Excitement fills Tacloban airport as hordes of pilgrims await Pope

The “sawali” stage where Pope Francis will hold mass is bathed in red and yellow a night before the papal mass. Photo by Marc Jayson Cayabyab

TACLOBAN CITY – It was like a scene from the Exodus as hordes of pilgrims walked to the airport Friday evening or hours before Pope Francis will hold Mass here.

Upon entering the venue, it felt like a concert as a bright, neon-colored stage greeted pilgrims streaming into the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport.

The stage where the Pope will hold Mass was bathed in yellow and red lights even if it is made of modest bamboo mats or “sawali.”

The pilgrims will spend the night at the venue hoping to get a good spot during the papal Mass despite the rain showers brought by tropical storm “Amang.”

Pilgrims Friday evening have started coming in hoards to the airport venue of the papal mass.

Euphoria can be felt at the Mass venue, with volunteers dancing to the official papal visit song, and enthusiastic hosts calling the pilgrims “madlang faithful.”

A jittery Jerry Malate could not even contain his feelings when he was interviewed about his anticipations.

“Masayang-masaya kami na nandito kami para sa Mass ni Pope. Sobrang exciting talaga,” he said as he entered the venue.

“Once in a lifetime ito. Sa Tacloban pa. Hindi lahat ng lugar napupuntahan ni Pope,” said Hydelisa Tuazon, who had been to the World Youth Day in 2008 and 2011.

Tuazon said she hopes to move on from the trauma that she experienced when Yolanda struck.

“Hindi na dapat binabalik, because past is past. We have to move on,” she said.

Security is tight at the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport to control the influx of pilgrims. Checkpoints have been set up on roads leading to the airport.

On Jan 17,  Pope Francis  will first visit Tacloban and say Mass at the airport before proceeding to Palo to bless the Pope Francis Center. He will then to go to the Palo Cathedral to light a candle on the Mass grave of those who perished when Yolanda struck.