Visit Mindanao next year, pope asked

MANILA, Philippines - Pope Francis was urged yesterday to visit Mindanao if he returns to the country to attend the 51st International Eucharistic Congress in Cebu in January 2016.

“He will promote lasting peace in Mindanao, specially in the Bangsamoro region,” Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said, adding he made the request through local Catholic Church leaders.

Rodriguez said no pope has visited Mindanao, while Metro Manila has had four papal visits, and Pope Francis flew to Tacloban City to say mass for victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda.

Rodriguez said Mindanao has had its share of destructive typhoons.

He suggested that Pope Francis meet with victims of Typhoons Sendong in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, Pablo in Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley and Ruby in Agusan and Surigao provinces.

“He can hold mass at the Pelaez Sports Complex in Cagayan de Oro,” he said.

He said Mindanao has been suffering from an internal war for 42 years and is host to seven of the 10 poorest provinces in the country.

“We thank the pope for mentioning at Malacañang his support to bringing peace to the south of the country respectful of the inalienable rights of man specially the religious minority and indigenous peoples,” he said.

‘Apo Edsila’

Meawhile, Lumads in Mindanao bestowed on Pope Francis the title of Apo Edsila, during the Gathering of the Poor or Panubadtubad rites witnessed by Catholic sisters and Yolanda survivors in Tacloban City on Friday.

“He is worthy of high esteem with his love for us, indigenous peoples, and for his respect for the values and beliefs that we have held sacred since time immemorial,” said Dulphing Ogan, secretary general of the indigenous peoples’ group Kalumaran.

Ogan said Edsila means light, sunrise or  “dawn of a new day,” which signifies hope, newness and change.  He said the term is used by Higaonon and Talaandig tribes around Pulangi River.

He said chicken blood would be offered to Magbabaya or the Supreme God of the Lumads to signify their solidarity with the pope.  – With Edith Regalado, Gerry Lee Gorit