The human barricade intended to prevent the Pope from being mobbed was unable to prevent disarray from prevailing during the papal visit in the University of Santo Tomas (UST) last January 18.
People were assigned and some volunteered to comprise the human barricade to serve as the shield of the officials and the motorcade of the Pope.
“Wala silang kwenta,” were the words of a UST student who went to see the Pope that day. “No one should have been able to go beyond the barricade . . . They should have been prepared to handle the situation.”
“The people in-charge of guarding the gates did almost nothing,” said Sophia Lene, another UST student. “The people in-charge of guarding the gates did almost nothing . . . They were not able to control the incoming people.”
Many were disappointed with the inability of these people who were tasked to keep order to do their job. “May volunteer na sumisingit kasi late sila,” a source observed.
There are mixed opinions on who to rebuke on the issue. Lene remarked, “Hindi naman sa pagiging biased, pero feeling ko naman wala sa mga nag-volunteer ang mali, kung hindi doon mismo sa mga tao na pumasok sa UST.”
The designation of which gates to be opened were not followed. Many people gathered outside the Lacson gate by six o’clock in the morning. This caused the authorities to open the gate even though it was not in the plan. The people charged inside that a stampede almost ensued. “Dapat gates closed na ng 6am pero 5:55 na kami nakapasok,” said an anonymous source.
Not everything was in total chaos. In Plaza de Benavides inside the university, the situation was better. “Medyo maayos naman ang pag-control. Nothing went wrong,” said Lene. Behind the UST Main Building, it was another story. “Naging magulo. Nagpumilit ang mga outsiders na lumagpas sa linya. May tulakan talaga na nangyari.”
The university also published a few pointers about items that attendees are not allowed to bring. Some of these are selfie sticks, anything that can be used as a weapon, big bags, pets, and umbrellas. Even this was not heeded by the public. “Merong may dalang monopod . . . May nagdala ng payong pero dapat iyong bigay lang ng UST [ang pwede] pero may dala pa rin,” recounted a source.
Others feel ashamed about this behavior of the masses. “Pope iyong pupunta pero walang order. Hindi ba nakakahiya? Sana magkaroon na ng order kasi hindi dapat tayo makuntento ng walang order,” said the unnamed informant.
In the end, this momentous event is a much appreciated one. “All in all, worth it iyong hintay at pagod,” said the unsourced.
“Nung unang beses ko talaga siya nakita sa may Malacanang, after niyang dumaan, na-teary eyed ako. Tapos iyong kamay ko, sobrang nanginginig,” narrated Lene.
“Lahat ng tao, pagkadaan ni Pope, lahat nakangiti. Parang ang saya-saya kahit sobrang saglit mo lang makita. Iyong aura ng mga tao, iba,” said a confidential source.
In Lene’s peroration, “No words could define the feeling.”
Photo: credits to the owner.
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