The Pope and the Filipino faithful in the eyes of foreigners

By ROUCHELLE R. DINGLASAN, GMA News January 20, 2015 2:27pm

"Miraculous."

This is how Singaporean businessman Roster Wu described his experience during Pope Francis' concluding Mass in Manila on Sunday.

The Holy Father's last Eucharistic celebration in the country drew, by some estimates, some six to seven million people from different parts of the Philippine archipelago to Rizal Park and its surrounding areas.

"The reception of the Filipino people is really fantastic," Wu told GMA News Online on Sunday.

He donated a bell that he himself rang during the Mass at Quirino Grandstand.

"This is my first experience with the people here. I think this is miraculous. It is really wonderful. The Mass started in the afternoon but at 6 a.m. you cannot go through. I have never seen this anywhere else," he added.

Seeing the Holy Father for the first time, Wu was in awe.

"The way he talk gave you some kind of peace. I like the way he give his sermons; he's very friendly. He's a man full of mercy and compassion," Wu said.

Wu and his fellow devotees braved the rain just to catch a glimpse of the Argentine pope and to hear his words.

"There's so many people… I think that's the part that is more shocking," said 29-year-old American Brandon Zahlne, who is currently taking up medicine at Fatima University.

Mary Kummerselg, another American medical student here, concurred with her colleague.

"The Filipinos are friendly and welcoming," she said. "You could really feel that here tonight. The energy here tonight is really amazing despite the rains and the conditions. I think everyone were so high at it is so great to see that."

Argentinian priest Fr. Salvador Cuiutchec hoped that the Pope's message will be put into action.

"Masayang-masaya ako kasi nakita ko ang napakaraming tao at lahat po masaya...sana mas lalong maging matibay ang pananampalataya ng mga Pilipino," the priest said in a separate interview.

Cuiutchec has been in the Philippines for 11 years working as a missionary. This event was the first time he saw his now-world-famous countryman in the flesh.

Another Argentinian, Sister Maria De La Resurrecion, was also seeing the pope in person for the first time.

"For me, it's very touching how the Filipinos received the Pope. It's amazing—all the fervor, the enthusiasm. Even the handicapped, the young and old, everybody is here," she said.

Pope Francis left Manila on Monday morning. He flew back to Rome after a week-long Asian trip that included three days in Sri Lanka. — BM, GMA News

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