21/04/2025
“A little bit late, I have to say, but I am here.”
On January 17, 2015, Pope Francis came to Tacloban—a city still mourning, still rising from the devastation of Typhoon Yolanda. Braving the wind and rain, he stood with us. He came not with a prepared speech, but with a heart full of compassion. He came to be present. To be with us.
"𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝐼 𝑠𝑎𝑤 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑅𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑝ℎ𝑒, 𝐼 𝑓𝑒𝑙𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝐼 ℎ𝑎𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒… 𝐼’𝑚 ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑦𝑜𝑢—𝑎 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒 𝑏𝑖𝑡 𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒, 𝐼 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑎𝑦, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝐼’𝑚 ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒."
Today, as we say goodbye to Lolo Kiko, we also remember the day he embraced us with so much love and humility.
His visit was more than a moment—it was a blessing.
A moment of solidarity.
A moment of healing.
A moment of grace.
Damu nga salamat. You brought light to our darkest days.
Your kindness, humility, and faith will never be forgotten. Thank you for being a shepherd to the flock—even in our storm.