Tagle takes PNoy political jabs in stride, urges Pinoys to keep focus on papal visit

"While the speech of the President is important. I hope we don't lose our focus on the Pope, because the Pope will only be here for a few days, while the President stays," said Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said Friday in an effort keep news media sights on the papal visit instead of politics.

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Migration, materialism threaten Filipino families - Pope Francis

Speaking to families at Mall of Asia Arena on Friday, Pope Francis warned against the adverse impact of migration and materialism on Filipino families.

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Pope Francis: The Catholic Church's future is here in Asia

First he was impressed. On the second day of Pope Francis' five-day state visit and apostolic journey to the Philippines, he was wowed by the Filipinos.

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PHOTO GALLERY: Pope Francis' second day in the Philippines

Pope Francis had a busy second day in the Philippines, meeting with President Benigno Aquino III at Malacañang Palace, saying mass at Manila Cathedral, and having an encounter with Filipino families at Mall of Asia Arena. Check out scenes from his day below:

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LOOK: Pope Francis gives PNoy a nautical atlas

Pope Francis on Friday gave a President Benigno Aquino III a gift during their meeting in Malacañang.

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#BlessedByThePope: What Pope Francis told parents of sick child

When Pope Francis met with families at the "Encounter with Families" event at Mall of Asia Arena, he urged them to protect the family and urged them to even go out of it an look for the isolated, the lonely, "and show them that God has not forgotten them."

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‘We love you’ chants cap hectic day for Pope

Chants of "We love you" capped a busy day for Pope Francis on the second of his five-day visit to the Philippines.

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Families, couples troop to Intramuros to see Pope Francis

For Reginald Tabisula, going to Intramuros to see Pope Francis not only marks a personal milestone, but a family affair.

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Pope Francis: Care for those without families, such as orphans and the elderly

Pope Francis on Friday asked Filipinos to go out of their comfort zones and care for those who have no families, particularly the elderly and children without parents.

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For some priests and nuns, a glimpse of Pope is OK enough

Lack of special passes did not deter hundreds of nuns, priests and other religious persons from traveling to Intramuros in Manila to catch a glimpse of Pope Francis even if they were not among the chosen few who were privileged to hear the pontiff say Mass inside the Manila Cathedral.

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‘Rock star’ Pope fills concert venue to meet PHL families

Pope Francis on Friday proved he is indeed a "rock star" as he filled a venue usually reserved for high-profile concerts.

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WATCH: Pope Francis stops motorcade to kiss baby

A baby was #BlessedByThePope on Friday after Pope Francis stopped his motorcade for a chance to kiss and bless a baby en route to Mall of Asia Arena, where he is scheduled to meet with Filipino families.

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NUJP opposes House bill making media accreditation mandatory

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippine (NUJP) on Friday opposed attempts by some members of the House of Representatives to narrow the parameters of journalism by requiring them to be accredited either by the government or by press groups.

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Pope Francis posts first tweet in Filipino: What did he say?

Hours after saying his first mass on Philippine soil, Pope Francis, @Pontifex on Twitter, on Friday afternoon posted his first tweet in Filipino.

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Pope to hear about poverty, migration, disability from Pinoy families

The Encounter with Families with Pope Francis at the Mall of Asia Arena on Friday afternoon will focus on three things: poverty, migration, and disability.

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Papal visit to ‘rebuild’ Catholic Church in PHL –Cardinal Tagle

Addressing Pope Francis as "Peter, the Rock upon which Jesus builds His Church," Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle on Friday said the papal visit will "renew and rebuild" the Catholic Church in the Philippines.

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Cardinal Tagle to Pope Francis: Pinoys ‘boldly’ rising from the ruins

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle on Friday welcomed Pope Francis in his first Mass in the Philippines with an assurance that its people are "boldly" rising from the tragedies they have experienced.

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Some PWDs struggle to be part of Pope’s itinerary

For some PWDs, getting to be part of Pope Francis' itinerary in the Philippines is a struggle.

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LOOK: Ang iniwang mensahe ni Pope Francis sa guest list ng Malacañang

Hiniling ni Pope Francis kapayapaan at kasaganaan para sa sambayanang Pilipino sa kanyang iniwang sulat sa guestbook ng Malacañang nitong Biyernes bago ang courtesy call kay Pangulong Benigno Aquino III.

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FULL TEXT: Cardinal Tagle's speech after Pope Mass at cathedral

Full text of Manila archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle's speech after the Mass at the Manila Cathedral with Pope Francis.

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Pope speaks out against 'confusing' family values

Pope Francis on Friday urged Catholic leaders in the Philippines to resist powerful forces that are tempting youth with "confusing" versions of sexuality, marriage and the family.

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Groups to politicians: Heed Pope Francis’ call

Various groups on Friday commended Pope Francis for bringing to the fore issues long hounding the country and urged politicians to heed the Holy Father's call.

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Pope’s wish for Pinoys: Peace, prosperity, wisdom

Pope Francis on Friday wished Filipinos peace and prosperity in his inscription on Malacañang’s official guestbook.

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FULL TEXT: Pope Francis’ homily at the Manila Cathedral

The full text of Pope Francis' homily at the Manila Cathedral, January 16, 2015.

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Pope Francis preaches love for the poor, life of piety in his first Mass in PHL

In his first Mass in the Philippines on Friday, Pope Francis called on the Filipino flock to embrace the poor and to live simple lives of piety to please the Lord. In particular, he asked his religious brothers and sisters to reject materialism and embrace Christ-like poverty.

