Long holiday for pope

MANILA, Philippines - With the possibility of millions flocking to Metro Manila to get a glimpse of Pope Francis, President Aquino has declared a long holiday for the scheduled visit of the pontiff in the country next month.

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. issued Proclamation 936 declaring Jan. 15, 16 and 19 as special non-working days.

The two other days in the papal visit, Jan. 17 and 18, fall on a weekend.

The holidays will cover only the National Capital Region.

The government is undertaking preparations for the papal visit and is working on the smooth flow of traffic in Metro Manila during the motorcade of the pope along major thoroughfares.

Filipinos, not only those residing in Metro Manila, are expected to witness the rare event, either personally or on television.

Pope’s security

About 25,000 policemen will be involved in the security team for the papal visit, a police official said yesterday.

Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor, spokesman for the Philippine National Police (PNP), said some of the policemen will guard the places the pope would visit while others will be in charge of perimeter and route security.

Aside from Manila, the pope is scheduled to visit Tacloban City, hardest hit by Super Typhoon Yolanda in November last year.

Mayor earlier said the PNP has been preparing elaborate security measures for Pope Francis.

He said the PNP will provide operational support to the Presidential Security Group and close-in security services for the pope’s entourage.

He reiterated that the PNP has yet to receive any specific threat in connection with the pope’s visit.

Gift to pontiff

Meanwhile, a Marian image made from 400-year-old wood debris from Palo Cathedral that was badly damaged by Yolanda will be one of the gifts to Pope Francis during his visit to the country.

Willy Layug, the ecclesiastical artist commissioned by the papal visit committee to make some of the religious images that will be used during the event, has created two artworks to be given as token to the Holy Father.

The 18-inch image of Mother Mary is wearing a Filipiniana dress.

Layug said he was also able to gain permission from the Archdiocese of Manila to allow him and members of his family, including his five grandchildren, to attend the mass at the Quirino Grandstand where they could give their gift to the pope – a two-foot high image of the Santo Niño carrying a lamb made of Philippine cedar.

He said he decided on making an image of the Sto. Niño since the papal visit coincided with the celebration of the Feast of the Sto. Niño.

The artist would also be donating to the Palo Cathedral a five-foot high image of Mother Mary standing on a globe. She is carrying a child who is holding a rosary and reaching down to another child who is drowning in floodwaters. – With Evelyn Macairan, Cecille Suerte Felipe