World Youth Day 1995

You see, I'm not really a religious person, but in 1995, I found myself as one of the 5 million youths who took part in World Youth day.

Since my sister was part of the Kostka School delegation, Evette and I decided to go, not as formal delegates of MC, but as tag-alongs of the Kostka folks. I think it was more because my parents allowed me to spend a night away from home rather than being fully devoted to the Catholic faith -- selfish, I know.

So Evette and I met up and joined W. and J. and the rest of the Kostka folks where we walked for sooo long and so far to get to Luneta where they stationed themselves. Prior to the big mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II, we hung out and flirted and chatted with Kostka boys, secretly used one of my sister's classmate's binoculars to watch the stars and just generally lazed about on the grass under the stars with dirty hands and full bladders (nobody dared to use the facilities).

When the Pope's caravan started rolling up to Quirino grandstand, we rushed to where the mass was supposed to be and wormed our way to the front of an enormous, 5-million strong crowd. We stood beside some Canadians, one of which I chatted up. Her name's Christine and she mentioned that it was her 2nd time to see the Pope in person. When the Pope appeared onstage, I was completely overwhelmed. It was as if he was made of pure sunlight and his aura was almost tangible. His presence enveloped me with such warmth that I couldn't help but tear up. Christine saw me tearing up and she put her arms around me and said that she cried too when she first saw him.

It was a very strange, indescribable and profound experience, being affected by a complete stranger like that. To date, I have not encountered anybody else who had the same charisma as Pope John Paul II.