Tacloban kids suffer chills while waiting for Pope, are brought to makeshift hospitals

One of the children's parents, Gigi Apaw, 37, said her daughter, 6-year-old Ava, was already shivering.

6-yr-old Ava was brought to the media center after suffering chills due to the rain. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/b6LdXBqd2G

— Amanda Fernandez (@MandeeFernandez) January 16, 2015

 

"Lumapit kami sa DOH (Department of Health makeshift hospital at the area), at humingi kami ng mainit na tubig, kaso patuloy pa rin ang ulan, kaya giniginaw sila," she said.

 

When asked why she brought her young daughter, she said: "Noong umalis kami ng Ormoc, okay pa ang panahon. Hindi namin inakala na magiging ganito."

 

Raincoats were distributed among the pilgrims. However, there were no sizes that could fit the young children.

 

Meanwhile, Apaw stressed that her daughter herself was excited to see the Pope.

 

"Gusto raw talaga nila makita ang Pope. Na-excite sila na makita ang Pope," she added.

Some children brought inside the media center at the Tacloban airport as it continues to rain. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/0aNEixf0e5

— Amanda Fernandez (@MandeeFernandez) January 16, 2015

 

Just a few hours before Pope Francis is scheduled arrive at Tacloban, Leyte province and some six other areas were placed under Public Storm Signal Number 2 early Saturday morning.

 

On Wednesday, amid expected heavy rains over Leyte on Saturday, organizers of Pope Francis’ trip to Tacloban City and Palo town are looking at a Plan B that will have the pontiff staying in either Cebu or Samar before proceeding to the Yolanda-stricken areas to officiate a Mass and break bread with survivors.

 

As of posting time, no announcement of any cancellation of the Mass scheduled to be celebrated at Tacloban Airport has been made.

 

Thousands of pilgrims in the area have been waiting for him since Friday afternoon, eager for even a slight glimpse of him.

 

On Jan. 17, the Pope will hold a Mass at the Tacloban Airport upon his arrival. He will also have lunch in Palo town with survivors of Yolanda, the strongest typhoon to ever hit landfall, and the Bohol earthquake.

The pontiff will also bless the Pope Francis Center for the Poor in Palo and meet with religious and more survivors at the Palo Cathedral.

 

The Pope's main purpose for visiting the Philippines is to be with the survivors of the typhoon that killed thousands in November 2013. —KG, GMA News