Popemobile crowd drawer in Bulacan exhibit

MALOLOS CITY , Philippines  – The Filipino-made Popemobile used by the Blessed John Paul II during his visit in the country as head of the Catholic Church in 1995 became an instant hit at an exhibit here.

The Popemobile will be driven to different parishes in Bulacan until May 15. It will be driven to churches in other provinces of the country.

Father Jay Lina, the chair of the Commission on Cultural Heritage Preservation of the Diocese of Malolos said the Popemobile is part of their surprise for the photography exhibit that showed the pictures and important relics from the late Pope.

“We planned to have the relics and photo exhibit, but we thought of the Popemobile dahil taga-Balagtas, Bulacan ang may ari ng Francisco Motors Corp. na gumawa nung Popemobile,” said Lina.

The Popemobile is a fully armored, bullet-proof vehicle which served as a protective shield that safeguard the Pope on his way to Luneta Park during the 1995 World Youth Day celebrations that drew more than five million in attendance.

The custom-built Popemobile have six-wheeled vehicle features: A 250-horse power Mazda engine; foot plates for the Swiss Royal Guard; and four-inch thick glass that served as a protective shield for the Pope in 1995.

However, that bullet-proof glass has been removed and was replaced with place glass that partly cracked.

Aside from the Popemobile, the late Pope’s chasuble, an outer vestment used in celebrating a people’s Mass at the Quezon Memorial Circle in 1981 is also on display.

The said outer vestment was given by the late Pope to Bishop Cirilo Almario after the Mass, as a token of gratitude by being the chair of the 1981 Papal visit.

Almario is the bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Malolos which was founded in 1962.

Another relic on display is the skull cap used by the Pope. Unlike the chasuble, the skull cap is encased in glass.

According to Lina, priests based in Bulacan were able to gather souvenirs of photographs with the late Pope due to Bishop Almario’s closeness to the Pope.

“Many of the priests in Bulacan were asked to help in preparation for the Papal visit that’s why many of us were given opportunity to work closer with him,” he said.

Earlier, Fr. Prospero Tenorio noted that some priests in the province were given a rare audience with the late Pope.

He said that not too many people know about their close encounter and relationship with the Blessed John Paul II.

“The exhibit was designed to show the people that as church leaders in the diocese, we were also given an opportunity to be with Blesssed John Paul II,” Tenorio said. – With Raffy Viray