Latest news with #SuperTyphoonHaiyan
CNN
28-06-2025
- Climate
- CNN
Threatened by supercharged storms and rising oceans, Filipino fishing communities are fighting for their lives
Simplicio Calicoy was celebrating his birthday outside his daughter's home on Maliwaliw Island in the Philippines when strong winds started to whip around them. The fisherman and his family rushed inside but the gusts began to tear apart the house. Desperate to escape, they found the door pinned shut by the wind, forcing them to squeeze through a window. Calicoy was hit by a steel rod swinging from the ceiling, blinding him in one eye. When he returned to the village hours later, 'there was nothing left,' he said. Calicoy and his family were lucky to survive Super Typhoon Haiyan, known to Filipinos as Yolanda, one of the most powerful tropical cyclones in recorded history, which devastated the Philippines in November 2013. It killed at least 6,000 people, wrecked tens of thousands of boats and devastated the fishing industry people like Calicoy depend on for their survival. Simplicio Calicoy was partially blinded while escaping the destruction of Super Typhoon Haiyan. The Philippines is a cluster of more than 7,600 islands, which lie between the Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea and are home to around 115 million people. Here, the ocean is everything. The country boasts 10,400 square miles of some of the planet's most biodiverse coral reef and its fishing industry is its lifeblood, providing around 1.6 million jobs and the main source of protein for Filipino families. But this industry is under threat as the human-caused climate crisis raises sea levels and supercharges the storms that increasingly batter the country. The Philippines is one of the most vulnerable places to typhoons in the world. Last year it was pummeled by a record-breaking six consecutive storms in just 30 days. On Maliwaliw Island, the non-government organization Guiuan Development Foundation Inc. organized the relocation of the entire village to a safer location, using private funds to purchase land and build new homes. Rosalie Inso, pictured with her son Raymark, is the president of the Barangay Buluan Fisherfolk Organization, which works to protect the marine resources in their area. Children in the municipality of Kabasalan take fish their family caught to the local market to sell. A fisherman on Tubabao Island stands on the bow of his family's boat. Decades of environmental destruction make the country even more vulnerable. Mangrove forests, which buffer the coast against storms and provide vital habitats for marine life, have been razed. Some fishers are also turning to Illegal, destructive fishing practices such as trawling, dynamite, and cyanide, as ocean resources dwindle and incomes fall. The picture looks bleak, but small-scale fishers throughout the country are trying to reverse these trends and preserve the industry for future generations. They are protecting the ocean, restoring ecosystems and rethinking the way they fish. It's a tough job and an uphill battle in the face of the escalating impacts of a global climate crisis for which richer countries bear overwhelming responsibility. But it's yielding results. Sergio Badilla and his son Junior fish using a baklad, or fish corral — a stationary trap consisting of rows of bamboo poles, plastic nets, and other materials fenced with split bamboo or wire mesh, with one or more enclosures, featuring an easy entry but difficult exit. Although widely used and regulated in the Philippines, baklads, like this one seen off Tubabao Island, are considered unsustainable because they are permanently installed in coastal waters and indiscriminately trap whatever enters them. There are more than 1,800 marine protected areas in the Philippines — slices of ocean supposed to be safeguarded from human destruction — but corruption, lack of resources, and pressures from the powerful commercial fishing industry have made enforcement a challenge. Community-based volunteers across the country have responded by setting up Bantay Dagat, or Sea Patrol, where local people patrol marine sanctuaries around the clock from guard houses and boats. They use lights, binoculars and megaphones to warn fishers away and have the power to detain anyone found illegally fishing and hand them over to the police. Norberto, Ruben and Ramil are part of a sea patrol monitoring the Buluan Marine Sanctuary in the southern Philippines, where illegal fishing used to be rampant. They say their work is having an impact. Would-be illegal fishers are 'more afraid because they know there's law enforcement now, and they don't want to be fined or end up in jail,' Ruben said. Neil Montemar is the president of the Andulay Fishermen's Association, an organization that works with the local government unit to protect a 15-acre marine sanctuary. 'Monitoring the sanctuary is hard work,' Mentemar said, 'because there will always be people who try to break the rules and fish inside the sanctuary, especially at night.' Leo Betorio and his wife Melanie are crab fishermen who live on Tubabao Island. They have been fishing since they were teenagers, but now their catch is much smaller and it is sometimes a struggle to feed their family. Leo blames it on the sharp increase in the number of fishermen competing in the same coastal areas, which shortens the time fish and crabs to reproduce. It's a win-win for the community, Norberto said. 