Jan Chura had no idea why — or for whom — he was asked to write about his life on the streets in January 2015, when he was living under the care of the Jesuit-founded Tulay ng Kabataan Foundation, which shelters street children in Metro Manila.
“At that time, hindi ko alam kung para saan siya. Sinabi lang sa’kin na isulat ko ‘yong nangyari sa buhay ko sa labas until makuha ako ng foundation, at ‘yong bago ako makapunta ng kalye,” Chura recalled in an interview with the Varsitarian.
As a child, Chura had been forced to survive on the streets, as his father worked as a jeepney barker, barely making ends meet. Chura also recalled turning to scavenging — and sometimes stealing — to survive.
What he didn’t know then was that his story would reach Pope Francis, who visited the Philippines and UST that year.
At a youth encounter held at the UST Grandstand, which gathered approximately 24,000 young people, four children were chosen to share their stories. Among them were Chura and 12-year-old Glyzelle Palomar, both from Tulay ng Kabataan.
“Ako po ay nagpalaboy-laboy sa kalye. Hindi ko na po alam kung saan ako tutuloy. Natutulog lang po ako sa tabing-kalye. Hindi ko na rin po alam kung ano ang aking kakanin sa bawat araw,” Chura said in a speech delivered before the Pope, who read from an Italian translation.
Then Palomar asked a question that stumped the Pope: “Bakit po pumapayag ang Diyos na may ganitong nangyayari?” — referring to the suffering of children who face poverty, prostitution, and other forms of abuse.
Pope Francis set aside his prepared speech, embraced the two children, and delivered an unscripted message that moved the crowd.
“The heart of your question has no reply. Only when we cry about the things you said can we come close to answering that questions,” the Pope said, notably calling on the faithful to “learn how to weep.”
A decade later, Chura — now a sophomore majoring in education at UST — still calls that moment with the Pope and Palomar, who’s studying nursing at Jose Rizal University, a life-changing experience.
“Sobrang laki ng impact ng moment kay Pope Francis sa’min,” he said. “After that, sobrang laki ‘yong pagbabago sa buhay ko. That moment, mas lumaki ‘yong hope ko na maging matagumpay sa buhay and may matulungan akong iba na gaya kong street children.”
Despite being overwhelmed by the throng of people who listened as he spoke — all of them soaked in the rain while at the UST Open Field — Chura said Pope Francis’s embrace left a lasting sense of comfort.
“Nakapagpagaan sa loob, kasi although sinabi niya na walang sagot, at least there’s a possible way na paano malabanan, matulungan niyo ‘yong kahirapan, ‘yong suffering ng children in the district.”
For Chura, the Pope’s embrace filled a space long left empty by his father.
“The moment na niyakap ko siya no’n, naramdaman kong parang father ‘yong dating sa akin,” he said. “Siguro dahil in my life, never ko nayayakap ‘yong father ko, kaya siguro ‘yon ‘yong naranasan ko.”
The 2015 encounter sparked not only a personal transformation but a spiritual one, as Chura said he became more active in his faith after meeting the Pope.
“Siguro ramdam ko rin after ko makausap si Pope Francis, mas lumakas ‘yong faith ko,” he said. “‘Yong pag-serve sa simbahan, ‘yong araw-araw na pagdadasal, naging habit. After that, mas naging active ako sa faith. Doon ako agad tumatawag.”
With news of Pope Francis’s passing on April 21, at the age of 88 and 12 years into his papacy, Chura remembered him not just as a leader, but as a man whose smile lit up his life during its darkest moments.
“I think Pope Francis should be remembered by his smile, kasi kung makita mo ‘yong ngiti niya, ‘yon ‘yong light,” Chura said. “‘Yon ‘yong pag-asa na hinahanap mo para magpatuloy or lumaban sa kung ano mang hinaharap mong problema.”
