Shalani, Pinoys attend early Masses for Noynoy — report

Catholic Filipinos trooped to churches early Wednesday to pray for the success of Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III, hours before he formally assumes his role as the country's 15th president. No less than Aquino's girlfriend, Valenzuela City Councilor Shalani Soledad, offered prayers for Aquino during a predawn visit to the Quiapo Church in Manila. A report by radio dzBB's Roland Bola quoted Quiapo Church security guard Noel Belarma as saying that Soledad, clad in black, attended the 2 a.m. Mass. She spent 20 to 25 minutes in prayer before leaving, the report said. Shalani is expected to attend Aquino's oath-taking at 12 noon at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila. Also in Manila, radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported that Church-run Radio Veritas has organized a Mass at the Manila Cathedral for Aquino. (See related article: Bishops to hold Mass in Manila early Wednesday for Noynoy's success) In southern Metro Manila, dzBB's Denver Trinidad reported that Filipinos offered prayers during a predawn Mass at the Redemptorist Church in Baclaran for Aquino. Making the Mass more meaningful was that many churchgoers braved the floods caused by a predawn downpour to get to the church. — RSJ, GMANews.TV