Pope Francis arrived in the Philippines on Thursday to rally millions of faithful in Asia’s largest-Catholic country and offer comfort to victims of the biggest typhoon in recorded history.
Excitement about the pope is building, and souvenir shirts, fans and coffee mugs featuring Francis’ image are a hot commodity. At local churches young and old alike pose for selfies with life-size cut-out images of Francis, and a clutch of corporate-sponsored welcome signs adorn the streets. The central bank released a commemorative coin and record companies put out at least two music CDs dedicated to the pontiff.
Francis, the first non-European pope in almost 1,300 years, is making his second trip to Asia in less than two years.
While all Filipino Catholic devotees are excited to see Pope Francis others don’t share the same sentiment. Marlene Aguilar, estranged sister of Ka Freddie Aguilar again finds herself in the spotlight after making another controversial comment on her Facebook posts.
-KAYONG mga sumasamba sa demonyong naka abito, mag silayas kayo dito. Tambak tambak ang kaso ni Pope Francis sa international tribunal court - kaso ng child rape, child torture, child murder genocide, at crimes against humanity ang nakasamapa sa kanya. Ang hirap sa inyong mga mangmang wala kayong alam. Kung ayaw niyo ng mga mga posts dito magsilayas kayo. Lumuhod kayo kay Pope Francis at sumamba kayo sa KAMPON NG DILIM. PARA MAGSAMA SAMA KAYO SA IMPYERNO MGA BOBO! - She Dragon
-MY WALL, MYI RULES. IF YOU DO NOT LIKE MY POSTS, FUCK OFF! Thank you. - She Dragon