Video by Noy Morcoso lll/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines–Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and Metro Manila police officials visited on Thursday the wake of Kristel Mae Padasas, the volunteer who died during Pope Francis’ visit in Tacloban, Leyte.
Pasadas died when a steel scaffolding carrying speakers fell on her after the Pope celebrated a Mass in the typhoon-hit city on Saturday, Jan. 18.
Roxas, National Capital Police Region Office chief Police Director Carmelo Valmoria, and police officials in Metro Manila went to her residence in Taguig City to mourn with the 27-year-old’s family.
Early Thursday morning, some students and faculty members from her alma mater held a mass at her wake. An only child, Padasas is a Psychology graduate from Adamson University.
A day after Padasas’ death, the Supreme Pontiff himself personally consoled the father of Kristel, Paulino Padasas Jr., and gave him a rosary in his temporary residence in Manila at the Apostolic Nunciature.
DILG Sec. Mar Roxas (second from left) consoles the family of Kristel Mae Padasas, the volunteer who died in Tacloban during Pope Francis’ visit in Leyte. Photo by: Julliane Love de Jesus/INQUIRER.net
Padasas’ mother, Judy, is an overseas Filipino worker who came home from Hong Kong to grieve her daughter’s death.
In his encounter with the youth at University of Santo Tomas, Pope Francis enjoined tens of thousands of young people to pray for Padasas.
Before volunteering for the papal visit, Padasas worked for the US bishops’ international relief and development agency, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), on a recovery project for victims of Yolanda.
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