Bring own food, drinks to papal events, faithful urged

Pope Francis. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Be self-sufficient.

An official of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) gave this piece of advice to Filipinos planning to attend the Masses to be celebrated by Pope Francis during his visit to the country in January.

“Bring your own food and drinks. If you’re taking medicine, don’t forget your medicine. Be self-sufficient,” Fr. Marvin Mejia, CBCP secretary general, said during a recent press briefing.

In Tacloban City and Palo in Leyte, in particular, Mejia said they expect hundreds of thousands of people from nearby islands and provinces to attend the Mass that the Holy Father will hold at the Tacloban international airport on Jan. 17.

“There are logistical support being done but with the number of people expected to come… we are expecting thousands so it would be very, very difficult to find food,” Mejia said.

“There might just be few vendors and there’s the possibility of food contamination. We’re not against vendors but that’s just one possibility,” he said.

Not enough food, water

“And the situation in Palo, no food and rehabilitation yet, so most probably there wouldn’t be enough food and restaurants. Bring your own food and water,” he added.

He also urged those with health issues to better stay at home and just watch the proceedings on television.

“If you have some health issues, better stay home because an emergency or untoward incident may happen. So just stay home, anyway there is media coverage,” Mejia said.

Lunch with survivors

After saying Mass at the Tacloban airport, Pope Francis will join survivors of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” for lunch at the archbishop’s residence in Palo town. This will be followed by the blessing of the Pope Francis Center for the Poor at 3 p.m.

Before he departs for Manila, the Pope will meet with priests, members of the religious community, seminarians and families of Yolanda survivors at the Cathedral of Palo at 3:30 p.m.