Simplicity, ‘Pinoy character’ expected at Pope’s Mass at Rizal Park

(Updated 8:55 p.m.) Officials in charge of organizing Pope Francis' visit to the Philippines said the concluding Mass at the Quirino Grandstand will reflect both simplicity and a Filipino "character."

At a press briefing on Monday, Fr. Carmelo Arada Jr. of the Service Committee on Liturgy said a Sinulog rhythm and dance will be held before the concluding papal Mass on Jan. 18, feast of the Sto. Niño.

He requested attendees "to bring images of the Santo Niño to join" the dance, to be led by devotees from the Archdiocese of Cebu.

He also asked them to bring candles for the end of the Mass, when the crowd will sing the 1995 World Youth Day anthem, "Tell the World of His Love."

'Bring the Philippines to the Pope'

The altar—including the papal chair and the table—will also carry Filipino designs, particularly that of the anahaw, the national leaf.

"If we can't bring the Pope to go around the Philippines, we'll bring elements of the Philippines close to the Pope," said Fr. Alex Bautista, the altar's designer. "The Filipino context [is] always incorporated in the design."

He said they were following the Vatican's call for subtlety in the design, while also incorporating the Filipino touch.

"In the design consideration for the liturgical space in Luneta, the concept is to serve the liturgical purpose, to reflect the Filipino character, and to [show] the simplicity of the vicar of Christ," he said.

The altar table, currently in its finishing stages in Laguna, has a base that resembles "a praying hand," with a marble table top serving as "a floating element... like lifting the gifts and offerings at the altar."

The anahaw leaf, the primary design element, symbolizes "the strength of the Filipino people," Bautista said.

He added that the other elements will be the cross with orb to represent "Christ embracing the world"; doves to stand for "souls"; and bamboo flutings.

The marble top will be from Romblon, while the linen to be used on it will be white piña cloth from Laguna.

Meanwhile, the papal chair will bear the anahaw leaf and the papal seal, as well as "a Filipino good shepherd," the phrase "Ang Mabuting Pastol," and elements like a guava tree, which was incorporated there "because it has a healing quality."

Bautista said the papal chair and altar table, once painted, will have an accent of copper, which he said symbolizes the need for people to be "conductors of faith."

In a separate interview with GMA News Online, Bautista said that the anahaw leaves will have "a subtle" touch of yellow-green, adding that he will personally oversee the painting of the chair and the table.

Bautista also disclosed that he meant the phrase "Ang Mabuting Pastol" to be above the Pope's head so that photographs to be taken of the pontiff seated on it will be immediately recognized as being from this visit.

'No flowers'

Bautista added that the liturgical space—the stage at the Quirino Grandstand—will not be adorned with flowers. Instead, they will use different kinds of plants.

"You will not see any flower to begin with," he said. "[We're using] San Francisco plant—very common in rural backyards ... Pandan plant will be used also," he said.

He added that bamboo handicrafts from Bulacan, showcased usually at the province's Singkaban Festival, will be used "for the canopy."

The San Francisco plant, which relies on sunlight, is a reflection of "the faith of the people, from the sun, from the light, which is Christ."

He also told GMA News Online that the said plant will also be used because of its having the same name as the pontiff.

Pope to speak Tagalog words

To accompany the altar's Filipino design, the Mass will feature the various languages and dialects of the Philippines, both in words and in music.

According to Arada, the intercessions "will be prayed in the different Filipino languages," including Hiligaynon, Ilocano, Kapampangan, Cebuano, Waray, and Bicolano. Responses, meanwhile, will be in Tagalog and English.

The Pope will also speak a few words in Tagalog, as he leads the congregation in the Profession of Faith.

"The profession of faith, 'yung 'Sumasampalataya,' will be led by the Holy Father. Maririnig po natin ang Santo Papa na magsabing 'Sumasampalataya ako,'" he said.

After the first phrase, the congregation will recite the profession of faith along with the Pope, Arada said in a separate interview.  — BM, GMA News