The Palace has cited the people’s cooperation with authorities as a major factor in the success of the five-day visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines.
“Sa amin, ang biggest factor for the success (of the papal visit) was the people themselves, kasi kinusa nila na maging maayos, maging matagumpay,” Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said during an interview with reporters at Villamor Airbase on Monday.
“All the efforts of the government would have been for naught kung hindi nakiisa ang bawat Pilipino at kung hindi naging maayos ang pagdalo sa misa,” he said.
Secretary Coloma, along with a number of Cabinet secretaries and Catholic bishops, joined President Benigno S. Aquino III during the send-off ceremony for Pope Francis.
Pope Francis left for Rome at about 10:12 a.m. on Monday, capping his hectic five-day visit to Asia’s largest Catholic country.
“We would like to thank our people for their full cooperation. Ang panawagan po natin sa kanila: Makiisa, makisama, makipagbayanihan,” he said, adding that they strictly followed the guidelines set by the authorities.
Coloma also commended the men and women in uniform who worked hard, even in bad weather, to maintain order and ensure the pope’s safety.
“Saludo po kami sa inyo at maraming salamat po. Sa lahat po ng pagkakataon, kapansin-pansin ang dedikasyon, sipag, pagiging masigasig, at mapagpasensiya ng ating mga sundalo at pulis,” he said.
Despite the gargantuan task, soldiers and policemen did their job well because deep in their hearts, they were not merely performing their duties but they were also experiencing a moment of faith, he said.
Prior to the pope’s arrival last week, President Aquino said 25,000 military and police personnel were to be deployed to secure Pope Francis and the public. PND (as) |