'I can provide for my family while protecting the natural resources for my entire community.' This kind of work is achingly hard, and those patrolling protected areas can face pushback from their peers. Neil Montemar, president of the Andulay Fishermen's Association, which works with local government to protect a 15-acre marine sanctuary, said he initially faced violent reactions. 'The fishermen felt they were being denied their cultural rights,' he said. Attitudes softened, however, as people began to understand the benefits. More volunteers joined. There are now increasing numbers of fish outside the protected areas, and protected areas are now providing income from tourism, he said. At night, the fishermen of Siaton go spearfishing to put extra food on their tables. It is one of the most sustainable methods of fishing, because it lets fishermen be the most selective by quantity, size, and species, and do not require bait. Leo Betorio and his wife Melanie hold a female crab with a cluster of orange eggs under her apron. Although this type of crab is more valuable on the market, Leo and Melanie bring them to an onshore crab hatchery, organized by their community to promote repopulation. To combat rising water temperatures and the spread of disease, seaweed farmers in the Zamboanga Sibugay Gulf are relocating their farms to deeper waters and planting mangroves along the coast to prevent sediment from mountain floods and improve water quality. 'Everyone should take responsibility and do their part to protect the sanctuary because it is our bank and if we do not take care of it, we will lose everything,' Montemar said. Another huge issue for the fishing industry, and food security in the Philippines, is the destruction of the country's mangrove forests. For decades, mangroves were seen by many as an obstacle to navigation and a source of wood for timber and charcoal. Acres of these coastal jungles, which also store planet-heating carbon, have also been razed to make way for commercial fishponds. Some communities are trying to reverse this trend, as they increasingly recognize the decline of mangroves is accompanied by a decline in catches. Small-scale fishermen's alliances dedicated to restoring these ecosystems have sprung up. Angela measures the height of a planted mangrove on Handayan Island, in order to monitor its growth. The deep root networks of mangrove forests hold land together, providing protection for communities vulnerable to sea level rise and severe weather. A statue of a parrotfish has been erected in Ipil, near the Buluan Marine Sanctuary and other areas of mangrove restoration, to symbolize and celebrate the community's shift away from destructive fishing practices. Thanks to the restoration of the mangrove ecosystem, a suitable habitat has been created for the cultivation of "talaba" or mud oysters. Their cultivation is extremely advantageous for its low cost and high yield. Fisherman Roberto 'Ka Dodoy' Ballon, leads KGMC, a community organization in Kabasalan set up in 1986. Its aim is to end destructive fishing practices and restore mangroves. The organization has so far replanted nearly 15,000 acres, and the community has seen results, with numbers of groupers, crabs, clams and shrimps increasing significantly. Kabasalan is now one of the few places in the Philippines with a productive wild shrimp fishery, increasing the income of fishing families. Ballon was recognized for his work with the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award, often called the Nobel Prize of Asia, in 2021. Roberto "Ka Dodoy" Ballon realized that the mangrove ecosystem must be preserved for marine life to serve as a constant source of food and to guarantee livelihoods. Since the restoration of its mangroves, Kabasalan is one of the few places in the Philippines with a productive wild shrimp fishery. Handayan Island, in the province of Bohol, is also focusing on mangroves. The island was struck hard by Super Typhoon Odette in 2011, with many losing their homes and livelihoods. Communities started reforesting in 2021, supported by the Zoological Society of London, with the aim of restoring mangroves as a natural barrier to help protect them from destructive storms: their deep roots help absorb energy from storm surges and protect against erosion, while the trunk, leaves and branches above act as a natural wind break. Small-scale fishers in the Philippines are on the front line of a climate crisis beyond their control: from intensifying storms to ocean warming and acidification that destroys the coral reef on which their fishing depends. Children ride tricycles and bicycles down a boardwalk in the village on Maliwaliw Island. Fish swim in the Buluan Island Marine Sanctuary. Men clean fish in Guiuan. Ultimately, fishing may cease to be the nation's lifeblood, said Søren Knudsen, director of the non-profit Marine Conservation Philippines. 'The future of coastal communities in the Philippines is not based on a fishing ocean economy, but rather tourism and services,' he said. But for now, coastal communities are battling for survival and showing how important community action can be. 'The whole ecosystem is part of our lives,' said KGMC's Ballon . 'Without the sea, the mangroves, the rivers, we are nothing. We must protect our natural resources, not only for our own benefit, but more importantly for future generations.' A boat is steered through Kabasalan, known throughout the Philippines for its ecosystem restoration and rich fisheries
