Children dance as the Pope arrives at the Presidential Hangar in Villamor Airbase in Pasay City. EDWIN BACASMAS
MANILA, Philippines—“We’re telling him, ‘We love you,’” Bishop Jesse Mercado summed up the Filipinos’ rousing welcome of Pope Francis.
A smiling Pope got a roaring welcome from thousands of Filipinos who lined the streets to catch a glimpse of him, President Benigno Aquino III and Church officials on his arrival in this country of 75 million Catholics.
After his plane touched down at the Villamor Air Base, a tired-looking Pope emerged at around 5:56 p.m. to roars from 1,200 youngsters, but smiled on seeing the President.
He broadly smiled on seeing children Mark Angelo Balberos and Lanie Ortillo, who welcomed him with a bouquet of flowers. In a touching moment, the Pontiff hugged them, and he gifted each of them with a rosary.
In a preview of the mania over his five-day apostolic visit, thousands more poured into Roxas Boulevard and other thoroughfares to catch the popular Pope riding the popemobile to his official residence in Manila.
The smiling Pope waved to the crowd in the streets.
At Villamor Air Base, the Pontiff was welcomed by the President, Cabinet officials and Catholic bishops as students, in white shirts emblazoned with the message “Mabuhay! Pope Francis,” chanted his name.
As the President introduced the Pope to Vice President Jejomar Binay, Cabinet officials and Catholic bishops, 1,200 students treated him to lively dance and song performances capturing the Filipinos’ joy over his arrival.
The young performers twirled, waved white flags, chanted and jumped into the air before opening umbrellas of blue, red, white and yellow to form a Philippine flag as they danced to the tune of the upbeat “Piliin mo ang Pilipinas (Choose the Philippines).”
Soon, with swift feet movements, they clapped their hands and pumped their open palms in the air as they danced to the reggae “Kapayapaan (Peace)’’ signifying that his visit brings peace to this archipelago often struck by fierce storms from the Pacific and strong earthquakes.
At this point, the Pope seemed to wave at the performers.
And then some 158 schoolgirls and boys swayed and sashayed to “Sayaw ng Pagbati,” a hymn sang by parishioners of Parañaque for the Risen Christ on Easter Sunday.
“We are a people of joy, and the best way to show the joy is we dance, we sing,” Bishop Mercado of Parañaque told reporters before the Pope arrived.
“It’s a grand welcome to Christ who is represented to us in the person of the Pope,” he added.
The Pope’s SriLankan airline touched down at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at around 5:31 p.m. Soon after, it was towed to the tarmac of the Villamor Air Base, the Philippine and Vatican flags fluttered outside the cockpit.
But he didn’t emerge from the plane until 5:56 p.m., and when he did, a wind blew off his cap. He descended the stairs toward a waiting Mr. Aquino.
After shaking hands at the foot of the stairs, the Pope and the President stood at the dais to listen to the playing of the Vatican and Philippine anthems. Soon after, they walked the red carpet to review the honor guards.
Waiting at the end of the line were Balberos, 10, and Ortillo, 9, clad in Filipino formal clothing.