UPDATED: Pope Francis Tweeted in Tagalog!

MANILA, Philippines - His Holiness Pope Francis is on its third day of his five-day apostolic visit in the Philippines. He celebrated mass yesterday morning with bishops, priests and religious members of the Philippine Catholic Church. In the afternoon, Pope Francis celebrated mass with pre-selected families where he discussed the importance of family in the society. He also tweeted about it in Tagalog. 

Ang pamilya ay ang pinakamahalagang kayamanan ng isang bansa. Naway pagsikapan nating ipagtanggol at patatagin itong pundasyon ng lipunan.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) January 16, 2015

In English,

The family is the greatest treasure of any country. Let us all work to protect and strengthen this, the cornerstone of society.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) January 16, 2015

The Pope also expressed His admiration to the Filipino Catholic Church.

Ang Pilipinas ay patunay ng kabataan at kasiglahan ng Simbahan.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) January 16, 2015

In English,

The Philippines bear witness to the youthfulness and vitality of the Church.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) January 16, 2015

Pope is currently at Palo, Leyte where He condoled Typhoon Yolanda Victims. 


UPDATE:  Pope Francis tweeted again in Tagalog!

Ang kahabagan ng Diyos, ang kanyang sakripisyo, ay nagbibigay saysay at halaga sa lahat ng ating paghihirap.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) January 17, 2015

In English,

The com-passion of God, his suffering-with-us, gives meaning and worth to our struggles and our sufferings.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) January 17, 2015

Bilang Kristiyano, miyembro ng pamilya ng Diyos, tinatawag tayo upang hanapin at paglingkuran ang lahat ng mga nangangailangan.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) January 18, 2015

In English,

We who are Christians, members of God’s family, are called to go out to the needy and to serve them.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) January 18, 2015

Madalas nating makalimutang pagtuunan ng pansin ang mga bagay na talagang mahalaga. Nakakalimutan natin na tayo'y Anak ng Diyos.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) January 18, 2015

In English,

How often we forget to dedicate ourselves to that which truly matters! We forget that we are children of God.

— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) January 18, 2015

LIVE STREAMING: POPE FRANCIS HAS ARRIVED!

MANILA, Philippines - His Holiness Pope Francis has arrived to the Philippines!

WATCH: LIVE STREAMING courtesy of GMA NEWS.


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Smart gives free Twitter access for 'Papal Visit'

MANILA, Philippines - As a public service to millions of Filipinos who want to share their Papal Visit experience online, Twitter and Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) have teamed up to offer unlimited access to the popular social networking app on mobile phones for free from January 15 to 19, 2015.

Under the service, all 69 million prepaid and postpaid subscribers of Smart, Sun Cellular and Talk ‘N Text may take to Twitter without worrying about mobile data charges, allowing more Filipinos to follow the Pope’s Twitter account (@Pontifex), send wishes and prayers to the Pope using #DearPopeFrancis hashtag, and get real-time updates on the much anticipated apostolic and state visit of Pope Francis in the Philippines.

More details of the Pope’s visit, including #DearPopeFrancis Tweets, videos, stories and the Pope’s itinerary, can be found at dearpopefrancis.ph.

“With this collaboration, Smart and Twitter aim to allow more Filipinos to get involved and immerse in this historic experience with Pope Francis, who our Catholic nation hold very dear to our heart,” said Napoleon L. Nazareno, president and CEO, PLDT and Smart.

Text DEARPOPE to 9999 starting January 15

Starting January 15, Smart, Sun Cellular and Talk ‘N Text subscribers nationwide may start their one-time registration for the free Twitter service by simply texting DEARPOPE to 9999.

Once registered, subscribers may tweet their aspirations and messages to the beloved Pope using #DearPopeFrancis. Subscribers may also post real-time updates, upload photos, and even reach out to him through his official Twitter account @Pontifex on their mobile devices at no extra cost.

