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The faith of young Filipinos against Madrid’s “indignados” and secularists
Anti-pope groups’ uncalled-for insults, profanities and provocations touch some Filipino pilgrims. The WYD costs cause controversy. Some of the Filipinos targeted by insults are migrant workers who spent their own money to participate in the event. “Praying for Spain,” a young Filipino said, “is a way to thank its people for bringing Christianity to our land.”
Madrid (AsiaNews/Agencies) – “Young Spaniards are protesting against the pope and you, young people of the WYD, because you represent a challenge to their life,” Mgr William Murphy, archbishop of New York, told Filipino delegates after their arrival in Madrid for World Youth Day. Yesterday, “Indignados” and secularists targeted many of them at Puerta del Sol, covering them with insults, curses and profanities.
The stories of young Filipinos show that on several occasions, anti-pope demonstrators sought confrontation with uncalled-for provocations, not only during their demonstration, but also on the street, in the underground and on buses.
Fr Ramson Rapirap, an official with one of the groups that make up the Filipino delegation, and Jan Dell Posion, a young man from Manila, said that a total stranger insulted them when they were asking for a pharmacy.
“The man realised that we were here for the WYD and started shouting profanities and insults,” the clergyman said.
For Posion, the whole thing came as a shock. He could not understand why. “I just cannot fathom that they brought Christianity to us,” he explained. “Why are there so many anti-Catholic Spanish people now?” he wondered.
Two Filipinos from Dubai, Christ Asero and Rome Jarlego, were involved in another incident. Since they work outside their native country, they took advantage of their few days of holiday to come to the WYD.
“We were walking in Puerta del Sol, when we saw some demonstrators shouting slogans and insults at a group of Italian pilgrims,” Asero said. “Their signs were offensive.”
Noting that most protesters complained about the cost of the WYD, he said, “They don’t know that we paid it with our own money. In addition to the plane ticket, each pilgrim has to pay 400 Euros for the week of meetings and events.”
Erik Santiago, a young Filipino working in Spain, was embarrassed by the provocation and hostile attitudes of many young Spaniards towards Catholics, especially of his age.
His advice to young Filipinos, many of whom are abroad for the first time, is to pray so that these young people may come to know Christ.
“Praying for Spain,” he said, “is a way to thank its people for bringing Christianity to our land.”