A pilgrim Pope in the Holy Land

Ever since he was elected by  peers in the College of Cardinals in the Vatican as the successor of St. Peter over a year ago, I have always admired Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina, the first Jesuit cardinal, now Pope Francis. This Pope has never lost sight of his humble beginnings in a country wracked by fear, reprisals, gunshots, and the murder of innocent people. These humble beginnings gave birth to a heart of compassion and love, and I think it is these qualities that have made our Pope so endearing and a breath of fresh air to Catholics the world over.

Over his short time as the head of the Church, Pope Francis has gained such a worldwide reputation for his humility, charitable work, love, and devotion to the poor. He is a true leader that has been inspiring us all with his selflessness and his desire to bring the Church closer to the people without the fanfare, glitz and glamour. This past couple of nights I have remained glued to our television set watching the Pope’s every move on his long journey through the Middle East to travel to Israel where our Lord was born and crucified. While Pope Francis wanted to see where the Son of God was born and died, he also wanted to touch base with leaders of various religions along the way.

What struck me as most poignant about this was how he treated these various religious leaders like respected equals despite the many differences in their religious beliefs. I thought he handled himself very well and gave everyone an equal and open chance to say what they wanted to say without judgment or disdain. It is very rare to see a religious leader humble himself in such a way and it was very inspiring indeed.

Additionally, when asked about his position on homosexuality after becoming pope, Francis replied by saying “Who am I to judge when a person seeks the Lord with goodwill?” This really struck me particularly hard. It was such a good choice of words and it’s something I know I will never forget. While I am a believer and definitely hold my religion dear to my heart, I can’t deny that the Catholic faith has, in the past, been very strict and narrow-minded and not very open to new ways of thinking. It is so refreshing now to have a leader who doesn’t mind challenging the old ways and adjusting to new ones. People are, after all, the lifeblood of religion and it’s nice to see a pope who takes into consideration all the different types of people in the world, and not just the ones who act and think the way that he does.

What’s more, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I also value how Pope Francis places such a premium on living a simple and good life. There’s really no two ways about it. He doesn’t see the need for grandeur and pomp and would rather live simply the way Jesus did. This makes him so much closer to the people and reminds many priests and churches around the world to scale down and remember what really matters – caring for our brothers and sisters – and not just building huge and expensive structures.

I truly hope that at some point in his papacy, Pope Francis finds his way to the Philippines. I know I would certainly like to see him in my lifetime and I am sure I am not the only one. Filipinos have already become enamored by our new leader and see him as a true man of God.

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I am sure that a vast majority of the people living in the metro area are very glad that Congress has extended the franchise of the Philippine National Railways for another 50 years. This means that we will continue to be able to take the train to various destinations within the city. I find the train a very efficient and affordable way to travel. And now that 22 senators have voted to extend the life of the railway, we can all breathe a collective sigh of relief. Ever since I was a little boy, I always saw the trains as a sign of efficiency, and I find myself wondering why they are not given the attention they deserve by the government.

In most other countries, a working railway station is a sign of modernity and efficiency. Here in the Philippines, however, it doesn’t have quite the prestigious connotation. The railway system is often hidden and obstructed by tall grass or concrete walls and what’s worse, they have gotten a bad reputation for being unsafe because many informal settlers have made their homes and communities on either side of the railroad tracks. This has made travelers wary and has also been dangerous for many of those living nearby who have gotten into several accidents when crossing the tracks late at night or without properly looking.

In my opinion, despite the many negative things we have heard about the trains, I still believe they are a good means of travel and with a little attention perhaps we can really get them to where they should be. Many other countries have invested heavily in modern railroads to transport cargo, to act as a commuter service within crowded urban areas, and even to connect airports to cities. I believe that if we really try we can get our trains and railway system to do the same. Imagine how much traffic the trains could alleviate if they become the standard for transporting cargo? How many big trucks would be able to get off the highways and city roads? It could make a really big difference.

There is definitely a long way to go, but I believe extending the life of the railway system is a good start. Now if only we can couple this with a serious effort to improve the facilities in the hopes of launching a truly modern railway system. I believe that the ticketing system they are planning is a good first step. This will ensure freeloaders from hopping on the train without paying. Another move we should embark on is raising the fees minimally to invest in cleaning the cars and upgrading facilities. If we can aim for getting better train cars this will make travel more comfortable and even faster.

Granted, higher commuter fees may initially be met with apprehension and complaints from commuters, but at the end of the day, it’s all in the name of improvement. As with most things that are new, Filipinos tend to complain, but at the end of the day when it’s done, they reap the benefits. Sometimes we have to sacrifice if we want something better. It’s really that simple. Let’s hope this could possibly be a solution that can really help ease travel and traffic within the city.