The Pope is the 2nd most followed world leader on Twitter today with over 17 million followers across his nine accounts in different languages. His Tweets are among the most popular on Twitter and are consistently retweeted several thousand times.

Tweets by @Pontifex

"Twitter is excited to partner with Smart to enable all Filipinos to get closer to the Pope and connect with the local community for this historic occasion – from expressing their hopes and prayers using Tweets with #DearPopeFrancis hashtag as well as getting real-time updates, photos and conversations in their Twitter timeline on Pope Francis’ first-ever visit to the Philippines. Most importantly, join the Twitter flock and sign up now to follow the Pope’s Twitter account (@Pontifex) during his visit, so that you can be one of the first to get the Pope’s Tweets via the Twitter app on your Smart mobile device,” said Arvinder Gujral, Director Business Development, India and SE Asia, Twitter.

With over 284 million monthly active users worldwide – 80 percent of which are on mobile – Twitter has become an essential social medium for netizens keeping an eye on real-time updates and social pulse on significant events and issues in the Philippines and around the world.

Upon successful registration, subscribers may either use the Twitter mobile app or access m.twitter.com on their mobile browser for the whole duration of the Papal visit. Subscribers have to maintain at least P1 load balance every day or be subscribed to any plan, promo or bundle to enjoy the free service.

Moreover, mobile users who are registered to the ongoing Smart Free Internet promo may enjoy the Free Twitter service on top of their 30 MB allocation.

Hordes of Filipino devotees are expected to flock to the scheduled gatherings with Pope Francis in the course of his five-day apostolic visit, the culmination of which is a big Eucharistic celebration on January 18 where over 5 million are estimated to show up and catch a glimpse of the Pope for the first time.

WATCH: Maroon 5 gatecrashed weddings!

Pop rock band, Maroon 5 just released the world premiere of their newest music video, Sugar. The band gatecrashed real weddings. Coolest thing ever!

WATCH: Sugar - Maroon 5 MUSIC VIDEO PREMIER

What do you think of the video? Share us your thoughts.

DOs and DON'Ts ON THE PAPAL VISIT 2015

Pasay City is the first and last stop of Pope Francis’ Visit in the country.

Mayor Antonino Calixto reiterates his call to all Pasayenos and the general public for discipline during the Papal Visit starting tomorrow, January 15 til Monday, January 19.

All visitors of the City during this historic event to remember the following:

1.     Food and drinks must be in clear and transparent containers or identifiable packaging. Water and other beverages must be in plastic containers.

2.     Bring your maintenance medication especially for diabetics, hypertensives and other medical conditions. Paracetamol and hydrating capsules or solution, together with ample water supply, spare clothing and towels are also encouraged. PhilHealth, private health cards and information regarding medical information about a person may also be useful.

3.     Eight (8) Health Centers, and 3 hospitals namely, the Pasay City General Hospital, the San Juan de Dios Hospital and the Manila Adventist Medical Center are on standby to give immediate medical attention, including:

3.1.     Cuyegkeng Health Center cor. F.B. Harrison

3.2.     Leveriza Heath Center cor. Buendia

3.3.     Lagrosa Health Center at the Pasay Sports Complex

3.4.     MIA Health Center along NAIA Avenue in Pildera

3.5.     Villamor Health Center at the Villamor Airbase

3.6.     San Pablo Health Center along St. Peter st., Maricaban

3.7.     Dona Nena Health Center along Aurora Blvd., (Tramo)

4.     Pasay Rescue and Quick Response Stations with ambulances and responders, together with other City Augmentation Offices (including the PNP, the Pasay Social Work Dept., Pasay Engineering Office, the Pasay Public Order and Safety Unit , and, Pasay City Environment and Natural Resources Office)  are strategically posted along the Papal route, to include:

A.     the Villamor Airbase-Kalayaan

B.     the Aurora Blvd. (Tramo) cor. Andrews street

C.    the Domestic Road cor. MIA road in Pildera

D.    the Cuneta Avenue cor Roxas Blvd.

E.     the San Juan de Dios Hospital along Roxas Blvd.

F.     the Dept. of Foreign Affairs cor. Libertad

G.    the SMDC along Roxas Blvd before Vito Cruz

5.     Children and other minor companions should bring identification Cards with important information such as address, names and telephone number/s of parents or guardians. Kindly accompany lost children to the said Pasay Rescue/Quick Response Stations where personnel of the Pasay Social Work Office may attend to the concern immediately.

