Tacloban: Jenita Aguilar's trembling fingers trace the rosary beads Pope Francis placed in her hands a decade ago, the same hands that rebuilt her life after losing everything to Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). Of thousands who lined Tacloban's rain-soaked streets on Jan. 17, 2015, only Aguilar's family received the pontiff's spontaneous blessing when he stopped at their makeshift home.

According to Philippines News Agency, "His kiss on my children's foreheads became our armor," the 53-year-old mother recalled on Tuesday, remembering how the pope braved Tropical Storm Amang to comfort survivors. The small wooden box containing his gifted rosary now safeguards medical bills alongside sacred memories - a sister lost to cancer, a brother-in-law to kidney failure, her husband's workplace injury. Yet through each tragedy, Aguilar repeats the lesson learned that day: "Faith isn't shelter from storms, but strength to endure them."

The papal visit's impact extended beyond pilgrims to workers like air traffic controller Renz Bulseco, who guided Francis' plane through typhoon winds. "That day redirected my life's purpose," said Bulseco, who abandoned medical school dreams for aviation.

Palo Archbishop John Du noted the anniversary coincides with renewed grief, as global Catholics mourn the pope who taught survivors "resurrection follows crucifixion."