The Quackroom

In honor and reverence of; with prayers for the Holy Father, I am setting his photo taken March 30 as he gives his blessing at his studio window overlooking St. Peter’s Square as my primary photo for some time.

I had the privilege of seeing him at close range when he visited the Philippines during the 1995 (or was it 96?) World Youth Day.

I remember we just arrived then at the far left side of the Quirino Grandstand after a long and exhausting walk (cars and other forms of transportation could not be used due to the great number of crowd that had come from different nations for the event). And most of us were just sitting and resting, though some were trying to catch some sleep, when we heard people shouting that the Holy Father was coming towards our location. And so very quickly, we all got up and started running up to the side of the road.  I recall running then with only a slipper due the panic caused by our desire to see him up-close.

And when we saw him, we were all like so stunned for moments even after his Papal Mobile Car had already passed by. His presence was really something. He’s really a Holy Man.

I am not a very religious guy, but for me, the Holy Father is really different, and a constant source of inner strength and inspiration. He has never failed to move me every time I stumble upon his works and messages on the tv, newspapers, the internet, and other media. And what I like best about him is that unlike other preachers and church and political leaders out there, he leads by example - he walks the talk; he teaches not really with his words, but by the way he has lived his life; and he constantly pays homage to our faith by the way he deals with all people regardless of their own faith, ideologies, and personal biases. Remember how he dealt with the Muslims, Jews, the Orthodox Church, and peoples of other faiths? with dictators and communists? Remember how he dealt with the very person who tried to kill him?

Astig di ba?

Read the news now, and you can see that even non-catholics, non-christians, and yes, non-believers are praying for him, and have nothing but praises for him.

It’s really amazing how he has inspired a lot of people - non-catholics, non-christians, and non-believers included - and drew a lot of them closer to God, by his life and his work.

And now at probably the last moments of his life, he is showing us how to face the inevitable coming of death - that is still with awesome courage, openness and calmness of heart and spirit, obedience to the will of God and faith.

How many of us can beat that?

At any rate, I really honor this man — not only for what he has been for the world and all of us, but more importantly how we, and this world of ours have become because of him and his ministry.

Indeed "to Catholics, he is universal shepherd;to world leaders, he can bring moral support or stinging criticism; non-Christians around the globe have welcomed him as a holy guest; poor nations consider him their advocate in the halls of power; and for nearly everyone, he’s been a voice of conscience on issues like war, abortion and the death penalty."

Here’s to an extraordinary papacy! Here’s to a saint who lives among us! Here’s to a hero to many young people in the world! Here’s to a world moral leader and inspiration!

Ito’y para sa pinakaastig!

SALAMAT LOLEK! DIOS PO AN MAGBALOS!

(Let’s continuously join the entire world in praying for the Pope. Walang bibitaw.)