On Pope Francis' Arrival

The crowd is much, much bigger than that of the Nazareno. Literally millions of people neatly lined the highways, with fathers carrying children on their shoulders, people waving flags, shouting cheers, dancing, jumping; all just to see a glimpse of him, to take a picture in their camera, to receive a wave and a smile.

The people camped early in the morning. They waited more than 12 hours for this fleeting moment with the charismatic Pope. And as he passed and not disappointingly happily waved and smiled, the ear-shattering shouts of the people could almost be heard even through a reporter's microphone. "Hosanna to the Son of David! Hosanna in the highest!" I could almost imagine. I wonder; is he the savior they're looking for? Or is he just another moving idol motorcading on a moving altar?

I sat lazily on the sofa playing Pokémon, listening to the TV and glancing once in while my parents and my lola tuned in, commenting every once in a while. My brother kept watching Clannad.

"Hahaha! Nilipad yung sumbrero." Hahaha! His hat flew off.

"Kalbo kasi! Hahaha!"

"Dapat mas matagal niyang kinamayan yung mga sinners," He should've had a longer handshake with the sinners, as the reporter remaked that he spent less time shaking hands with the congressmen.

"Piling-pili yan!" As the two children hugged the Pope.

Hostility, fondness, apathy- all within the same family. I heard mockery in the streets and found satire among the atheists. I see realists digging up poverty amidst the festivities. I see Christians pointing the fanatics to Christ instead.

There are so many reactions, but will there really be change? Is this merely a temporary euphoria? After the height of the sensation will corruption decrease? I could already see people posting in Facebook, inspired and swearing to be better like on a New Year resolution's high, except thrice the dose. But would they really change for the better?

I have long believed that for a society to change, the community must change- a change in their values, a change in their hearts. The Pope can touch the hearts, sure. But can he change it?

No.

But God can. And I do hope that even through this man, He does.