Black Nazarene Devotees Urged to Keep Manila’s “Central Park” Clean and Trash-Free
Ahead of the annual "Traslacion" of
the venerated image of the Black Nazarene starting at the Quirino Grandstand
in Rizal Park next Tuesday, a waste and pollution watch group
appealed to devout followers to keep the iconic park clean and
garbage-free.
Fearing a repeat of the heaps of garbage left by New Year revelers at Rizal Park last
Monday, the EcoWaste Coalition renewed its plea for visitors to
treat Manila ’s “Central
Park ” with utmost respect and care, reiterating that the park is a
no smoking and no littering zone.
The traditional “Pahalik” (kissing of the image), overnight vigil and
Eucharistic Celebration at the Quirino Grandstand prior to the mammoth
procession on January 9 are expected to draw hundreds of thousands of devotees.
“As a show of reverence to the Black Nazarene, we request the faithful to
manifest their solemn devotion in a way that will not overwhelm Rizal Park
and the processional route with litter,” said Daniel Alejandre, Zero Waste
Campaigner, EcoWaste Coalition.
“Cleaning up the mess left behind by the devotees can be a grueling task for
government workers and for volunteers from various parishes, schools and
groups. We therefore ask everyone to be considerate, mind your own
discards, and assume full responsibility for their ecological management and
disposal,” he said.
“Please set a good example in environmental stewardship that can inspire others
to follow,” Alejandre appealed to the Black Nazarene devotees.
Among the most littered items in the past commemorations of the
Traslacion include single-use beverage and food packaging such as
polystyrene cups and meal containers, food leftovers, bamboo skewers, PET
Bottles, plastic bags, used newspapers, and cigarette filters.
The group also requested the devotees not to relieve themselves in the open,
noting that urinating on the walls of Rizal Park ,
in the streets and even in PET bottles and plastic bags is unsightly and
unsanitary.
Last year, the group found urine-containing PET bottles left by some devotees
who spent the night at Rizal
Park .
“The protection and preservation of Rizal Park and
the city ‘s environment must also be at the core of our devotion
to the Black Nazarene,” the EcoWaste Coalition said.
Devotees, the group said, can start by choosing not to litter, smoke, spit and
urinate in public, and by influencing others to care for all God’s creation as
well.
-end-
Comments