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‘Do you love me?’ Pope Francis takes on a lighter note during first Mass in PHL

Pope Francis on Friday let his lighter side shine as he began his homily by asking those present at the Manila Cathedral: “Do you love me? Someone from the crowd answered, “Yes!” and made the pontiff laugh. He made his meaning clearer, “I was referring to the words of Jesus!”

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PNoy criticizes Filipino clergy in front of Pope Francis

Right in front of Pope Francis, President Benigno Aquino III on Friday criticized local Roman Catholic Church leaders for their supposed silence during the past administration.

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FULL TEXT: PNoy’s message during general audience with Pope Francis

The full text of President Benigno Aquino III's message during the general audience with Pope Francis in Malacañang on Jan. 16, Friday

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Pope tells PHL leaders to end corruption, hear cries of the poor

Pope Francis called on the government on Friday to tackle corruption and hear the cries of the poor suffering from "scandalous social inequalities" in Asia's most Catholic country.

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Pope Francis arrives at Manila Cathedral for first Mass in PHL

Pope Francis has arrived at the Manila Cathedral to celebrate his first Mass in the Philippines.

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After meeting with top government officials, Pope heads for Mass with ranking church officials

After meeting with top government officials in Malacañang, Pope Francis headed for the Manila Cathedral for a gathering with top officials, this time of the Philippine Catholic Church.

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FULL TEXT: Pope Francis’ speech at Malacañang

Speech of Pope Francis at Malacañang following his courtesy call on President Aquino on Friday, Jan. 16.

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Pope Francis officially starts PHL visit with courtesy call on PNoy

Pope Francis officially started on Friday his state and apostolic visit to the Philippines at Malacañan Palace for a courtesy call on President Benigno Aquino III.

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PNoy’s gift to Pope: Virgin Mary statue, commemorative coins

A wooden statue of the Virgin Mary and commemorative coins will be President Benigno Aquino III's gifts to Pope Francis.

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Roads going to Malacañang closed for Pope's courtesy call on PNoy

At least two roads and one bridge leading to Malacañang was closed to traffic at 6 a.m., the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

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Pope to remind PHL clergy that they, too, need God's ‘mercy and compassion’

During the Mass he will celebrate at the Manila Cathedral at 11:15 a.m. on Friday, Pope Francis is expected to remind Filipino bishops, priests, and religious men and women that, just like the faithful they lead, they are also "weak and sinful" and in need of "God's mercy and compassion."

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LIVE UPDATES: Papal Visit PH 2015 - Day 2

Pope Francis continues his visit to the Philippines with a busy slate on Friday. Check out all the freshest updates compiled by GMA News Online below.

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Pope Francis' meeting with PNoy to be a ‘personal encounter'

The meet between Pope Francis and President Benigno Aquino III, scheduled for Friday morning, would be a personal encounter rather than a discussion on political matters, Vatican spokesperson Fr. Federico Lombardi said Thursday afternoon.

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100-year-old widow to hang a garland on Pope Francis

Centenarian Remedios Enriquez Rodrigo can't wait as she counts the hours before meeting Pope Francis at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Friday.

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Pope Francis: Core of my message will be the poor

The poor and those who suffered from typhoon Yolanda, will be the core of Pope Francis' message, GMA News' "24 Oras" reported on Wednesday. "The core of my message will be the poor, the poor who wish to move forward, the poor who have suffered the typhoon Yolanda and who still suffer its consequences," Pope Francis said in a press conference inside the plane en route to Philippines from Sri Lanka.

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Pope Francis hopes Filipinos ‘ready to receive more grace’

Seeing the enthusiasm of the hundreds of thousands that went out to see him on Thursday, Pope Francis is hoping Filipinos are ready to receive more of the Lord's grace in the coming days.

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Nurse group seeks SC help over salary grade dispute

A party-list group has asked has asked the Supreme Court (SC) to compel the government to enforce a provision under Republic Act 9173, also known as the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002, that puts the minimum base pay of government nurses not lower than Salary Grade 15 or at least P25,000.

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PHOTO GALLERY: Pope Francis arrives in the Philippines

A rapturous welcome greeted Pope Francis on Thursday as he arrived in the Philippines for a five-day visit. Check out scenes from his first couple of hours in the country, as he landed at Villamor Air Base before a motorcade took him to the Apostolic Nunciature to rest.

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Palace thanks Pinoys for showing discipline in welcoming Pope Francis

Malacañang on Thursday commended Filipinos for showing discipline in welcoming Pope Francis to the Philippines.

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Home away from home: Pope Francis now in Manila nunciature

Roughly an hour after he first set foot in the country, and after thousands welcomed him in the streets, Pope Francis will retire for the night at the Papal Nunciature here in Taft, Manila.

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Pope Francis on his way to Apostolic Nunciature

On board a customized pickup truck, Pope Francis began heading to the Apostolic Nunciature or his official residence in the Philippines a few minutes since arriving in the country.

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Mabuhay! Joyous welcome greets Pope Francis in PHL

A joyous, fiesta-like welcome greeted Pope Francis upon his arrival in the Philippines late Thursday afternoon for his much awaited five-day state and apostolic visit.

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PNoy arrives at Villamor to welcome Pope Francis

President Benigno Aquino has already arrived at the Villamor Air Base to personally welcome Pope Francis, who is scheduled to arrive in the country late in the afternoon.

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Pope Francis’ plane enters PHL airspace

The plane bearing Pope Francis has entered Philippine airspace, GMA"s I M Ready tweeted shortly after 5 p.m.

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De Lima orders new probe on Dumagats in Army man’s abduction

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has ordered the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor of Rizal to move for the withdrawal of criminal charges against two members of the Dumagats tribe, accused of kidnapping of a retired Army serviceman.

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