How to send a gift to the pope

photo from SpecialAchievers

How does one give a gift to the pope? Apparently, it is not that simple specially when you don't have the right connections but it can be done.

Exactly, 25 hours before Pope Francis leaves Manila, Philippines, I was able to hand the gift of 10 child artists with disability to Capt. Skee Tamayo, the pilot of Shepherd One who will bring the pope back to Rome.

Here are the 5 things I learned from that experience.

1.  Keep your eye on the goal
It's surprising that the ones close to me were the same people dissuading me.  "Dear, we have a ticket to his mass. We're only  three rows away from him but I doubt if we can get near him.", explains my father who never says no to me until now.  "You're still at it? You're wasting your time in that!", says a close friend.

I gathered that my family and friends don't want to see me get tired and hurt. So to spare me the pain, they asked me stop midway.  However, it was crystal clear to me that it can be done.  I had this image in my head of Pope Francis receiving the gift- nothing else. That kept me going inspite of whatever everyone's saying.  

My two-cents worth: People will dissuade you.  Move forward anyway.  They do not know what you see.

2.  Do whatever it takes     
After 6 hours of waiting in line, I said I will not do it again.  Come next day, I was running to see Pope Francis again and I never stopped looking for all sorts of ways to hand him the gift until I got it done.

I think that making the seemingly impossible possible is like hammering a metal.  At first, you will not even create a mark.  However, if you keep on pounding the same spot over and over again, you will create a dent.

My two-cents worth: If you want to make things happen, keep on hammering!

3.  Keep the faith
Two days before the pope leaves, I still have no clue how to get the gift to him.  However, the pure desire to get it done is very strong.  I believe it is possible and that strong belief attracted allies.

The article asking for help to have the gift sent to the pope was published an hour after it was submitted.  A stranger was moved by the story and contacted Capt. Skee Tamayo, the pilot of Sheperd One who will fly Pope Francis to Rome.  

My two-cents worth: If you believe with all your heart.  Doors will open.

4.  Storm the heavens
They say "take a step of courage and God will give a thousand-fold help".  After all has been said and done, there's nothing else to do but wait.  The waiting time though can make the heart falter of even the fearless.  To anchor me, I kept on holding on to The One who inspired me to do it.

My two-cents worth:  Pray and meditate.  It works!

5. Never, never, never, never, never, never, never give up
Did i say never give up?

My two-cents worth: Never give-up.

Pope Francis in his mass in Luneta said, “We forget to remain, at heart, children of God.”  

That for me translates to, sometimes forgetting that I am powerful enough to make the seemingly impossible possible.  If I am a child of the Almighty Authority Father then I am heir to his might and authority as well.  As long I remember who I am, anything is possible!    

A gift for the pope of children

How do you give a pope a gift from children? Apparently it's not that simple.

HOPEFUL. The author (with the gift) camps out 

by the island of Quirino Avenue while waiting for Pope Francis' arrival.

"If you think you've done everything you could, then do something more," my colleague shared over lunch.

That's the advice her hopeless romantic friend told her. And it's exactly what I need to hear.

You see, I have this inspiration to send Pope Francis the calendar which features the works of 10 child artists with disability. It's the perfect gift to the people's pope who loves children and who lives and breathes his teaching of mercy and compassion.

I tried to look for contacts who would have access to him during his 5 day visit to the Philippines. There were a few but all of them were convinced that it is impossible to go near him; more so, present him a gift. So, on the day of his arrival, when my friends coaxed me to wait for his motorcade I eagerly obliged; not knowing that the waiting time will take forever (6 hours to be exact). I enjoyed the experience of being one with the whole nation in prayer and excitement but I didn't get to hand him his gift in the 10 seconds that he passed by my line of vision. I found the perfect spot behind the policemen's line along the stretch of Quirino Avenue. If he went down his pope mobile, I could have easily handed the gift to him. Also, my friend made it a point to befriend all the policemen near us so there would be a high probability that they'll allow me to give the item without any commotion. But then, he didn't come down.

On Day 2, I got word that someone was able to hand him a gift at the papal nunciature where he was staying. So, my colleagues and I trooped there. We braved the empty streets and walked miles and miles on end to be able to pass by the back of his residence. Apparently, they decided to barricade the entrance of his home for security purposes. I had my 3 seconds view of Pope Francis and a wave this time around but again I wasn't able to give him the gift.

Then on Day 3, my colleagues, friends and family were all telling me to drop it. But, I am not one who easily gives up. Instead, I sent copies of the calendars to Cardinal Tagle and the bishops involved in the papal visit. I tweeted, sent inquiries online, posted an open letter on Facebook, and wrote messages to the organizations involved via Instagram, but still no word. 

Finally, Day 4, I think I have done everything I could except have this article published. If you're reading this, I hope you share it so this plea gets to Pope Francis and his entourage before he leaves on Monday. I do not intend to present the gift to him face to face. In behalf of the children who will never ever bug anyone to acknowledge them or their works, I pray that I can simply get an address or a contact person so we can send Pope Francis our love and our very special calendar. This, my friends, is my 'something more'.

The author hands the gift to Captain Skee Tamayo, the PAL head pilot who flew 

Shepherd One from Manila to Rome. Tamayo had already confirmed that the gifts
have been given to Pope's closest aide, Dr. Gasbari.

This article was first published in rappler.com.

It's not mine

painting from SpecialAchievers

I promised myself that I will never be a mother- at least in this lifetime.  I broke it. 

Two years ago, I gave birth to an idea (with 3 other colleagues and a 65 year old consultant).  Just like any mother will tell you, carrying the concept around for months is not convenient at all. Then the process of bringing it out to the world is painstaking.  The months that follow is even more difficult- it requires so much attention that I missed out on my oh-so-precious sleep and me-time.  It is so demanding that there were moments when I wish it was never born.  However, it was too late to sack it.  

Moreover, I do not have the strength to crush it.  It is too beautiful to behold.  I am head over heels over with it like a hopeless romantic.  I don't like it though that it makes heart go up and down like a rollercoaster.  If it's doing well, then I am happy.  When uncertainty creeps in, I shake in fear. And, when things get tough, my heart falters.

For awhile, it became an extension of me.  For a time, my life hanged on its thread and there were moments when I value it more than myself.

I guess, this is what my Teacher calls attachment.  He always say "remove your heart from this old world because it will only give you sorrow".

Now, I understand.  Anything which I label mine can pull me up, down or around.  I thought it makes me bigger and better but it only makes me a slave just like a dog tied to a rope.

Now, I know.  I will let it live but I will not write my name on it.  It is Yours now.  I don't want anything from it.  I will hold it only for as long as You want me to oversee things.  I can let it go in a blink of an eye.  It is Yours.  So, You will have to carry its basket of burdens. I am simply a caretaker.  I am not responsible, You are.

Now, I can sleep.