And there was the Pope asking Cardinal Tagle; “How many, how many?” The Pope, the whole world, and even the Philippines itself were all stunned at the sight of almost 7 million people gathering at one place. It is said that almost 7 million people were there at Pope Francis’ mass at Quirino Grandstand, now that’s another thing to write down in history.
Behind this astonishing fact, one of the questions that many people are asking about is; “why?” How come they’ve reached almost 7 million? What motivated them to come? What’s the reason behind this? Why 7 million?
One reason could be that “the Filipino people are hungry for this kind of leader.” This is the kind of example the Filipinos have been looking for all the while. The Filipinos have been through a lot of corrupt or so to say “bad” leaders already and now here comes a man of mercy and compassion. A man who’s a man of his words. A man who’s down to earth. A man who can connect with any kind of individual may it be rich or poor. A man whose charism is unlike any other leader we have known. He’s just too good to be true, but here he is in our midst. These maybe the reasons why. Filipinos cannot just let go of the chance to witness this man personally. “Right there in front of them.” It is not every day that a man like this comes our way; “So why not grab the chance?” This could have been what just motivated most of these 7 million people.
But another reason to consider is this “inner ring.” People want to be in this inner ring. The circle of the elite, the unique, the exclusive, the one of a kind. Some people may have been there just for the sake of “I was there,” “I am one of those 7 million.” Some just want to be counted in. “I saw the Pope” (but you did not, not all did, so I’m unique, I’m different). And there, at the end of the day, it is not the experience they enjoyed the most. It is the fact, the news that they could post on their walls on FB, the news that they can brag about.
This fact “of seeing the Pope” is something unique and honorable, beautiful in a sense. This “beauty” is that which makes it socially acceptable especially in the Filipino mindset. Beauty for us Filipinos is socially acceptable, very acceptable. This inner ring, this social acceptability is what might have motivated some.
Frankly speaking, one of the things that motivated me to really do my best not to be left out by my companions among the crowd on the way to Quirino Grandstand (other than my sincere intentions of seeing the Pope up-close and personal) is that I don’t want to be “not included with those who saw the Pope.” You know that feeling of “You don’t belong?” That was what I was avoiding, and that pushed me to continue struggle to reach a better spot at Quirino Grandstand. That really bothered me and motivated me to be one of those who really got close to where the Pope would pass by. Now this is a concrete example of the hunger for the “inner ring.”
I’m not being pessimistic here and more importantly, this is not to say that the 7 million people there were not sincere with their intentions. Who knows? Nobody can tell and who am I to judge. This is just a reflection on how the inner ring works. It makes people do extra ordinary things. Well, this is most prevalent among us Filipinos since what’s beautiful, especially in the eyes of others is socially acceptable for us – and this is what most of us strive for.
– Raymond B. Pasco
Philo Notes 