Church and environmental health groups on Friday asked the devotees of the Black Nazarene to make the re-enactment of Traslacion a trash-free celebration of Christian faith.
Members of the Quezon City-based EcoWaste Coalition and Buklod Tao, together with the Formation Ministry and Green Brigade Committee of Quiapo Church, assembled in Plaza Miranda for a prayerful activity to encourage the faithful to prevent trash from again defiling the age-old tradition of commemorating the transfer of the Black Nazarene from Rizal Park to Quiapo Church.
The advocacy event for a plastic-free and trash-less Traslacion, which has the full support of Monsignor Hernando Coronel (rector of Quiapo church), jibed with the yearly observance of January as Zero Waste Month as per Presidential Proclamation 760.
After a short program of messages and prayers, the group went around the Quiapo church for a mini-procession to drive their message home.
“We are here to elevate the issue of waste prevention and reduction as a priority concern in the conduct of the Traslacion. Sadly, we quite often overlook our moral responsibility to be good stewards of our shared environment as the Traslacion is re-enacted,” said Jove Benosa, zero waste campaigner of EcoWaste Coalition..
“Year after year, mounds of trash sully the Quirino Grandstand Parade Ground, site of the ‘pahalik.’ Worst, trash could be seen strewn along the six-kilometer processional route for hundreds of street cleaners to pick up, sweep, shovel and load onto dump trucks. It’s high time for the devotees to take notice of the Cross of Throw-Away Culture that is harming God’s creation, and give up the wastefulness that dishonors and disrespects Christ the Black Nazarene,” he added. (Chito Chavez)
