Some Pinoys not too happy with loud 'cheerleader' at papal Mass in Luneta
January 18, 2015 5:39pm
(Updated 6:07 p.m.) While many Filipinos are likely to miss Pope Francis when he leaves for Rome on Monday, not all will miss the emcee leading the chants at the Quirino Grandstand where the pope's closing Mass was held.

Filipino netizens took to Twitter to bash him, questioning if it was a good idea to get him in the first place.

They particularly scored his calls to the crowd to chant for the pope—including his call for a "Francis Wave... Sigaw, sigaw, sigaw!"

"Ask this instead: why did anyone think it was a good idea to have a 'cheerleader' there in the first place," Commission on Elections spokesman James Arthur Jimenez said.

Jimenez even likened the man's exhortations to the cries of an emcee at a children's party.

"Big managed event. Things hardly happen by accident. Especially access to a mic," he said.

Even Bagong Alyansang Makabayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. joined in the bashing.

"And just as everyone was feeling high...here comes the chanting emcee at Luneta," he said.

"Chanting Luneta emcee tells choir to join the chanting. Dude's a real character. A bit pushy," he added.

"The barker is humiliating and pathetic. The pope doesn't need pep rally to make the exit in order," said another Twitter user.

One pointed out that there was no need for someone to be calling on the crowd to cheer for the Pope, and another said they needed a "moment of silence" after listening to the "cheerleader."

"Kanina, teary-eyed sa message ni Pope. Ngayon, naaaliw sa mga tweets about this annoying/funny announcer/emcee/barker," said Twitter user magzshots, while cyrillst declared, "Sorry po, pero nagtatalo yung awe ko kay Pope Francis at inis sa cheerleader/annoucer/barker."

Some defended the man.

"No need to get irritated with the barker. He is just extremely happy. The Pope is modest but I do believe he doesn't mind it," said @loligoth_13.

The Sunday Mass was the pope's last public activity in his five-day Philippine visit. The pope is to leave for Rome on Monday. Joel Locsin/BM/JST, GMA News

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