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Pinoy Abroad

Pinay in UAE on experience leading to Papal Mass: Surreal


A Filipina in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday described as "surreal" her experience leading to the first ever Papal Mass in the peninsula, where she joined other Catholics to worship out in public.

Interviewed on News To Go, Cez Verzosa, a researcher in Abu Dhabi and a former GMA Network employee, narrated how she was able to attend the Mass despite failing to register for it on January 20.

She said she also failed to acquire a ticket that parishes in the UAE distributed to Filipinos and other Catholics who were not able to register days before the Mass.

Bus tickets were also given for the free transportation, Verzosa said.

"Ako personally, sobrang surreal, sobrang worth it ng paghihintay sa ticket na 'yon. Kasi ako po naghintay ako ng three to four hours sa St. Joseph Cathedral kasama 'yung ilan nating mga kabayan," she said.

"Naramdaman ko na sobrang worth it 'yung experience na makapagmisa out in public. Kasi siyempre kahit open naman ang UAE for expressing your religion, iba pa rin talaga 'yung nag-bond lahat at Filipino, Indians, Italians and lahat nu'ng mga dumating din dito sa UAE to attend the Mass," she added.

Verzosa was grateful for the UAE's religious tolerance and cultural diversity.

"I just want to let you know I have an Emirati boss na sobrang encouraging niya sa aming Catholic staff. Siya pa talaga 'yung nag-push sa amin to get the tickets. So 'yung mga locals dito very supportive din sa mga expatriates na iba 'yung pinaniniwalaan."

During the Mass, Verzosa said Pope Francis discussed unity and diversity in his message.

Pope Francis visited the UAE from February 3 to 5, the first pontiff in history to visit the Arabian Peninsula. The Mass was held inside and outside the Zayed Sports City stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Dubai-based Gulf News cited data that the Filipino group is the second largest foreign nationality in the UAE, after the Indians. They are followed in terms of number by Arabs, African, German, Italian, Portuegese, Spanish, Ukranaians, Pakistanis, Bangladesh and Sri lankans. —Jamil Santos/KBK, GMA News

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