CNN
28-06-2025
- Climate
- CNN
Threatened by supercharged storms and rising oceans, Filipino fishing communities are fighting for their lives
Simplicio Calicoy was celebrating his birthday outside his daughter's home on Maliwaliw Island in the Philippines when strong winds started to whip around them. The fisherman and his family rushed inside but the gusts began to tear apart the house. Desperate to escape, they found the door pinned shut by the wind, forcing them to squeeze through a window. Calicoy was hit by a steel rod swinging from the ceiling, blinding him in one eye. When he returned to the village hours later, 'there was nothing left,' he said. Calicoy and his family were lucky to survive Super Typhoon Haiyan, known to Filipinos as Yolanda, one of the most powerful tropical cyclones in recorded history, which devastated the Philippines in November 2013. It killed at least 6,000 people, wrecked tens of thousands of boats and devastated the fishing industry people like Calicoy depend on for their survival. Simplicio Calicoy was partially blinded while escaping the destruction of Super Typhoon Haiyan. The Philippines is a cluster of more than 7,600 islands, which lie between the Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea and are home to around 115 million people. Here, the ocean is everything. The country boasts 10,400 square miles of some of the planet's most biodiverse coral reef and its fishing industry is its lifeblood, providing around 1.6 million jobs and the main source of protein for Filipino families. But this industry is under threat as the human-caused climate crisis raises sea levels and supercharges the storms that increasingly batter the country. The Philippines is one of the most vulnerable places to typhoons in the world. Last year it was pummeled by a record-breaking six consecutive storms in just 30 days. On Maliwaliw Island, the non-government organization Guiuan Development Foundation Inc. organized the relocation of the entire village to a safer location, using private funds to purchase land and build new homes. Rosalie Inso, pictured with her son Raymark, is the president of the Barangay Buluan Fisherfolk Organization, which works to protect the marine resources in their area. Children in the municipality of Kabasalan take fish their family caught to the local market to sell. A fisherman on Tubabao Island stands on the bow of his family's boat. Decades of environmental destruction make the country even more vulnerable. Mangrove forests, which buffer the coast against storms and provide vital habitats for marine life, have been razed. Some fishers are also turning to Illegal, destructive fishing practices such as trawling, dynamite, and cyanide, as ocean resources dwindle and incomes fall. The picture looks bleak, but small-scale fishers throughout the country are trying to reverse these trends and preserve the industry for future generations. They are protecting the ocean, restoring ecosystems and rethinking the way they fish. It's a tough job and an uphill battle in the face of the escalating impacts of a global climate crisis for which richer countries bear overwhelming responsibility. But it's yielding results. Sergio Badilla and his son Junior fish using a baklad, or fish corral — a stationary trap consisting of rows of bamboo poles, plastic nets, and other materials fenced with split bamboo or wire mesh, with one or more enclosures, featuring an easy entry but difficult exit. Although widely used and regulated in the Philippines, baklads, like this one seen off Tubabao Island, are considered unsustainable because they are permanently installed in coastal waters and indiscriminately trap whatever enters them. There are more than 1,800 marine protected areas in the Philippines — slices of ocean supposed to be safeguarded from human destruction — but corruption, lack of resources, and pressures from the powerful commercial fishing industry have made enforcement a challenge. Community-based volunteers across the country have responded by setting up Bantay Dagat, or Sea Patrol, where local people patrol marine sanctuaries around the clock from guard houses and boats. They use lights, binoculars and megaphones to warn fishers away and have the power to detain anyone found illegally fishing and hand them over to the police. Norberto, Ruben and Ramil are part of a sea patrol monitoring the Buluan Marine Sanctuary in the southern Philippines, where illegal fishing used to be rampant. They say their work is having an impact. Would-be illegal fishers are 'more afraid because they know there's law enforcement now, and they don't want to be fined or end up in jail,' Ruben said. Neil Montemar is the president of the Andulay Fishermen's Association, an organization that works with the local government unit to protect a 15-acre marine sanctuary. 'Monitoring the sanctuary is hard work,' Mentemar said, 'because there will always be people who try to break the rules and fish inside the sanctuary, especially at night.' Leo Betorio and his wife Melanie are crab fishermen who live on Tubabao Island. They have been fishing since they were teenagers, but now their catch is much smaller and it is sometimes a struggle to feed their family. Leo blames it on the sharp increase in the number of fishermen competing in the same coastal areas, which shortens the time fish and crabs to reproduce. It's a win-win for the community, Norberto said. 