Pope Francis’ ‘open-door’ policy

When the city was clothed in darkness, and many prepared to call it a day, mothers with children in tow — some of them very sick — knocked at a pair of tall steel gates on Taft Avenue in Manila.

To their surprise, the gates swung open for them. They saw tall foreign looking guards beyond the gates, who let the children in, one at a time.

They came from afar to seek the blessing of a guest at the house beyond those gates: Pope Francis.

A highly reliable source related to me that, “There was even a child with severe hydrocephalus and the Swiss Guard allowed mother and child in for a blessing.”

“You would also be amazed at the volume of rosaries and religious items that people brought for blessing. These would be put on trays with name tags and Swiss Guards would bring these trays in — which apparently they put in the altar at the Nunciature and the Pope would bless them every time he passed by the chapel.” 

“What a tireless Pope to give in to all the requests!” the source said.

In his interview on board the Philippine Airlines A340 that took him back to Rome, the Pope said these gestures of the mothers of the sick children moved him — they did not bother him.

“Then there were the gestures of the mothers who brought their sick children…They did not hide the children, they brought them to the Pope so that he would bless them: ‘This is my child, he is this way, but he is mine.’ All mothers know this, they do this. But it’s the way they did this that struck me. The gesture of fatherhood, of motherhood, of enthusiasm, of joy.”

Eric celebrates life

Because he came close to losing his life last year, stylist and event organizer Eric Pe Benito celebrated his recent birthday with a bang.

“On March 12 last year, I was having dinner at a Spanish resto, waiting for a friend, when suddenly I had a seizure. My friend finally arrived and called Lifeline. They took me to St. Luke’s in Quezon City where they found out I had a tumor the size of a golf ball, which was causing the seizures!” Eric recalls.

“I had to undergo brain surgery ASAP. So my mom met with neurosurgeon Roy Torcuator, who explained the urgency of the surgery. My mom signed the consent papers and I was operated on. Thanks to my doctors and to the most efficient team of nurses, I am alive today! I’m so happy I was brought to St. Luke’s, truly the best in Asia!” adds Eric.

After a week in recovery, Eric was discharged from the hospital.

“Thank You Lord for giving me another chance, a new beginning to live a life according to Your will. Without You, my healing would not have been possible!” he says over and over again.

He vows to continue his advocacy to help indigent patients at the National Orthopedic Center’s tumor clinic. Since 2004, even before his brush with death, Eric has been supporting the patients at the National Orthopedic  Hospital — he was paying it forward.

“All for God’s greater glory!” says Eric.

His friends insisted on giving him a party at the elegant Sampaguita Gardens on Valencia St. in Quezon City. A sumptuous buffet was prepared by Classic Chef and DaCapo provided the music.

For Eric, it was a brand-new day.

Team PH wins Best Ice Sculpture in Lyon

Here’s a cold fact: For a country in the tropics, the Philippines is a master in ice sculpture.

According to chef Penk Ching of the Philippine team that competed in the Olympics of pastry making the Coupe du Monde de la Pâtisserie 2015 in Lyon, France, Shangri-La Makati’s Vicente Cahatol won the top prize for Best Ice Sculpture.

Out of two identical blocks of ice, Vicente carved a male Aeta carrying a deer, his interpretation of the theme of “cycle of life.” In the chocolate sculpture category, the entry was a female Aeta with a bow and arrow aiming at the deer.

Penk says tears were rolling down her cheeks when Vicente’s name was called.

“I know I am just a small hand among the thousands but the feeling of being able to raise the Philippine flag made me so happy and proud!” Penk says.

Every two years, the Coupe du Monde de la Pâtisserie brings together the very best young pastry talents in the world and is known as the Olympics of pastry chefs.

Overall, the winners were Team Italy (gold), Team Japan (silver) and Team USA (silver).

In our hearts, Team Philippines aced it and iced it! (You may e-mail me at [email protected].)