LIVESTREAM: Pope Francis now at Rizal Park for Holy Mass (January 18, 2015)

MANILA, Philippines - Pope Francis has arrived at Quirino Grandstand in Rizal (Luneta) Park for a culminating holy mass themed "Mass of Mercy and Compassion" at 3:30pm on Sunday, January 18, 2015, that is expected to attract around six million worshipers from around the country.

Pope Francis which arrived at the park at 2:39 pm was welcomed by a Sinulog dance as he goes around the area to meet the crowd.

Reports said that the Mass will be in English and Filipino. The Prayers for the Faithful will be in Hiligaynon, Kapampangan, Ilokano, Cebuano, Waray and Bicolano, with English translations, which will be printed in an eight-page missalette to be distributed at the venue before the Mass begins.

Malacañang Palace eyes for the historic papal visit this year to draw bigger than the record five million that turned out for Pope John Paul II’s mass in the same venue during the World Youth Day celebration on Jan. 15, 1995.

Rizal Park covers an area of 6 million square feet or 560,000 square meters, which would mean one person per square foot.

The Philippine National Police has deployed a total of 20,000 policemen stationed around Rizal Park to ensure the public's safety.

The land facing Quirino Grandstand is on limited slot, roughly 2 hectares, and will definitely not be able to accommodate more than six million people safely. Area security will only roughly 700,000 to enter.

To encourage people to come to Rizal Park and participate in the holy mass, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle issued a circular canceling all afternoon masses scheduled today in Catholic churches under the Archdiocese of Manila.

Earlier, Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II advised that gates of the park shall be closed at 1:30 p.m. There will be “express lanes” for people without bags, Roxas added.

On Sunday morning, the Pope met the religious leaders and young people at the Pontifical University of Santo Tomas in Manila.

Here's the official livestream feed of Papal Visit Activities at the Rizal Park ( video courtesy of RTVMalacañang):



Alternative Livestream Channel: Pope in the Philippines - Holy Mass in Luneta Park (Courtesy of Vatican)

'Bagyong Amang' PAGASA weather update, storm signal (January 18, 2015)

MANILA, Philippines - State weather bureau PAGASA on its 11:00am update today, January 18, 2015 said that 'Bagyong Amang' (Mekkhala) has slightly weakened after making landfall in Camarines Sur.

At 10:00 AM today, the center of 'Bagyong Amang' was estimated based on all available data including Virac and Cebu Doppler Radars at 100 km West Northwest of Virac, Catanduanes Samar or at the vicinity of Camarines Sur (13.9°N, 123.4°E).

The tropical storm has a maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph. It is forecast to move Northwest at 15 kph.

Tropical Storm 'Amang' Forecast Positions:

• 24 hour (Tomorrow morning): 90 km North Northeast Casiguran, Aurora
• 48 hour (Tuesday morning): 225 km East Southeast of Basco, Batanes
• 72 hour (Wednesday morning): 475 km Northeast of Itbayat, Batanes

Public Storm Warning Signal (PSWS) #2 (Winds of 61-100 kph is expected in at least 24 hrs): Catanduanes, Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Quezon incl. Polillo Island and Aurora. These areas will have stormy weather with heavy to intense rains. Residents along coastal areas are alerted against possible Storm surges.

PSWS #1 (Winds of 30-60 kph is expected in at least 36 hrs): Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Batangas, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Quirino, Isabela, Sorsogon, Masbate, Burias Island incl. Ticao Island, Marinduque, Northern Samar, Northern part of Eastern Samar and Northern part of Samar.

The estimated rainfall amount is from 7.5 – 20 mm per hour (heavy - intense) within the 350 km diameter of the Tropical Storm.

Residents in low lying and mountainous areas of the provinces with PSWS#2 and #1 are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides.
Ocean waves may reach up to 6.0 meters within the 350 km diameter of the storm.

Fisherfolks and those with small seacrafts are advised not to venture out over the seaboards of Luzon, Visayas and the eastern seaboard of Mindanao.

LIVESTREAM: Meeting with the Youth in UST (January 18, 2015)

MANILA, Philippines - Pope Francis itinerary for today, January 18, 2015, Day 4 of his visit in the country will go as planned as His Holiness will meet and bless large crowds for the Meeting with the Youth at the Sports Field of University of Santo Tomas (UST).

Religious, elderly and youth gathered up early in UST to see Pope Francis.

Reports said an estimate of 24,000 representatives from the youth sector set for an encounter this morning.

In the youth meeting which is open to the public, Pope Francis will deliver his message, followed by prayers and intercessions to be given by 7 youth delegates, speaking in different dialects, from different parts of the country.