6.     Umbrellas, big bags, back packs and other obscured items are discouraged. Monopads for cellphones are also prohibited. 

7.     Motorists and Commuters are advised to refrain from bringing vehicles and/or avoid travelling along Roxas Boulevard and other adjacent roads as they may be closed when necessary.

8.     Parking along Roxas Blvd. Taft Avenue, F.B Harrison, Buendia and EDSA Extension is prohibited. Illegally-parked vehicles will be towed.

9.     One-side parking along inner roads may be allowed.

10.  Report suspicious-looking and doubtful movements of individuals to the nearest PNP officer or to the Pasay Rescue/Quick Reaction Stations.

Let us all hope for a peaceful and free from all evil Papal Visit.

PASAY CITY MAYOR CALIXTO ASKS FOR DISCIPLINE DURING THE 'PAPAL VISIT'

Pasay the “TRAVEL CITY” Mayor Antonino Calixto calls on both residents and visitors of Pasay to practice restraint and discipline during the Pope Francis’ historic five-day visit to the Philippines.

Mayor Calixto made the special announcement in the aftermath of the Feast of the Black Nazarene estimated to be attended by 5.5 million by the Philippine National Red Cross and resulted yielded two casualties and more than 1,500 persons having sought medical help.

The two casualties were reported to be due to injuries during a stampede before the start of the procession and a heart attack. 

High blood pressure, injuries, lacerations, nausea, difficulty in breathing, seizure and sprains were some of the cases attended to by emergency medical personnel posted during the Black Nazarene procession.

“We expect people wanting to catch a glimpse of Pope Francis to be more than the number of devotees during the Feast of the Black Nazarene last January 9. Pasay is the first and last stop of Pope Francis here in the Philippines” Mayor Calixto said. 

Calixto added that “we anticipate not just Catholics from Pasay and Metro Manila but also from all parts of the Philippines and even from other countries to see Pope Francis. All hotels and inns within Pasay are practically fully booked.”

Pasay has the 3rd most number of room accommodations from high end hotel suites to budget inns in the country.

Mayor Calixto is reminding the motoring public to be cooperative and obey the traffic rerouting scheme and road closures set in place for the Papal visit. 



Constant and regular advisories are being issued by the City’s Public Information Office through the traditional as well as the social media.

Calixto also reminded the public to throw their thrash in the designated garbage bins strategically located along and near the Papal routes.

Pasay City is home to Villamor Airbase where the Papal entourage is expected to land on January 15, be sent off to Tacloban on January 17 and back to the Vatican on the 19th of January.

The Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay is also the venue for Pope Francis’ Meeting With the Families on January 16.

MVP Group spearheads #DearPopeFrancis campaign

MANILA, Philippines - The MVP Group of companies, which includes Meralco, PLDT, Smart, Sun Cellular, TV5, Maynilad and Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), among others, is spearheading the #DearPopeFrancis campaign in line with the Papal Visit this Jan. 15-19, 2015.



The hashtag #DearPopeFrancis will be used in the various social media networks, in particular Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and in the news programs of TV5.

This campaign calls for the use of the hashtag to accompany messages, photos and videos in welcoming Pope Francis to the Philippines, saying prayers and petitions and sharing stories of mercy and compassion.

TV5 will collect all posts with #DearPopeFrancis and feature these in a special microsite and also in newscasts on both TV and digital channels.

Overall, this campaign invites all Filipinos to take part in the experience of having Pope Francis in the country by posting on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and participating in the Papal Visit message wall at www.dearpopefrancis.ph.