NEWSFLASH: 6 million Filipinos attended Pope Francis' mass in Luneta, says PNA, MMDA

NEWSFLASH: PAPAL VISIT

How many Filipinos attended Pope Francis' Luneta mass?

Well, the state-owned Philippine News Agency gave a crowd estimate of 6 million during the Papal Mass that occurred today (January 18): broken down into 4 million at the Quirino Grandstand and another 2 million at the side streets leading to Rizal Park and the Apostolic Nunciature. 

This figure surpassed the number of devotees and well-wishers placed at 5 million during the 1995 visit of Pope John Paul II for the World Youth Day in Manila.

In support of the number provided by PNA is a twitter announcement by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA):

As of 5:30 p.m., MMDA official crowd estimate is 6M people gathered in Luneta Mass and papal route.

Report from Interaksyon.com and Inquirer.

LIST: What banks are open on the days of the Pope visit?

So what banks are open on the days of the Pope's visit. Here is a list of the banks and the schedule of their operations from January 15 to 19.

Asian United Bank
January 15: Some NCR branches, open from 9AM to 1PM; provincial branches (except Tacloban and Isabela) will have regular banking hours
January 16: All AUB branches (except Tacloban and Isabela) will have regular banking hours
January 19: Regular banking hours in all AUB branches will resume

BDO
Select non-mall branches will be open until 3PM.
Select mall branches will be open until 4PM.
Visit the BDO website or its official Facebook page, for more info.

Maybank

January 15: All Metro Manila branches, open from 9AM to 1PM

January 16: closed

January 17: Resorts World branches, open from 9AM to 1PM; Binondo main office, open from 11AM to 5PM

January 18: Resorts World branches, open from 9AM to 1PM

January 19: All Metro Manila branches, except the Villamor; Newport; and Legaspi Tower Center branches, open from 9AM to 1PM

ALL Maybank provincial branches will be open on regular banking hours, except for Tacloban (January 15, 9AM to 12NN, and closed on January 16)

Metrobank

January 15:

• Open until 12:00 NN – Greenhills North, Greenhills - Eisenhower, Ermita, J.Nakpil - Taft Ave., Midtown - U.N. Ave., Paco-A.Linao, Quirino Ave. - Leon Guinto, Roxas Blvd.-Vito Cruz, Taft Ave. – P. Ocampo.
• Open until 1:00 PM – Pureza-R.Magsaysay Blvd., Asuncion, Pasong Tamo-Javier, Pasong Tamo-Bagtikan, Sucat-Gatchalian, Alabang.
• Open until 3:00 PM – Salcedo Village and Pasay-Baclaran.
• Open until 4:30 PM – A. Lacson Ave. – Sampaloc, Morayta, N. Domingo – San Juan, V. Mapa, Annapolis-Greenhills, Greenhills-Promenade, Greenhills-Wilson Center, Sta. Cruz-Manila.
• Other branches – Roosevelt branch will be open until 12:30 PM while ADB Branch will be open only until 4:00PM.

January 19:

• Open until 12:00 NN – C3-A.Mabini, Farmers Plaza, Commonwealth Ave., Raon, A. Maceda, Bustillos-Sampaloc, España, UST-España, Zurbaran, Escolta Tower, and Intramuros.
• Open until 1:00 PM – Masangkay-Luzon, Lavezares, Nueva, Pasong Tamo-Buendia, Pasong Tamo-Metropolitan Ave., Head Office Center, Las Piñas-Pamplona and Madrigal Bus Park – Alabang.
• Open until 4:30 PM – Evangelista-Quiapo, Quiapo, Ortigas-Xavier and Addition Hills.
• Other branches – 999 Mall branch will be open until 2:00 PM, Sto. Cristo-C.M. Recto will be open until 3:00 PM, while ADB branch will be open until 5:00 PM. 

Source: Rappler