The Pope will also lead the praying of the Angelus at around noon, afterwhich he would leave the university.

Early on Sunday, thousands flock to the university trying to inch closer to the gates of UST.

Pope Francis is scheduled also to meet religious leaders of the 404-year-old University of Santo Tomas in Manila.

The Vatican pontiff's visit to the Philippines traditionally include an audience inside the Dominican-run university, honored with the title "pontifical" by Pope Leo XIII in 1902.

Sunday, January, 18, 2015 Papal Visit Schedule

09:45 Brief Meeting with the Religious Leaders of the Philippines at the Pontifical University of Santo Tomas in Manila

10:30 MEETING WITH THE YOUTH at the Sports Field of the University

15:30 HOLY MASS at Rizal Park in Manila

Here's the official livestream feed of Papal Visit Activities in the University of Santo Tomas (video courtesy of RTVMalacañang):



Alternative Livestream Channel: Pope in Philippines - Meeting with the Youth (Courtesy of Vatican)

VIDEO: Team Sarah 'The Voice PH' Knockout Rounds results (January 17, 2015)

MANILA, Philippines -Team Sarah artists showcased their voices and proved they deserve a spot in the Live Shows as they clash in the final knockout rounds of the top-rating and Twitter-trending “The Voice of the Philippines” on Saturday, Jan 17, 2015. Results of the singing competition as well as video of performances are available here.

Some of the artists performed songs that are housed in their own genres, while the others stepped out of their comfort zones in order to pursuade Coach Sarah to pick them for its Top 6-member squad.

Demie Fresco, Carol Leus and Shaira Cervancia got eliminated out of the competition. Meanwhile, Coach Sarah picked Monique Lualhati, Poppert Bernadas, Douglas Dagal, Jason Dy, Jason Fernandez and Kokoi Baldo to move on to the Live Shows.

GROUP 1: Monique Lualhati vs Poppert Bernadas vs Demie Fresco

Advanced #1: Monique Lualhati (“I Knew You Were Trouble”)
Advanced #2: Poppert Bernadas (“Natutulog ba ang Diyos”)
Eliminated: Demie Fresco (“My Immortal”)

GROUP 2: Jason Dy vs Carol Leus vs Douglas Dagal

Advanced #1: Jason Dy (“Jar of Hearts”)
Advanced #2: Douglas Dagal (“I Believe I Can Fly”)
Eliminated: Carol Leus (“Open Arms”)

GROUP 3: Jason Fernandez vs Kokoi Baldo vs Shaira Cervancia

Advanced #1: Jason Fernandez (“Push”)
Advanced #2: Kokoi Baldo (“Bilog Na Naman ang Buwan”)
Eliminated: Shaira Cervancia ( “Don’t Stop Believing”)

PLAYLIST: Team Sarah Knockout Rounds (videos courtesy of ABS-CBN/ The Voice PH)


RELATED VIDEOS:
Team Lea 'The Voice PH' Knockout Rounds Results
'The Voice PH' Team Apl Knockout Round Results

Also advancing to the Live Shows to woo the viewing public for votes are Team Lea’s Timmy Pavino, Leah Patricio, Nino Alejandro, Casper Biancaflor, Miro Valera, and Abbey Pineda and Team Apl’s Ferns Tosco, Suy Galvez, Bradley Holmes, Daryl Ong, Alisah Bonaobra, and Mackie Cao.

Don’t miss the final knockouts in “The Voice of the Philippines” Season 2 this Sunday (Jan 11), 8:30 PM on ABS-CBN.

'Bagyong Amang' makes landfall in Dolores, Samar; Signal No. 1 up in Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines - 'Bagyong Amang' (Mekkhala) has made landfall over Dolores, Eastern Samar at 3:00 in the afternoon on Saturday, January 17 and is now crossing Northern, Samar.

At 4:00pm today, the center of 'Bagyong Amang' was estimated based on Doppler Radar and all available data at 60 km North Northeast of Borongan City, Eastern Samar (12.1°N, 125.6°E).

'Amang' has maximum sustained winds of 100 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 130 kph. It is forecast to move Northwest at 19 kph.

Forecast Positions:

• 24 hour (Tomorrow afternoon, January 18): 115 km East Infanta, Quezon.
• 48 hour (Monday afternoon, January 19): 155 km East Northeast of Aparri, Cagayan.
• 72 hour (Tuesday afternoon, January 20): 415 km East Northeast of Basco, Batanes.

