TACLOBAN CITY – As Pope Francis continues to battle health issues, one family he personally met during his visit to this city 10 years ago is among those fervently praying for his recovery.
During his historic visit on January 17, 2015, in the aftermath of Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ (international name: Haiyan), the Pontiff made an unexpected stop at the home of Jenita Aguilar, 54, in the San Jose district, the area worst hit by the typhoon.
The visit took place on his way to the cathedral in Palo, Leyte.
“We learned about the Pope’s condition through social media, and since then, we have been praying daily for his fast recovery,” Aguilar shared in an interview on Tuesday, March 4 at their home in Pope Francis-SM Cares Village, a resettlement site in Barangay New Kawayan for Yolanda survivors who lost their homes.
She expressed confidence that their prayers would help the Pope regain his strength.
“I still remember the moment we met him. His hands were so soft, and his voice was gentle. He placed his hands on our heads as he blessed us,” Aguilar recalled, speaking of her personal encounter with the now-ailing Pontiff.
The visit, she said, was a complete surprise.
“We were just outside our house in Barangay 86, San Jose, waiting for the Pope’s convoy to pass by when suddenly, he stopped at our home. No one had informed us that he would be visiting,” she said, adding that the brief encounter lasted only a few minutes.
One of the Pope’s security personnel handed them a rosary, which they have kept at their altar as a cherished souvenir.
Aside from Aguilar, Pope Francis also blessed her husband, Ruby, 48, their daughter Elizabeth, and the families of her three siblings.
The Aguilar family’s joy was bittersweet, as they had suffered a devastating loss during Yolanda.
Their son, Rodgen, who was seven years old at the time, was swept away by the storm surge.
“We were taking shelter at the house of a relative when the storm surge hit us, and I lost my grip on him. We searched for his body, but we never found him,” Aguilar said, her voice filled with emotion.
Several of their relatives also perished in the typhoon.
Since May 2015, the Aguilars have been living in Pope Francis-SM Cares Village, one of the resettlement communities established for survivors.
(JOEY A. GABIETA, ROEL T. AMAZONA)
