People heed Pope’s appeal for generosity

CEBU, Philippines - Many Leyte residents along the areas covered by the visit and motorcade of Pope Francis have opened their doors to guests and visitors in response to the call of Archbishop John Du for generosity to others.

Even families living in shanties along the road who refused to be named reportedly provided help to pilgrims, and even policemen, especially for “personal necessities” and water to drink.

There were some however who took advantage of the times for personal gain. Residents let the police and civilians to use their comfort rooms but for a fee of P10 each. A pilgrim, who requested anonymity, said these residents who charged others for using their CRs still have not practice the virtue of mercy and compassion, as espoused by the pope.

There were other families who however opened their homes to transients for this occasion without asking any fee.

Corazon Elvina, a barangay official and an employee of the St. Paul’s School of Business and Law, accepted for free accommodation transients who came all the way from Samar and the southern part of Leyte. Her house also became a temporary home now for reporters and technical staff of a Metro Manila-based news network.

“We accept even strangers because that is what mercy and compassion means for my family. Whether they are poor or not, they are welcome because they are in need of our help,” said Elvina, who has been active also as a church volunteer at the St. Francis Chapel located at the foot of Mount Tabor, where the Palo Archbishop’s Residence is located.

Government media advocate Gay Gaspay, whose entire family survived super typhoon Yolanda on November 8, 2013 was surprised by knocks at the door of her house at Fatima Village in Tacloban City last Wednesday. Two police officers from another region and deployed to the city sought refuge in their home for bath and drinking water.

Although it was her practice not to simply accept strangers to their home, she allowed the policemen the use of their restroom in another building located within the same compound.

Gaspay said: “We have to show mercy and compassion to them. It is the call of Archbishop Du and the Catholic Church this time. We cannot deprive them of help because these police officers are the ones who are helping us maintain peace and order during the visit of Pope Francis.”

In earlier press briefings, Du emphasized the imperative for the people to show their hospitality and generosity to the pilgrims and those who are keeping the safety of the pope, including the force multipliers. “This is a concrete gesture of mercy and compassion which the people should be doing even after Pope Francis has left the Philippines,” said the archbishop.

The bayanihan spirit is another value that is developing these days in Tacloban and Palo, one of the effects of the so-called Pope Francis magic. —with reports from Edgar Allan Vilbar (FREEMAN)