Public Storm Warning Signal No. 2 (Winds of 61-100 kph is expected in at least 24 hrs):

LUZON: Catanduanes, Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Southern Quezon Incl. Polillo Island, Sorsogon, Masbate, Burias Island Incl. Ticao Island.

VISAYAS: Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar and Biliran.

IMPACTS OF THE WIND:

• Rice and corn maybe adversely affected
• Few large trees uprooted
• Large number of nipa and cogon houses partially or totally unroofed and old galvanized iron roofs may roll off.
• Billboards/Signage may roll off
• Travel by all types of sea vessels and aircrafts are risky

These areas will have stormy weather with heavy to intense rains. Residents along coastal areas are alerted against possible Storm surges of less than 2 meters.

Public Storm Warning Signal No. 1 (Winds of 30-60 kph is expected in at least 36 hrs)

LUZON : Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Batangas, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Quirino, Isabela, Rest of Quezon, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro and Romblon.

VISAYAS: Leyte, Southern Leyte, Extreme Northern Cebu Incl. Bantayan Island and Camotes Island.

IMPACTS OF THE WIND

• Twigs and branches of trees maybe broken
• Some banana plants may tilt or land flat on the ground
• Rice in flowering stage may suffer significant damage
• Some nipa and cogon houses maybe partially unroofed
• Sea travel of small sea crafts and fishing boats is risky
• These areas will have occasional rains with occasional gusty winds.

The estimated rainfall amount is from 7.5 – 20 mm per hour (heavy - intense) within the 400 km diameter of the Tropical Storm.

Residents in low lying and mountainous areas of the provinces with PSWS#2 and #1 are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides.

Ocean waves may reach up to 9 meters within the diameter of the storm.

Fisherfolks and those with small seacrafts are advised not to venture out over the seaboards of Luzon, Visayas and the eastern seaboard of Mindanao.

27-year old woman dies in accident after Tacloban Papal Mass

TACLOBAN, Philippines - A 27-year-old woman from Bicol died at Tacloban airport just after the Mass officiated by Pope Francis on Saturday afternoon, January 17.

Papal mass volunteer died after a freak accident | Credit: UCAN/ABS-CBN News

The Yolanda aid worker Kristel Mae Padasas was dead on arrival at around 2 pm at the St Paul's Hospital in Tacloban City. She worked with the Catholic Relief Service during the Yolanda humanitarian crisis.

Fr. Amadeo Alvero, Palo Archdiocese' Social Communications Director said the accident was due to scaffoldings of a speaker near the altar that fell on her.

The scaffolding hit her in the chest and pinned her to the ground. Health Secretary Janette Garin said the cause of death was "massive blood loss."

"Nahulog dahil sa hangin," he noted, adding that the large crowd that gathered for the event had nothing to do with the accident.

Alvero added that Padasas was one of many volunteers helping at the mass the pope, which police said attracted a crowd of about 200,000 people.

Pope Francis cut short his trip to Leyte due to bad weather condition as tropical storm Amang (Mekkhala) threatens Eastern Visayas. Amang is the first storm or typhoon to hit the Philippines this 2015.

IN PHOTOS: Plane carrying Palace officials skids off Tacloban runway

TACLOBAN, Philippines - A private plane carrrying 11 government officials skidded off the runway of Tacloban International Airport in few minutes after Pope Francis departure on Saturday afternoon.

Private plane carrying cabinet officials skids off runway | Credit: @jeffcanoy

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa and Communications Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. were on board the Global Express Bombardier jet. Those on board also includes Undersecretary Emmanuel Bautista and the officials’ staff and security.

Cabinet officials were in Tacloban for the Papal visit in Tacloban City, Leyte.

Police official in Tacloban said all 11 people onboard the plane are safe.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino, who was on a separate plane, said the first plane was already taxiing and ready to take off when something happened.

"Kapansin-pansin sa mga nanonood na nagbago ang arangkada ng eroplano," he said.

Here are some photos of the accident at Daniel Z. Romualdez airport in Tacloban City (Photos courtesy of Jeff Canoy via Twitter)

Tacloban officials at the airport said they heard what seemed like an explosion on one of the tires before the rented plane by government skidded the runway.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda in a statement said that passengers of the plane did not sustain any injuries and families of those on board have also been notified that the passengers are safe.

“The President was happy to hear that all on board were safe and directed the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to investigate whether the proximate cause of the incident was weather-related or otherwise,” Lacierda said.

PAGASA raised Storm Signal No. 2 over Northern Samar, Eastern Samar and Samar and Leyte including Biliran due to Tropical Storm Amang.