5 Bohol quake survivors to dine with Pope Francis

MANILA, Philippines - Five survivors of the killer earthquake in Bohol last year are among those who have been chosen to have lunch with Pope Francis during his visit in the country in January, a Church official said Tuesday.

Reverend Father Felix Warli Salise, director of the Diocese of Tagbiliran-Social Action Center, said he and the parish priests were the ones who personally selected the people who will share lunch with the Pope based on their experiences following the powerful 7.2 magnitude quake in the province.

The prelate, however, said they will temporarily withhold the identities of the quake survivors for security reasons.

"Yung... experience niya like yung malapit na mamamatay, naputulan ng paa, naputulan ng kamay. Yun isa, siya na lang naiwan lahat patay. Yung mga ganun," Fr. Salise told Radyo Veritas.

He said that the survivors are from different parishes damaged by the earthquake, including the Our Lady of Light Parish in Loon, San Augustine Parish in Sagbayan, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish in Antiquera, Holy Cross Parish in Maribojoc and parish of San Vicente Ferrer in Tubigon town.

More than 20 survivors of supertyphoon Yolanda that devastated Visayas region and the Bohol earthquake are set to sit down and have lunch with Pope Francis at the Archbishop residence in Palo, Leyte on Jan. 17, 2015.