Tag Archives: Pope Francis

International, Language, Religion, Travel

POPE FRANCIS WILL ADDRESS FILIPINOS IN TAGALOG DURING VISIT TO THE PHILIPPINES

November 15, 2014 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

The Vatican, Italy (The Adobo Chronicles) – Filipino Church leaders preparing for Pope Francis’ visit to the Philippines in January have announced that the head of the Roman Catholic Church will speak in English during his speeches and meetings with the Filipino people. This, despite the fact that the Argentinian pontiff is not as comfortable with English as he is in Latin and Spanish.

Today, however, The Vatican once again surprised many who are closely watching the Pope’s pronouncements and activities. It was revealed that Francis has instead chosen to speak in Tagalog while visiting the Philippines. He is currently taking Tagalog lessons from a private coach in Rome.

Tagalog (Pilipino) is the national language of the Philippines. It draws on many Spanish words (The Philippines was under Spanish rule for many centuries before the U.S. brought Hollywood into the country).

Pope Francis said that so far, learning Tagalog has been a breeze, saying that in fact, he didn’t have to re-learn many words and phrases which have the same meaning in both Tagalog and Spanish, like ‘Padre’ (father), ‘relihiyon’ (religion), ‘krus’ (cross), and ‘Espirito Santo’ (Holy Spirit).

Perhaps the only phrase the Pope will not get quite right is ‘noche buena’ which douesn’t mean ‘a good night’ in Tagalog. Rather it means ‘midnight feast.’ As in food.

International, Politics, Religion, Travel

POPE FRANCIS TO SKIP MEETING WITH AQUINO DURING VISIT TO THE PHILIPPINES

November 14, 2014 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

The Vatican, Italy (The Adobo Chronicles) – Church officials in the Philippines have just publicly released the itinerary of Pope Francis when he visits the country January 15-19, 2015.

It will be a busy schedule for the charismatic leader of the Roman Catholic Church. It includes a meeting with President NoyNoy Aquino and other government officials, a visit with the victims of last year’s Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in Tacloban, a youth rally at the the oldest Catholic University in Asia (University of Santo Tomas), and a shopping spree at the SM Mall of Asia.

Upon receiving details of his Philippine schedule, Pope Francis said that he will skip the meeting with Aquino at Malacañang, the presidential palace. Instead, the Pope said he would like to spend an extra day in Tacloban, the city hardest hit by the devastating typhoon.

In explaining his decision, Pope Francis said that it has come to his attention that Aquino had skipped a trip to Tacloban during activities commemorating the one-year anniversay of Yolanda. Many believe that Aquino’s decision was politcally motivated, Tacloban being the turf of his political nemesis, the Romualdezes (including former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos).

“I will atone for this sinful act of Aquino by spending more time with the people of Tacloban,” the pontiff said. “If Aquino wants to meet with me, he can meet me in Tacloban,” he added.

International, Religion, Travel

POPE FRANCIS REPRIMANDS PHILIPPINE MAYOR

October 5, 2014 Pol Pinoy 121 Comments

Mayor Petilla of Palo, Leyte in the Philippines (photo: ABS-CBN News)

Vatican City, Italy (The Adobo Chronicles) – Pope Francis sent a strongly-worded letter to the mayor of Palo, Leyte in the Philippines, reprimanding her for attempting to hide the truth from the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The pope is scheduled to visit the Philippines next January and wants to meet with the victims devastated and rendered homeless by last year’s typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda).

Mayor Remedios Petilla of Palo wants to transfer 250 families living in bunk houses in Barangay Candahug to another place five kilometers away so they will not be very visible when Pope Francis visits the town in January. The families, who had been staying in the bunk houses in Candahug after their houses were destroyed by the supertyphoon on Nov. 8, 2013, would be transferred to other bunk houses in Barangay Tacuranga or permanent relocation sites ahead of the papal visit.

The transfer “is being fast tracked because of the scheduled visit of the Pope next year,” Petilla said.

In his letter to Petilla, Pope Francis said, “What part of ‘visiting the typhoon victims’ do you not understand? That is the primary reason I am coming to the Philippines. Do not displace them just to impress me because I am not that easily impressed, especially by those who are not truthful like yourself.”

The Vatican is considering papal visit guidelines which now include banning Mayor Petilla from coming anywhere close to the pope when he visits Leyte.