Students show love for Francis

SENDING A MESSAGE Students of Marcial O. Rañola Memorial High School, who would not be able to see Pope Francis when he arrived in Manila on Jan. 15, line up to form a “We love Pope” message in Guinobatan town, Albay province, to send their love and appreciation to him. MARK ALVIC ESPLANA/INQUIRER SOUTHERN LUZON

GUINOBATAN, Albay—Their town is far-off definitely from the official itinerary of Pope Francis during his visit to the country, but public high school students found a way to narrow the distance to express their love for him a day before he was to arrive.

At least 4,000 students of Marcial O. Rañola Memorial School assembled on campus in Barangay (village) San Francisco to form the human message of “WE (heart symbol) POPE” to welcome Francis. For nearly an hour, they waved yellow flags in their PE attire of white T-shirts and jogging pants of blue, yellow and red.

“It is the simplest gesture we could come up with to tell the Pope how grateful we are for his visit to the country,” said the school’s principal, Gemma Saberon-Sapo.

She said the formation was the school’s way of showing it cares for the Pope and that its teachers, students and employees would share the Pontiff’s core messages of mercy and compassion.

Maria Angeline Talagtag, 13, and Jomari Lozada, 14, did not mind staying under the hot morning sun for 40 minutes. “I’m doing this to show my hundred percent love for the Pope,” Talagtag said.

Lozada said he would like to go to Manila to personally see the Pope but could not afford the bus fare. He put some images of Francis on his flag to set it apart from those of his schoolmates.

Though the Pope already left the Philippines yesterday, Melea Jane Ragos, 13, described his visit as “clear proof that he loves us.”

Lea Repata Paliangayan, a science teacher, said the students’ formation was an important event in their lives as Catholics.