MORONG, Bataan- Residents who witnessed the coming of the late Pope John Paul II here in February 1981 said on Sunday that they considered themselves in the front row seat beholding the new saint.
Vangie Ramos and Lotong Velasco, said they were among those very lucky to have seen the Pope from a close distance when he held Holy Mass at the then Philippine Refugee Processing Center for thousands of Indo-Chinese refugees.
“Nasa unahan kami, hindi malirip na kaligayahan ang naramdaman ko. Pinagpapawisan ako, nangingilabot na hindi maintindihan sapagka’t halos abot kamay ko na ang Papa,” said Ramos who was in her 20’s at that time.
She was then working for the International Migration Commission of the PRPC. She said that aside from Indo-Chinese refugees, many people from Morong and other places went to hear Mass at the papal stage built by then First Lady Imelda Marcos at the vacant lot fronting the present Memorial Shrine for the Blessed Pope John Paul II.
Hundreds of Catholic faithful and guests attended the Holy Mass officiated by Bishop Ruperto Santos Sunday at the memorial shrine to celebrate the canonization of the new saint. “Sinasabing ang mga santo ay may mga relic.
Masasabing ang Bataan naman at mga mamamayan nito ay relic ng bagong santo sapagka’t nilakaran niya ang lugar na ito at hinipo ang mga tao,” the bishop said in his homily. “Labis ang kaligayahan ang nadama namin nang tumuntog ang Papa sa abang bayan namin,” Velasco who was then president of the parish pastoral council of Morong said, adding “ngayong santo na siya, lalo nang nag-uumapaw ang kaligayahan namin.
Ramos said that with Pope John Paul II now canonized a saint, they felt nearer to him all the more: “Ngayong santo na siya, parang napakalapit ko pa rin sa kanya tulad noong mag-misa siya na halos abutin ko na siya,” she said.
“Marapat lamang na ikarangal ang pagiging Santo ni Papa John Paul II ng taga-Morong sapagka’t bumisita siya rito,” Morong Mayor Jorge Estanislao, former surgeon of St. Lukes Hospital in Manila said. He asked that the new saint be the role model for everyone.
“The shrine of the new saint is open to the public, they can come anytime,” said Rafael Llave, general manager of management & holdings of the Bases Conversion Development Authority. The former PRPC-turned Bataan Technology Park is under the BCDA.
Meanwhile, 1st District Rep. Herminia Roman disclosed that they are planning to request government to turn the memorial shrine into the National Historical Shrine of Saint John Paul II. “Kailangang mabigyan ng magandang tahanan si Santo John Paul II sapagka’t naniniwala akong magbibigay ng malaking grasya ang mahal na santo sa Bataan at sa buong bansa,” she said.
Roman is chairperson of the committee on the papal shrine with Bishop Santos, and Llave as among the members.
Aside from Roman, in attendance in the Holy Mass were provincial and local officials like Rep. Enrique Garcia of the second district, Mayor Jorge Estanislao and wife former Myor Cynthia Estanislao of Morong, Dinalupihan Mayor Gila Garcia and Pilar Mayoralice Pizarro, among some others.
