#PopeinPH: Transparent bags, raincoats sold out in malls

Ning Adolfo shows off her plastic envelope. KRISTINE ANGELI SABILLO

MANILA, Philippines – Do you have transparent bags? On a normal day, it would have been an unlikely question, but on the day before Pope Francis’ concluding Mass in Manila, salesladies at a local mall knew the answer: “All sold out.”

In bookstores, department stores and specialty boutiques, people were looking for the two things that they will need when Pope Francis celebrates Mass at Rizal Park on Sunday.

With the weather turning sour and the government stepping up its security measures, the faithful will have to be armed with a raincoat and a clear bag or plastic bag.

While officials said the clear bags are “strongly recommended” instead of being required, many people are in a mad rush to comply and make it easier for security authorities to inspect their belongings before being allowed into the area where the Mass will be held.

At a mall in Las Piñas, shoppers like Ning Adolfo had no choice but to buy plastic envelopes.

Adolfo, human resources head of a multinational company, said she tried to catch the Pope when he returned to Manila from Tacloban earlier than expected on Saturday afternoon.

She had to rush to a mall afterwards but was told that all the transparent bags were gone.

“I was able to buy an envelope (instead) and then I bought four t-shirts (bearing the face of the Pope),” she told INQUIRER.net.

Adolfo pulled out all the stops to make sure that she and her family will make it to the concluding Mass, which is expected to draw five million participants or more.

“I’ll be leaving home at 3:30 a.m. We rented a van,” she said, as they anticipated the traffic and the large mass of people that will fill Rizal Park and its nearby roads.

Erika Rosete

Erika Rosete, who mans the stationery section of the store, said no one really buys their mesh bags but all of that changed when Pope Francis arrived in the Philippines.

“Before (he came), no one pays attention to that item but now a lot of people are asking about it,” she added. She explained that people are running out of options, especially with the accessories’ department running out of transparent bags.

Authorities had earlier asked the public to not bring bags or to use clear bags when they come to Luneta to facilitate the inspection process.

Rosete said she is thankful that the Pope decided to visit the Philippines, but not because they are able to sell more bags.

She said she wanted to also see the pontiff but she still needs to report to work.

Raincoats are also bestsellers.

At the children’s accessories section, Celcor Grande has been able to sell hundreds of rain ponchos.

He said that some people bought 15 or 20 pieces at a time.

“Even the adults were buying raincoats here because we ran out of the ones for adults,” Grande said.

He said they had expected the surge in the demand for raincoats and bags.

“We were ready. We expected it.”

However, minutes before the stores closed, a handful of shoppers were still seen searching for the elusive plastic raincoat and bag.

Metro Manila is under Public Storm Warning signal 1 because of Tropical Storm Amang. But even rain could not deter Filipino Catholics from seeing Pope Francis and hearing his homily on Friday afternoon.

Pope Francis on Saturday cut short his trip to Leyte because of the bad weather. Before he left, however, he was able to celebrate Mass at the Tacloban Airport. Like the hundreds of thousands of people who attended, the Pope was wearing a yellow disposable raincoat.

RELATED STORIES

Pope Francis consoles ‘Yolanda’ survivors, asks them to trust Christ, ‘hold on to Mary’

Clear plastic bags selling briskly in Metro Manila stores

DOH: Off to see the Pope? Bring food, towel, raincoat