'I can provide for my family while protecting the natural resources for my entire community.' This kind of work is achingly hard, and those patrolling protected areas can face pushback from their peers. Neil Montemar, president of the Andulay Fishermen's Association, which works with local government to protect a 15-acre marine sanctuary, said he initially faced violent reactions. 'The fishermen felt they were being denied their cultural rights,' he said. Attitudes softened, however, as people began to understand the benefits. More volunteers joined. There are now increasing numbers of fish outside the protected areas, and protected areas are now providing income from tourism, he said. At night, the fishermen of Siaton go spearfishing to put extra food on their tables. It is one of the most sustainable methods of fishing, because it lets fishermen be the most selective by quantity, size, and species, and do not require bait. Leo Betorio and his wife Melanie hold a female crab with a cluster of orange eggs under her apron. Although this type of crab is more valuable on the market, Leo and Melanie bring them to an onshore crab hatchery, organized by their community to promote repopulation. To combat rising water temperatures and the spread of disease, seaweed farmers in the Zamboanga Sibugay Gulf are relocating their farms to deeper waters and planting mangroves along the coast to prevent sediment from mountain floods and improve water quality. 'Everyone should take responsibility and do their part to protect the sanctuary because it is our bank and if we do not take care of it, we will lose everything,' Montemar said. Another huge issue for the fishing industry, and food security in the Philippines, is the destruction of the country's mangrove forests. For decades, mangroves were seen by many as an obstacle to navigation and a source of wood for timber and charcoal. Acres of these coastal jungles, which also store planet-heating carbon, have also been razed to make way for commercial fishponds. Some communities are trying to reverse this trend, as they increasingly recognize the decline of mangroves is accompanied by a decline in catches. Small-scale fishermen's alliances dedicated to restoring these ecosystems have sprung up. Angela measures the height of a planted mangrove on Handayan Island, in order to monitor its growth. The deep root networks of mangrove forests hold land together, providing protection for communities vulnerable to sea level rise and severe weather. A statue of a parrotfish has been erected in Ipil, near the Buluan Marine Sanctuary and other areas of mangrove restoration, to symbolize and celebrate the community's shift away from destructive fishing practices. Thanks to the restoration of the mangrove ecosystem, a suitable habitat has been created for the cultivation of "talaba" or mud oysters. Their cultivation is extremely advantageous for its low cost and high yield. Fisherman Roberto 'Ka Dodoy' Ballon, leads KGMC, a community organization in Kabasalan set up in 1986. Its aim is to end destructive fishing practices and restore mangroves. The organization has so far replanted nearly 15,000 acres, and the community has seen results, with numbers of groupers, crabs, clams and shrimps increasing significantly. Kabasalan is now one of the few places in the Philippines with a productive wild shrimp fishery, increasing the income of fishing families. Ballon was recognized for his work with the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award, often called the Nobel Prize of Asia, in 2021. Roberto "Ka Dodoy" Ballon realized that the mangrove ecosystem must be preserved for marine life to serve as a constant source of food and to guarantee livelihoods. Since the restoration of its mangroves, Kabasalan is one of the few places in the Philippines with a productive wild shrimp fishery. Handayan Island, in the province of Bohol, is also focusing on mangroves. The island was struck hard by Super Typhoon Odette in 2011, with many losing their homes and livelihoods. Communities started reforesting in 2021, supported by the Zoological Society of London, with the aim of restoring mangroves as a natural barrier to help protect them from destructive storms: their deep roots help absorb energy from storm surges and protect against erosion, while the trunk, leaves and branches above act as a natural wind break. Small-scale fishers in the Philippines are on the front line of a climate crisis beyond their control: from intensifying storms to ocean warming and acidification that destroys the coral reef on which their fishing depends. Children ride tricycles and bicycles down a boardwalk in the village on Maliwaliw Island. Fish swim in the Buluan Island Marine Sanctuary. Men clean fish in Guiuan. Ultimately, fishing may cease to be the nation's lifeblood, said Søren Knudsen, director of the non-profit Marine Conservation Philippines. 'The future of coastal communities in the Philippines is not based on a fishing ocean economy, but rather tourism and services,' he said. But for now, coastal communities are battling for survival and showing how important community action can be. 'The whole ecosystem is part of our lives,' said KGMC's Ballon . 'Without the sea, the mangroves, the rivers, we are nothing. We must protect our natural resources, not only for our own benefit, but more importantly for future generations.' A boat is steered through Kabasalan, known throughout the Philippines for its ecosystem restoration and rich fisheries
