By Emil G. Gamos
GUIGUINTO, Bulacan, Jan. 9 (PNA) — The Papal vestments that Pope Francis will wear when he visits the Philippines next week have been finished.
Ronald Allan Babaran, designer-tailor of Disenyo Sagrada, said the three vestments that Pope Francis will wear in the country next week were adorned with Anahaw leaves, image of Sto. Nino de Cebu, Sampaguita flower and bamboo designs.
Babaran said the vestments were made simple as Pope Francis wants them to be.
The designs were embroidered by local weavers.
“He is a simple Pope and he wants his vestments to be made as simple as possible. He is really a Pope of the masses and the designs will surely blend with the Filipino people,” Babaran said.
He said the symbols emblazoned in the Papal vestments will show that the Holy Pontiff visited the Philippine Islands, a predominantly Catholic country in Asia.
The vestments are scheduled to be delivered Friday afternoon to Manila.
Babaran considered his works on the vestments a blessing, as he said it was seldom that a tailor like him was commissioned to design the official clothes of the Pope.
Aside from the Papal vestments, Babaran said their outfit also made the “estolas” that 2,500 priests will also wear during the Papal visit on January 15-19.
Students from the Lassalete School in San Jose del Monte City will also have opportunity to be with the Pope.
They will act as the Pontifical Swiss Guards complete with uniforms.
Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado said he is glad that Bulakenyos will have a big part during the Papal visit.
“It is so glad that in an extraordinary holy occasion, the Bulakenyos have their own offerings for the Holy Pope,” he said. (PNA)