EcoWaste Coalition Rallies the Black Nazarene Devotees to Hold Trash-Free “Traslacion” This Year
A waste and
pollution watchdog group today appealed to the faithful to express their
devotion to the venerated Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno with a trash-free
observance of the “Traslacion” on January 9.
A trash-free “Traslacion,” which commemorates the transfer of
the sanctified image of the Black Nazarene from Luneta to Quiapo, is
in order following the issuance of the encyclical letter “Laudato Si”
by Pope Francis where he deplored the unrestrained pollution of
Mother Earth and challenged everyone “to protect our common home.”
“Let not the creeping throw away culture that Pope Francis has repeatedly
denounced disgrace anew our age-old devotion to the Black Nazarene,” said
Aileen Lucero, Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition.
“We expect the faithful to heed the papal call for ‘ecological conversion’
and display such changeover by making this year’s ‘Traslacion’
trash-free,” she added.
“Let it not be said that the faithful came in hordes to glorify the Black
Nazarene but turned Luneta and Quiapo, to borrow a phrase from ‘Laudato
Si, into an ‘immense pile of filth’,” she emphasized.
The group noted that the garbage generated from the commemorative event
that draws millions of Black Nazarene devotees has been increasing through
the years.
Citing government data, 336 tons of garbage in 2014 and 413 tons in 2015
were collected along the processional trail from Rizal Park to the Minor
Basilica of the Black Nazarene, popularly known as the Quiapo Church
As January is also observed as the “Zero Waste Month” as per Presidential
Proclamation 760, the EcoWaste Coalition urged the Archdiocese of Manila,
City Government of Manila, Metro Manila Development
Authority and civil society groups to work hand in hand in making the
“Traslacion” trash-free.
“A trash-free Traslacion would be a fitting contribution to the national
goal of preventing and reducing the generation of garbage and inculcating
environmental responsibility among the citizens,” Lucero said.
As per yearly monitoring by EcoWaste Coalition’s Basura Patrollers, the
most discarded items during the Black Nazarene feast are cigarette butts,
plastic bags, cups, bottles and straws, polystyrene food and beverage
containers, bamboo skewers and food wastes.
Noting that this year is also an election year, the EcoWaste
Coalition cautioned national and local politicians from taking advantage
of the Black Nazarene feast as a vehicle for their political
ambitions.
“We ask all politicos not to engage in ‘tarpaulitics’ and to keep Plaza
Miranda and the processional route tarpaulin-free,” Lucero stated.
‘Tarpaulitics,’ according to the EcoWaste Coalition, is the shameless use
of tarpaulins to publicize the faces and names of politicians for the
purpose of establishing familiarity and support among the voters.
In lieu of tarpaulins, which only add to the fiesta garbage, the EcoWaste
Coalition asked earnest political wannabes to support efforts to make the
“Traslacion” trash-free such as by:
- mobilizing volunteers to keep the processional trail and the
entire Quiapo district “clean and green”
- providing for extra portable toilets and garbage bins and paying
for personnel who will look after the toilets and the bins.
- providing devotees with free meals in biodegradable or reusable packaging.
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