Express Tribune
24-06-2025
- Climate
- Express Tribune
Monsoon in waiting: Karachi's test for resilience
Every year, with the start of the monsoon season, apprehension grips Karachi's residents. Even though rains symbolize life and the blooming of flowers, the locals view them differently. The 2020 monsoon season saw the city flooded with rainwater, leaving people stranded at work, or stuck at home or in traffic jams, with the streets and roads hardly visible. The financial artery of the metropolis looked like Venice, with water swooping in from all directions. Samra, a banker by profession was stranded on the busy road termed as the 'Wall Street of Pakistan', I.I Chundrigarh road for hours, cars were ineffective as the water flooded the lower flowers and the water level continued to rise as the deluge continued, having left with no other option, she had to go on a truck praying all the time that she would reach home safely. 'It was a nightmare, I mean in this arid land, rain is always welcome, but the 2020 rains, they were another thing, it took four hours to get to my house but everywhere we looked, there was water.' It is to be noted that on August 24, 2020, Karachi experienced 231 mm of rain in a single day, according to Pakistan Meteorological Department, which resulted in urban flooding. Some things are preventable, but the wrath of nature can wipe everything clean: Hurricane Katrina of 2005 and Super Typhoon Haiyan of 2013 not only destroyed the infrastructure but also claimed thousands of lives. The main reason for unprecedented rainfall is the effects of climate change. Pakistan has been declared the fifth most vulnerable country to face the dire consequences of climate change. It is not surprising for people living in Pakistan to witness erratic weather patterns, the hailstorm in Islamabad in the month of May is a clear indication of how unpredictable the weather has become. Karachi, which stands below sea level, is a coastal belt that bears the brunt of nature's fury. In 2022 the city received 62mm of rain in a single day, according to the Met Office — a 260 per cent increase in precipitation. Initially an arid land, Karachi falls in the tropical climate zone, but usually has a drier weather compared to other tropical areas. However, when it rains here, it pours. Climate Change: A Cause for Concern A victim of climate change and population explosion, the city is being served by an old drainage system, which is mostly clogged due to garbage, with the outfalls facing the same problem, resulting in suffering for the residents. When Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab was the city administrator in 2022, The New York Times had quoted him as saying that the city was not ready for such a heavy deluge as the sewerage system was very old. Given the severity of the situation, the Sindh government has undertaken the task of restoring some semblance of normalcy in the city that was submerged by water. Compared to the rest of the metropolis, DHA fared better, but it does not mean that there was no water in and around the low-lying areas. Areas like Nishat Commercial, Badar Commercial and Phase II were flooded by rainwater. However, with the help of dewatering pumps, the DHA administration managed to drain the water. Arshad has a shop in Nishat Commercial and he recalls how the water came rushing into the shop. 'It was quite bad, that rain and some of the goods were affected, luckily I had shifted the goods to a higher place, and then DHA Karachi came with dewatering pumps which was a great gesture.' Arshad says, 'rain is a blessing but in the case of Karachi, we can do well without the blessing. My residence is at Korangi and that entire area was submerged.' This is what led to the Storm Water Drain Project, which began in September 2022. It focuses on building and expanding the drainage system extensively. Most of the work has been completed, with dewatering pumps dealing with different cusecs of water on standby, fire brigades on high alert, and ambulances and relief camps on standby. As of now, 74 km of new drains have been constructed. However, after 2024 rains, where some areas were still affected as they were in lower ground, additional drains (5.06km) are under construction, which are to be completed shortly. CBC is also ensuring the functionality of old drains which is (43 km) for optimized/ integrated use of drain system by removing of illegal sewerage connection by CBC. DHA seems to be prepared for monsoon. What little one could gather about their preparedness was witnessed during the unpredicted rain on March 1, showing that the low-lying areas were not affected as in 2022. As dealing with monsoon remains a collective responsibility, the onus lies on the people as well, they should ensure that no garbage is thrown in the Storm Water Drain and no sewage is connected to it. The task is immense, but only the monsoon rains can give a clearer picture of how well the entire city can deal with a possible deluge. One can only hope for the best for Karachi. Beena Khan is a journalist based in Karachi Beena Khan is a journalist based in Karachi
