An estimated 6 million to 7 million people attended the mass in Luneta yesterday, possibly the biggest papal crowd in history, Vatican officials said. Pope Francis is scheduled to leave the Philippines today following a visit that saw millions warmly welcoming the popular pontiff.
Late last night, organizers announced that Kulturang Placereño won the Sinulog-based category while Tribu Buyoganon of Abuyog, Leyte topped the free interpretation category.
Here are the top stories today, January 19, 2015:
Be outstanding missionaries of faith, Pope Francis tells 6M to 7M people gathered in Luneta
Pope Francis called for the protection of children and of the family in a mass at the Luneta that was attended by what the Vatican described as the biggest papal gathering in history.
“In these days, throughout my visit, I have listened to you sing the song: “We are all God’s children.” That is what the Santo Niño tells us. He reminds us of our deepest identity. All of us are God’s children, members of God’s family. Today Saint Paul has told us that in Christ we have become God’s adopted children, brothers and sisters in Christ. This is who we are. This is our identity. We saw a beautiful expression of this when Filipinos rallied around our brothers and sisters affected by the typhoon,” the Pope said.

Here are some of the things Pope Francis said during his mass in Luneta yesterday and an earlier event with the youth in the University of Santo Tomas.
Filipinos are called to be outstanding missionaries of the faith in Asia.
Certain realities of life we only see through eyes cleansed by our tears. I invite each one here to ask yourself: have I learned how to weep? Have I learned how to weep for the emarginated or for a street child who has a drug problem or for an abused child?
The great question of why so many children suffer, she did this in tears. The response that we can make today is: let us really learn how to weep.
Today, with so many means of communication we are overloaded with information. Is that bad? No. It is good and can help. But there is a real danger of living in a way that we accumulate information. We have so much information but maybe we don’t know what to do with that information.
To be wise use three languages: think well, feel well and do well. And to be wise allow yourselves to be surprised by the love of God. That will guarantee a good life.
- Philippine Daily Inquirer: ‘Let God surprise you’
- Sun.Star: Vatican: Luneta Mass has largest papal crowd in history
- Philippine Star: ‘Bless the Philippines’: Pope prays for peace, integrity, justice

Abuyog, Placer win in Sinulog grand parade; 2.5 million attend event; no classes today
Kulturang Placereño and the Tribu Buyoganon from Abuyog, Leyte topped this year’s Sinulog grand showdown. Although much of the country’s focus was on Pope Francis in Manila, the Sinulog still drew a sizeable crowd estimated by police at 2.5 million, albeit lower than last year’s 3.2 million.
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has ordered no classes today in both public elementary and high schools in Cebu City. He also encouraged private schools not to hold classes.
Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III also suspended classes in all levels, including tertiary, today. For private schools, it will be at the discretion of each school. Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes has also declared no classes in all public school levels today.
Here are the winners of the Sinulog Grand Showdown:
Sinulog-based category
Champion: Kulturang Placereño
2nd place: Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe, Tangub City
3rd place: Carcar City Division
4th place: Tuburan National High School
5th place: Talisay City Central School
Best in Costume: Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe
Best in Musicality: Carcar City Division
Free Interpretation category
Champion: Tribu Buyoganon, Abuyog, Leyte
2nd place: Tribu Lingganay, Alang-Alang, Leyte
3rd place: Tribu Himag-ulaw, Placer, Masbate
4th place: Catbalogan City, Samar
5th place: Lumad Basakanon
Best in Costume: Tribu Lingganay, Alang-Alang, Leyte
Best in Musicality: Tribu Buyoganon, Abuyog, Leyte
Street Dancing
Champion: Lumad Basakanon, Basak San Nicolas, Cebu City
2nd place: Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe, Tangub City
3rd place: Kulturang Placereño, Placer, Masbate
4th place: Tribu Buyoganon, Abuyog, Leyte
5th place: Tribu Lingganay, Alang-Alang, Leyte
- The Freeman: Placer, Abuyog win first place
- Sun.Star Cebu: Sinulog attracts 2.5M: police
- The Freeman: Foreign, local tourists say they enjoyed Sinulog
- The Freeman: No major incident during grand parade; tight security pays off, says Cebu City Police Office Officer-in-charge Conrad Capa
- The Freeman: Politicians absent from Sinulog; only Lito Lapid attended among national politicians
P1.25 per liter cut in gas prices expected today
Petron Corporation, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation (PSPC), Seaoil Philippines Inc., PTT Philippines, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines and Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI) will roll back prices by more than a peso today, according to a report by the Philippine News Agency.
All 6 companies will cut gasoline prices by P1.25 per liter and its various diesel brands by P1.45 per liter. Kerosen products will also be P1.25 per liter cheaper.
The companies said the price cuts mirrors the plunge in oil prices in the international market. (From a PNA report)
Other top stories:
- The Freeman: Gwen says move to create new congressional district by splitting 2nd district will be big help to province
- The Freeman: Commission on Audit calls attention of San Fernando on P5.5 million unliquidated cash advances
- Sun.Star Cebu: Police arrest suspected gang leader for death of police officer’s son
Cebu Business Headlines
- Sun.Star Cebu: HLURB 7 director tells real estate developers to consider building socialized condos to meet housing backlog of 3 million units
- The Freeman: Economist tells furnishing companies: bring together automation, technology, and innovation to keep pace with global recovery
- Sun.Star Cebu: Body and Sole raising funds to build new branch in Mandaue using Facebook; Johnie Lim looking for 20 investors who can put in P25,000 each
- Sun.Star Cebu: Globe to open biggest telecommunications store in Cebu with ‘unique retail experience’