Book cover image: Anvil Publishing

A year after the event, Pope Francis' five-day visit to the Philippines in January 2015 is remembered in a newly released compilation of the speeches and homilies he made here.

"Mercy and Compassion: Pope Francis Blesses the Philippines", published by National Book Store subsidiary Anvil Publishing, also features newspaper articles about his visit to Asia's largest Catholic bastion as well as testimonials from those who were part of the preparations for the big event.

There are also reminiscences and photographs from Filipinos who waited to see the Pope in Manila as well as in Tacloban and Palo, Leyte, where he visited the survivors and the families of the victims of Typhoon Yolanda.

"I did not have to see his smile; I felt it," wrote graduate student Erick Marco Gomez Ramos about the Pope's entourage passing by him on Quirino Avenue. "At that point, I knew that all the hassle I went through was worth it...I came home to see the Pope and despite all the mishaps, I was able to do so. However, I realized, I did not really need to see him. His presence was enough—more than enough."  — BM, GMA News

"Mercy and Compassion: Pope Francis Blesses the Philippines" (P295) is published by Anvil Publishing and is available in National Book Store and Powerbooks.