally, we could see the Manila Hotel. We pushed our way to the side gate but we were not allowed by the guards to get in. A PSG sympathized with us and volunteered to guide us to the front gate of Manila Hotel. Alas, we got to the gate all soaked. There was no signal and we could not find the guards who were supposed to meet us at the Manila Hotel. We stayed in the bathroom of Manila Hotel and dried our clothes in the hand dryer while praying that we would find the guards to take us to Luneta grandstand. Ming went out of the hotel to once again look for the guards and after an hour they found each other. We walked towards the grandstand and got there just in time for the gates of the backstage to close. The Pope arrived and we sat on the stairs as he was celebrating the Mass.
During communion, Ming walked towards the right side of the stage to check with the organizers if the minus one was ready and working because I would be singing after the last hymn which was Pananagutan.
I followed her and held on to the CDs and card so I could give it to the Pope on his way down the stairs going towards the backstage. Sec. Jojo Ochoa was there and I asked help if I could give the CDs to the Pope. He asked the head of the Swiss Guards if I could give my gift to the Pope and the head Swiss Guard said yes.
I held on to the gift and waited for the Pope to walk in front of me. Then the Swiss Guard asked me, “Is that the gift?” I said yes. He said, “Give it to me” and so I handed it over to him. But I wanted to make sure that he would give it to the Pope so I gently tugged at his jacket and as he turned to me, I said, “That is for the Pope.” He smiled a bit and said “yes.” As expected, the Pope went down the stairs and after a while, he went up again. I was there at the side of the stairs and so I stretched out my arms to him, and he grabbed my hand and I kissed his hand the second time around.
The Pope was already in the popemobile and Pananagutan was sung. As per instruction, I would sing We Are All God’s Children after Pananagutan. But from afar, I could see someone gesturing that I would not be singing anymore. Then, the commentator announced the theme song of the Papal visit and the minus one was being played. I sang We Are All God’s Children for the last time for the Pope and I will continue to sing it for the Filipino people. To God be the glory.