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Shared loss': Filipino Catholics bid Pope Francis farewell
Filipino faithful prayed the rosary inside a Manila church on Saturday as the funeral of Pope Francis played overhead on large screens. Young people crowded into the front rows of the Sacred Heart Parish Shrine, where a trio of large fans kept parishioners cool as four days of national mourning in Asia's Catholic bastion neared an end. Giving people a place to share their pain and loss was an "act of gratitude," parish priest Father Randy Flores told AFP. "Pope Francis is special for Filipinos because he came here and we saw his impact on the faithful, especially his message of peace and caring for the vulnerable and the poor," Flores said. "Filipinos really love him." Known to many Filipinos as "Lolo Kiko", or "grandfather Francis", the pope visited in 2015, when he ministered to the survivors of Super Typhoon Haiyan, the deadliest storm in the country's history. Within hours of the announcement of his death this week, bells were rung and requiem masses were held at churches across the country of more than 90 million Catholics. On Saturday, as Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re delivered his homily in Rome, Joylene Sto. Domingo, 38, recounted how she had strained to catch a glimpse of the pontiff as he passed by on the streets of the capital. You could feel his kindness even from afar, the church youth advisor said. "As the faithful, our faith was reenergised and doubled" by his visit, she said. "He really cared for our youth," she added. "That's why he is our pope." Nedji Lee, a grade 9 student and parish volunteer, told AFP his own fondest memory of Pope Francis had come courtesy of a TikTok video. "He was asked if he could grant only one miracle (what would it be), and he answered that he wanted to heal all the sick children," the 16-year-old remembered. "It made me want to be a better person, a better Catholic." The funeral in Rome was still ongoing when the Manila service concluded. Some stayed and watched silently as the pageantry unfolded on the screens. The young people gathered around a framed photo of the pontiff to snap a group picture, then rushed off for promised snacks. Sister Imaniar Rusani, an Indonesian nun assigned to the Philippines, told AFP she had come to the service because it felt right to be with fellow believers for the funeral. "It's good to be with the people," she said, adding she was unbothered by the service being conducted mostly in Filipino, a language she does not speak. "What we have here is shared loss and faith, there's no language for that." pam-cwl/lb
Int'l Business Times
26-04-2025
- General
- Int'l Business Times
'Shared Loss': Filipino Catholics Bid Pope Francis Farewell
Filipino faithful prayed the rosary inside a Manila church on Saturday as the funeral of Pope Francis played overhead on large screens. Young people crowded into the front rows of the Sacred Heart Parish Shrine, where a trio of large fans kept parishioners cool as four days of national mourning in Asia's Catholic bastion neared an end. Giving people a place to share their pain and loss was an "act of gratitude," parish priest Father Randy Flores told AFP. "Pope Francis is special for Filipinos because he came here and we saw his impact on the faithful, especially his message of peace and caring for the vulnerable and the poor," Flores said. "Filipinos really love him." Known to many Filipinos as "Lolo Kiko", or "grandfather Francis", the pope visited in 2015, when he ministered to the survivors of Super Typhoon Haiyan, the deadliest storm in the country's history. Within hours of the announcement of his death this week, bells were rung and requiem masses were held at churches across the country of more than 90 million Catholics. On Saturday, as Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re delivered his homily in Rome, Joylene Sto. Domingo, 38, recounted how she had strained to catch a glimpse of the pontiff as he passed by on the streets of the capital. You could feel his kindness even from afar, the church youth advisor said. "As the faithful, our faith was reenergised and doubled" by his visit, she said. "He really cared for our youth," she added. "That's why he is our pope." Nedji Lee, a grade 9 student and parish volunteer, told AFP his own fondest memory of Pope Francis had come courtesy of a TikTok video. "He was asked if he could grant only one miracle (what would it be), and he answered that he wanted to heal all the sick children," the 16-year-old remembered. "It made me want to be a better person, a better Catholic." The funeral in Rome was still ongoing when the Manila service concluded. Some stayed and watched silently as the pageantry unfolded on the screens. The young people gathered around a framed photo of the pontiff to snap a group picture, then rushed off for promised snacks. Sister Imaniar Rusani, an Indonesian nun assigned to the Philippines, told AFP she had come to the service because it felt right to be with fellow believers for the funeral. "It's good to be with the people," she said, adding she was unbothered by the service being conducted mostly in Filipino, a language she does not speak. "What we have here is shared loss and faith, there's no language for that." Pope Francis was known to many Filipinos as 'Lolo Kiko' AFP
