LOOK: Payatas residents prepare 'pagpag' for Pope Francis

MANILA, Philippines - Urban poor families in the Philippines have staged various activities to welcome Pope Francis.

In Payatas, Quezon City, some residents prepared for the visiting pope a feast of "pagpag" or dishes made from restaurant leftovers.

"They say, it's up to the Pope if he will eat pagpag, and it's purpose is but a symbol to show the extent of their suffering. They still wish that the Pope will find time to visit their community despite his busy schedule, as Pope Francis is known to divert from his travel itineraries," the group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) said.

The families are hoping for Pope Francis to take notice of their plight when he meets President Aquino on Friday.

Groups supporting the urban poor also hope that Pope Francis, who is hailed as the people's pontiff, will pressure Aquino to implement pro-poor policies that will address issues like unemployment, labor, corruption and land reform.

"We request our Dear Pope to push the Aquino administration to ending the pork barrel system and other schemes that perpetrate corruption within its bureaucracy, as well as the privatization of public lands which is behind the demolition of our homes, and the privatization of social services in the country," said Normelito Rubis, spokesperson of the Pagkakaisa at Paglaban ng Maralita sa Korupsyon at Sistemang Pork Barrel.

Gloria Arellano, Kadamay national chairperson, described Pope Francis as a "progressive leader" and an "icon of hope" for the poor.

"But the Filipino urban poor are expecting more from the Pope, something that will translate his criticisms to concrete actions that will directly affect the poor even with the slightest change possible," Arellano said.

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle said he is expecting Pope Francis' to talk about the "daily disaster of poverty and inequality" in the Philippines as seen in various issues such as corruption.

"We await the call of the Pope to the shapers of government, culture and the economy to return to love as the supreme law that must shape their policies and programs," Tagle said in a statement posted on the website of the Archdiocese of Manila.

Tagle expects Pope Francis to challenge religious leaders as well.

"We await the renewed challenge for the ordained and religious to embody the love, patience and healing of the Jesus as they bring the Good News to the poor," Tagle said.

Malacañang said yesterday that the government is ready to heed whatever message Pope Francis has for the country.

"Whatever message the Pope chooses to impart... we will certainly listen to the Pope as primarily the shepherd of the Catholic Church. And so certainly we will take note and listen to Pope Francis' message," Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a televised press briefing.

Pope Francis is scheduled to arrive in the Philippines on Thursday afternoon for a five-day state and apostolic visit.

The pontiff will be meeting some Filipino families, including typhoon victims in Tacloban City, Leyte.