Grieving OFW mom says Buddhist employers also prayed for Mae

PILGRIM’S HOME The body of Kristel Mae Padasas, a Church volunteer remembered by family and peers for being a cheerful giver and a travel bug (lower photo), is flown back to the capital Monday on a military plane, two days after her Jan. 17 death at the site of the Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in Tacloban City. Niño Jesus Orbeta

Kristel Mae Padasas, volunteer worker who died after papal Mass. FACEBOOK PHOTO

The grieving mother of Kristel Mae Padasas, the church worker who was crushed to death by a wind-tossed scaffolding at the site of the Jan. 17 Mass of Pope Francis in Tacloban City, arrived early Tuesday morning at the family residence in Taguig City, still in shock and unable to comprehend the tragedy that struck her family amid the widespread jubilation over the papal visit.

But one of Judy Padasas’ first acts upon reaching the family bungalow on Karamay Street in Barangay Katuparan was to put on a white T-shirt printed with the face of Francis.

The overseas Filipino worker (OFW) flew in haste from Hong Kong, where she said the members of the household where she works as a domestic helper immediately allowed her to return home.

As Buddhists, “they also prayed for my daughter’s soul,” she told the Inquirer.

Kristel’s remains were flown on a C-130 military plane from Tacloban on Monday afternoon. Arriving in Taguig around 2 a.m. the following day, Judy found her only child already in a white coffin, on top which lay a rosary and a photo of the deceased taken from a seaside trip in Batanes province.

Flowers of condolence had begun to arrive, cramming the small living room, including those courtesy of the Romualdezes of Tacloban.

Kristel, 27, was one of the 200,000 pilgrims who turned up for the papal Mass held at Tacloban’s Daniel Romualdez Airport on that stormy morning. As the euphoric, raincoat-clad crowd was starting to leave after the service, a scaffolding supporting loud speakers on the side of the altar crashed on her, causing serious injuries in the head and body that instantly killed her.

Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano arrived at the wake late Tuesday afternoon and spent a few minutes consoling Judy, a native of Buhi, Camarines Sur province.

The mayor urged Judy not to return to Hong Kong since the city government was ready to extend assistance to her family, the Inquirer learned.

Earlier personally consoled by Pope Francis at the Apostolic Nunciature, Kristel’s father Paulino spent the wake telling guests about his late daughter’s love for travel and adventure.

Now cramming Karamay Street to hold vigil, the Padasas’ neighbors described Kristel as a very generous person who always prepared presents for children living in their block especially during Christmas.

The Pope spoke of Kristel, a volunteer of Catholic Relief Services, during his Jan. 18 ‘’Encounter with the Youth” on the University of Santo Tomas campus, asking the faithful for a minute of silent prayer.