Bumpy ride, seconds of bliss

To write a “rough draft of history” is a journalist’s classic challenge.

Sometimes, the task goes beyond recording an event.  A light switches on and carries a reporter through hours of fatigue and waiting.

Something like that happened to many who covered Pope Francis’ rain-drenched visit to Tacloban City and Palo, Leyte last month.

We share some of the scenes behind the work of that coverage for this 17th anniversary of CEBU DAILY NEWS.

Senior reporter Ador Vincent Mayol covers the justice beat and church affairs. Assigned to Palo for the papal visit, he had gone there two months earlier with photographer Lito Tecson to scout the area, establish contacts and write about preparations. When the CDN  team arrived for the actual event, Ador was dismayed  to find out that his media ID accreditation was suddenly voided for no clear reason.

He waited in the rain and kept his eyes open. He  wasn’t disappointed.

A day before the event, senior reporter Ador Mayol checks out the templete where Pope Francis would say Mass at the Daniel Romualdez International Airport.

As the boat left Pier 1 in Cebu City, I knew a worthy tale was about to unfold.

It was past 10 a.m. of Jan. 14 when I left for Tacloban City and Palo municipality with two other Cebu Daily News staffers to cover Pope Francis’ visit. The winds were strong and the seas were rough. The boat rocked as it navigated its way for three hours through choppy waters to  Ormoc City.

After a late lunch, we took another three-hour trip on rough roads to spend the night at a hotel in downtown Tacloban. We arrived just as the sun had set. Though physically tired from the long journey, we looked forward with joyful anticipation to what would be the  event of our lifetime.

Instead of resting, I wasted no time in gathering details of preparations made by the Archdiocese of Palo.

(Our editor in chief didn’t send us to Leyte just to get  a glimpse of the Holy Father, I told myself. I was sent there to share my experience and narrate in vivid detail for print and online platforms, what was going on.)

Despite a draining whole day of travel, I covered at night the rehearsal of the 250-member choir that would perform during Pope Francis’ Mass at the Tacloban Airport, thanks to the help of two broadcast journalists and priests whom I had met  in November.

The next day,  Jan. 15, a Thursday, we moved to a two-story house across the Palo Metropolitan Cathedral. The rent was pricey  but the location was good.  We reserved another house  for our counterparts from the Inquirer Visayas bureau.

Two Inquirer correspondents and I stayed for the night. To our surprise, the house owner, Deidre Canilles, refused to accept any payment. She even prepared breakfast for us, saying it was the family’s way of thanking God for all the blessings they had received.

The excitement that enveloped the place became more palpable.

I was filled with hope to see the Holy Father on Saturday,  maybe ask some questions and perhaps hold his hands or hug him.

On Thursday evening,  local Church officials called for a press conference at the Sacred Heart Seminary. The media liaison officer took the microphone. His voice was soft and calm but the message was a shocker: “Those who have media IDs but are not on the official list of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines will not be allowed to enter the venues during the pope’s visit.”

I  managed to stay composed while commotion erupted among several upset journalists. I was confident that my name was on the official list and thought, “Ka luoy sad ani nila nga wala sa lista. Maayo gani sayo mi nakapa-accredit. (It’s a pity they are not on the list. I’m glad CDN applied early for media accreditation).

When I approached the archdiocese’s secretary for the list, my heart sank. My name wasn’t on it.

So, when Pope Francis arrived in Palo, I was denied entry at the Archbishop’s Residence as well as the Metropolitan Cathedral where I was supposed to be posted.

I ended up on the streets with the rest of the pilgrims.

Believing that God has a reason for everything, I stayed on the road outside the cathedral. There was a heavy downpour.

Tropical storm Amang was about to make landfall in Eastern Samar. My plastic raincoat didn’t help.  I was soaked.

Suddenly, cheers erupted from the waiting crowd. There he went, Pope Francis, passing by on his open popemobile. He wore the same thin yellow raincoat as most of the pilgrims.  He raised his hand to bless the people, turning left and right, making them feel that he was one of them.

About 15 minutes later, I saw Pope Francis again as he made his way to the cathedral.

“So I apologize to you all…. I have to go now,”  he announced inside the church.  He had to leave by 1 p.m. because of the approaching storm. I monitored the scenes on TV from a balcony across the cathedral. He gave a short parting statement to the clergy and asked: “Pray for me.” The gathering gave a collective groan of disappointment.

“Second, be quiet,” he quipped.

I saw him emerge from the sacristy to bless the mass grave in the cathedral compound where about 150 typhoon Yolanda victims were buried.

I saw the Holy Father three times that day, all lasting less than a minute.

But these were moments that will last me a lifetime.

I had seen the vicar of Christ, the successor of Peter. To me, that was simply a moment of grace.

Seeing the Pope in person is not enough, I know.

We must follow his example. It is not enough to hear him preach. We need to carry out the tasks he asked of us. Our tears will amount to nothing if we don’t walk with him and bring the light of Jesus, starting with ourselves.

It was a chronicle of euphoria and bliss for me. How long will the glow last?

Long enough, I hope.