GUIDE: Where to stand to take a glimpse of Pope Francis

Pope Francis will arrive on Thursday afternoon in the Philippines to bless Filipinos during his carious engagemenys venues in Metro Manila and Leyte. 

 

Although security will be tight, Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines President Archbishop Socrates Villegas said that the people will be given a chance to get a glimpse of the Pope. 

 

On the other hand, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority advised the public to be at the venues at least two hours before the events.

 

Here is a list of the papal route for each event so people can line up on the streets to greet the Pope, road closures to avoid, alternate routes to take, suggested parking spots, and spots to take to see the pontiff as advised by CBCP head Villegas.  

 

MANILA 

 

January 15: 5:45 p.m., arrival at Villamor Air Base

 

The following roads will be closed three hours before the pope's arrival: 

Villamor Air Base Gate 5

Andrew Avenue 

Domestic Road

NAIA Road

Roxas Boulevard

Quirino Avenue 

Taft Avenue  

 

Other roads that will be affected by road closures would be: 

Sales Bridge

SLEX/Skyway - Magallanes

Osmeña Highway

 

Where to stand to take a glimpse of Pope Francis? 

Archbishop Villegas advised well-wishers the Pope's motorcade will pass Newport Garden to Andrews Avenue towards Airport Road-Domestic Road to Roxas Boulevard-Quirino Avenue-Leveriza Intersection until Taft Avenue.

 

Suggested parking spots: 

Mall of Asia 

Resorts World Manila 

NAIA Terminal 3 

Rizal Memorial Stadium 

CCP Complex 

 

January 16: 9:15 a.m., arrival at Malacañang Palace

The following roads will be closed from 6 a.m. onwards for the Pope's travel to Malacañang: 

Taft Avenue

Quirino Avenue

Nagtahan

J.P. Laurel 

 

Other routes that will be affected include:

Pres. Quirino Ave.

Roxas Blvd.

P. Burgos

Finance Road

Ayala Blvd.

P. Casal

Gen. Solano  

 

Where to stand to take a glimpse of Pope Francis? 

Villegas said well-wishers can line Taft Avenue towards Osmeña-Quirino towards Nagtahan Magsaysay Boulevard until J.P. Laurel, Malacañan Palace.

 

11:15 a.m., arrival at Manila Cathedral

Roads to be closed 8 a.m. onwards for Pope’s travel to Manila Cathedral:

Gen. Solano

P. Casal

Ayala Blvd

Finance Road

P. Burgos Ave

Bonifacio Dr.

Anda Circle

Andres Soriano Jr. Ave  

 

Other routes that will be affected include:

Dr. Jose P. Laurel

Nagtahan Bridge

Guanzon Ave to UN Ave

Maria Orosa

Finance

Gen. Luna St.  

 

Where to stand to take a glimpse of Pope Francis? 

The CBCP chief said the public may line General Solano to Casal, Ayala Bridge to Finance Road to Burgos Bonifacio Drive, towards Anda Circle reaching Aduana Street, and Manila Cathedral.

 

5:30 p.m., Mall of Asia Arena for the Encounter of Families 

Roads closed from 6 a.m. for the papal route: 

Quirino Avenue

Roxas Boulevard

within MOA Complex

EDSA Extension

the Globe Rotunda

Diokno Boulevard

Marina Way 

Seashell Lane

Coral Way

 

Other roads closed from 6 a.m.: 

Sunrise Drive

Diokno Boulevard

Pacific Drive 

Coral Way 

 

Closed from 3 p.m. onwards:

Bradco Avenue 

 

Nearest drop-off points for all participants with IDs are:

-Corner of Diokno Blvd. and Coral Way

-Corner of Coral Way and Sunrise 

 

Other drop-off points: 

Diokno Blvd

Seaside Blvd

SM MOA Parking Space

Rizal Memorial Stadium

Harrison Plaza

Manila Zoo

CCP Complex

 

Where to stand to take a glimpse of Pope Francis? 

Villegas advised people to pass Taft Avenue to Leveriza Intersection-Quirino Avenue to Roxas Boulevard until the Mall of Asia.


MANILA

 

January 18: 9:45 a.m., University of Santo Tomas for Encounter with Youth 
 

 

Closed roads:

-España Blvd from the Mabuhay Rotunda to Morayta Street

-Stretch of Dimasalang to Nagtahan Bridge

-Stretch of Dapitan from Dapitan Sports Complex to Lacson Boulevard 

-P. Margal from Dos Castillas to Lacson Boulevard

-Stretch of P. Noval from Dapitan to España 

 

Official Youth Participants with IDs may enter through Gates 5 and 6 along España Blvd. The general public may enter through Gates 1, 2, and 3 along España Blvd and Gate 14 along Lacson Boulevard. Official Youth Participants with IDs may enter through Gates 5 and 6 along España Blvd. 

 

There are no available sparking slots in UST for the general public. 

 

Drop-off points for participants: 

-Andalucia corner Laon-Laan streets

-España Blvd corner Morayta Street

-Lacson Blvd corner Dimasalang Street

-España Blvd corner Blumentritt Street 

 

Where to stand to take a glimpse of Pope Francis? 

Villegas said well-wishers can line Quirino-Osmeña Highway intersection towards Nagtahan until España Boulevard reaching UST - and vice-versa.

 

3:30 p.m., Quirino Grandstand for Papal Mass 

Where to stand to take a glimpse of Pope Francis? 

Aside from being allowed at the wide area of the grandstand grounds on a first come, firest served basis, people may line Quirino Avenue, Roxas Boulevard and T.M. Kalaw Street

 

January 19: 9:45 a.m., Villamor Air Base

Where to stand to take a glimpse of Pope Francis? 

People may line Leveriza-Quirino towards Roxas Boulevard to Domestic Road towards Andrews Avenue and the Villamor Air Base, Villegas said.

 

The MMDA listed drop-off points including:

 

- Mall of Asia

- Resorts World

- NAIA Terminal 3 parking space

- Rizal Memorial Stadium

- Harrison plaza

- PAGCOR

- CCP complex 

—Trisha Macas and Joel Locsin/NB, GMA News