‘I love you, Lolo Kiko!’: Ordinary people feel blessed by Pope Francis’ visit

For the street sweepers stationed on Quirino Avenue, there's nothing out of the ordinary when it comes to doing their work eight hours a day every day. But this time it was different – they were sweeping the streets to make them presentable for Pope Francis.

"Dito talaga kami naka-station, dahil malalapit lang ang bahay namin dito. Hindi namin akalain na dito pala paulit-ulit dadaan yung convoy ni Pope Francis. Napakasuwerte namin," said 53-year-old Antonio Hesita, a street sweeper working under the Department of Social Welfare and Development's Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

Early morning on Saturday, GMA News Online met Hesita and his group as they were cleaning the stretch of Quirino Avenue where the Pope's convoy was expected to pass later in the day on the way to the Apostolic Nunciature, his official residence during his five-day stay in the country.

“Araw-araw naman naming winawalisan ito, mula umaga hanggang hapon. Basta may makita kaming kalat kailangan namin walisin or pulutin. Pero ngayon iba yung pakiramdam na winawalisan namin ito dahil alam naming dadaan dito si Pope Francis...Para bang ang gaan sa pakiramdam, hindi mo nararamdaman yung pagod,” Hesita said.

At noon on Saturday, despite the occasional drizzle and just a few hours before Pope Francis’ arrival back in Manila from his visit to Leyte, Hesita and his group were still sweeping and sometimes picking up by hand the litter left by the thickening crowd.

Blessed by just doing their job

Rodolfo Francisco, 51, another street-sweeper, said that he was so grateful that by just performing their job, they got the chance to get a glimpse of the charismatic pontiff, not just once but several times since the Pope arrived in the country early evening on Thursday.

“Siguro mga limang beses na namin siya nakita, dahil tuwing may pupuntahan siyang event, dito talaga yung daan niya mula dun sa tinutuluyan niya ngayon [nunciature],” Francisco said.

“Pero kahit ilang beses na namin siya nakita, kapag paparating na yung convoy excited kami lagi. Iba yung pakiramdam, para kang tumatanggap ng blessing talaga...Kahit mabilis yung takbo ng convoy, kapag nakita mo yung mukha niya na nakangiti para kang naiiyak na masaya,” he added.

His colleague, 25-year-old Benjie Litana, said that what struck him the most about Pope Francis was the pontiff’s effort to be closer to the poor.

"Yun kasing pagmamahal niya sa amin na mahihirap ramdam namin. Yung pag-unat nga niya ng kamay niya, sobra-sobra, parang gusto niya kaming abutin. Ano ba yan, naiiyak ako," Litana said, teary-eyed.

Soldiers getting emotional

Two members of the Army, who declined to be named, told GMA News Online that even soldiers like them also become emotional every time the pope's convoy passes by.

“Of course nandito kami to provide security to the Pope and to maintain peace and order, pero siyempre kapag dumadaan na yung convoy, mapapalingon at mapapakaway ka din sa kanya e. Iba ang karisma niya sa tao, ang saya sa pakiramdam na makita siya,” one of the two soldiers said.

Another soldier said it was a great honor to provide security to the Pope, adding that it was amazing to see the crowd cooperating with the military and police authorities.

“Sumusunod ang mga tao. Kapag sinabi mo na bawal na sa area na ito, or bawal na tumawid dito, talagang sumusunod sila. Kaya naman pala na ganito, maayos at nag-gagalangan,” the soldier said.

“Sana palaging nandito si Pope Francis!” he added in jest.

Asking Pope Francis’ blessing for Poypoy

Animal lover Nice Rodriguez, who lives a few blocks from the Nunciature, brought her ten-year-old dog Poypoy with her to get a blessing from the Pope.

"Sinama ko itong si Poypoy para ma-bless din siya. Alam ko na itong si Pope Francis ay animal lover din," Rodriguez said.

Born Jose Mario Bergolio, the cardinal from Argentina chose the name Francis upon his proclamation as the new pope in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology who loved animals.

Rodriguez bought a white t-shirt with a picture of Pope Francis on it from a stall nearby as a souvenir for her beloved pet. Rodriguez said Poypoy is just one of the nine stray dogs that she adopted and are now living with her.

"Personally, ang touching para sa akin is the Pope's genuine concern for the poor and for our mother nature. Talagang ramdam mo yung pagnanais niya na mapalapit sa mahihirap," she said.

Pope for the old and young

On Thursday, 68-year-old Leonora Concepcion of Mabalacat, Pampanga took the bus to stay at her daughter Lian Sese's home in Vito Cruz, Manila, just a few blocks from the Nunciature.

“Mula nung malaman ko nga na pupunta si Pope Francis dito sa Pilipinas at dito siya mag-iistay malapit lang sa bahay ng anak ko, sabi ko sayang naman kung hindi pa ako makakapunta, kaya nagpasama ako sa isa ko pang anak, nag-bus kami,” Concepcion said.

“Eto, since Thursday, kapag lalabas ang convoy ni Pope Francis galing sa nunciature, nag-aabang kami dito, konting lakad lang naman...Yung pakiramdam na makita siya ay hindi matatawaran, may kakaibang saya, mahirap i-explain,” she added.

Taking advantage of the long vacation from school, 12-year-old Lheana Sese tagged along with her mother and grandmother to see the Pope.

“Masaya po ako nung nakita ko si Pope Francis,” Lheana said. “Sinigaw ko po sa kanya, I love you, Lolo Kiko!” — BM, GMA News