Speaking for the poor

By Alejandro Del Rosario

So much for President Aquino’s “kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap” campaign slogan.

Pope Francis in his five-day apostolic visit to the country has seen through those empty words that had kept a majority of 100 million Filipinos in endemic poverty even as the elite and the powerful in government continue to live lavish lifestyles.

This may be a smiling pope often seen with a twinkle in his eyes. But he’s a wizened, discerning pope who will not hesitate to speak out against social injustice and inequality. In Sri Lanka which he visited before coming to the Philippines, the pontiff called for national reconciliation after decades of a brutal civil war.

Here, his message for the country’s political leaders was to end and “reject any form of corruption that diverts resources from the poor.”

Since economic figures show the Philippines performing better than once strife-torn Sri Lanka, Pope Francis’ sharp perception focused on the war within―the struggle of the poor for a share of social benefits enjoyed by the privileged and powerful.

In Tacloban where he celebrated Mass for the survivors of super typhoon Yolanda, Pope Francis noted the slow pace of reconstruction and rehabilitation. Although his visit was cut short by an ominously gathering storm spawned by typhoon Amang, he still made the trip to Palo where he was greeted by thousands more that lined the route of his motorcade.

I can no longer keep my silence; I have to speak from the heart,” said Pope Francis after he had stepped off his Popemobile to touch flesh with the poor—kissing children on the forehead and embracing some survivors of Yolanda’s fury.

What a stark difference from President Aquino, the country’s political leader who skipped Leyte for Samar because Tacloban was opposition country in last November’s first anniversary of typhoon Yolanda’s devastation of eastern Visayas.

For his compassion, the pope was met with affection bordering on adulation. “Pope Francis, we love you!” cried the crowd everywhere he went from the airport to the Apostolic Nunciature on Taft Avenue, to the gates of Malacañang, outside the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, the Mall of Asia, the University of Santo Tomas parade grounds where he met with the youth. It was the same scene in Tacloban and Palo. The people hailed Pope Francis; some wept that he came to comfort them with his prayers. 

Clearly, the 78-year old Pontiff was worn down by the five-day grind but he tried not to show it, as he smiled and waved to the crowd while his motorcade made its way to the city’s main roads.

A record crowd estimated at six million turned out Sunday at the Rizal Park and nearby streets for the Pope’s final Mass before his departure on Monday. The faithful came and stayed under a relentless rain during the two-hour High Mass. They wanted to see, hear and possibly be able to touch this God-send man for some kind of hope and deliverance from their poverty or sickness. Many came, just to feel his holiness even from a distance. Millions more who stayed home watched the live TV coverage of every papal event.

Overall, it was a successful papal visit and Pope Francis was overwhelmed by the reception shown by his Filipino flock. The state’s preparations, particularly the security for the Pope and the crowd control was commendable. The only sour note was when our high officials use their privilege to get near the Pope not once but twice. One Cabinet member even carried his child across the reception line for the Pope to bless during his call on the President at Malacañang.

As for President Aquino, he will be long remembered in this papal visit for castigating the clergy in front of the pontiff when he complained that Church officials were constantly criticizing his administration.

At a press conference presided by the Vatican spokesman, Fr. Federico Lombardi tried to be as diplomatic as possible in reacting to the presidential outburst. Lombardi said he has never heard such a speech delivered during a papal visit. He described the President’s speech as “unique and coming from someone who is experiencing great sufferings.”

If so, Aquino’s sufferings can only be of his own making. If he’s a man showing signs of a tormented soul, perhaps the burden of the presidency is too heavy a cross for him to bear. The poor though might have a different view—that they are the ones bearing the burden of PNoy’s presidency.