Avoid littering next time, Nazarene devotees told

Environmentalists urged devotees to avoid littering the next time the Black Nazarene feast celebration comes around.

EcoWaste Coalition, a group campaigning for “litter free Philippines” has lamented the mountains of trash left around in the aftermath of the January 9 celebration.

The group bemoaned that the devotees’ spiritual fervor failed to show in their care for the environment.

Coalition president Roy Alvarez said the devotees’ pious conviction is yet to be translated in their concern for their surroundings.

“We again witnessed a breathtaking manifestation of Filipino people’s spirituality and we salute the devotees for their pious conviction. Unhappily, the mass veneration of the Black Nazarene has yet to transform into a more caring bond with the environment as evidenced by the pervasive littering during the feast, ” said Alvarez.

Litter of various kinds covered the open area at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta where the overnight vigil was held on January 8.

In Quiapo, the garbage situation was even worse, as residents, visitors and hawkers threw away unwanted stuff all over the area, including Styrofoam containers, according to the group.

Eco volunteers have cleared the area of various discards, including plastic bags and styrofoam food containers that created 15 mounds of garbage.

The group said it hopes the devotees will be more concerned of the environment when they celebrate the feast next year.

Data from the city government shows that “garbage collection in the Quiapo area rises to 36 tons per day during the two-day fiesta period of which 85 percent are reportedly biodegradable like food leftovers and kitchen scraps.”

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Tons of trash left by devotees

The call of Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales to keep the Quirino Grandstand, where the Mass for the feast of the Black Nazarene was held on January 9 (Sunday) and its surroundings, has fallen on deaf ears again.

This, as the devotees of the black image of Jesus Christ left tons and tons of garbage at the Manila venue.

“We should leave this place clean, without trash,” said Rosales to thousands of people who heard the 6:00 am mass.

He added, “Let us be united this morning and in our love for the Nazareno let us not leave trash.”

Despite this, Rosales is hoping that celebration will be different next year.

The senior Church official said that the people should be aware of the issues of environment.

“We have to be more proactive and not wait for others to complain before we become mindful of our trash,” he said.

Earlier, an environmental group reported that garbage generation in Quiapo area rises from 18 tons to 36 tons per day or 72 tons during the two-day period celebration.

EcoWaste coalition said that the garbage left by devotees 80-85% are biodegradable discards during the January 8 and 9 celebrations.

Biodegradable discards include kitchen scraps, food leftovers, soiled paper, plant and other organic matters. (PNA)
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Red Cross 708 patients in Feast of the Black Nazarene; Ecowaste Coalition blasts devotees for littering Quiapo
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=8&sid=&nid=8&rid=322708

MANILA, Jan. 10(PNA) –- The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on Monday said it served a total of 708 persons—with cases varying from blood pressure taking, minor wound care, headache, dizziness, epilepsy, exhaustion, difficulty in breathing, and head injury during Sunday’s Feast of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila.

PRC officials said the figure also included the 13 patients which PRC-Emergency Response Unit (ERU) ambulances transported to Ospital ng Maynila in Malate, Gat Andres Bonifacio Hospital in Tondo, Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center in Sta. Cruz and Abad Santos Hospital in Tondo.

“It is a great relief on our part to say that no major untoward incidents took place in line with this year’s celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene,” said PRC Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang.

She added, “Evidently, everyone has already learned the value of being properly informed; thus, we try to supplement this with intensified public education on disaster prevention, topped with important safety tips and reminders.”

Based on PRC’s record, nine ambulances, two rubber boats, and four support vehicles were utilized in accordance to this operation; and along with these are 250 staff and volunteers who constantly monitored the situation.

In line with the success of the operation, PRC Chairman Richard Gordon extended his sincerest gratitude to those who selflessly took part in it.

He said, “I have to thank all the PRC staff and volunteers for their compassionate service in assuring our countrymen’s safety all throughout this occasion despite the erratic weather condition,” Gordon said.

Meanwhile, the EcoWaste Coalition said Monday it is disappointed with the “trashing of Luneta Park and Quiapo” during the Feast of the Black Nazarene.

The group noted that in the wake of the procession, Quirino Grandstand and Rizal Park were left awash with food leftovers and wrappers, used food and beverage containers, plastic bottles and bags, soiled cartons and newspapers, empty cans and even used disposable diapers.

Ecowaste estimated that the scattered discards could easily fill up 200 to 250 garbage bags. Calls made by ecology groups, the Church and the local government since Monday, appealing for devotees to pick up their own trash, were apparently left unheeded.

“Let’s get real. Our prayerful devotion to the Black Nazarene should be complemented with the highest respect for God’s creation and not by dropping litter anywhere,” said EcoWaste Coalition president Roy Alvarez.

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Group appeals for litter-free Nazarene feast in 2012

Despite the lack of public recall on its appeal for a litter-free feast, the EcoWaste Coalition advised devotees not to turn Luneta and Quiapo in Manila into a garbage dump next year.

“Next time, please try not to litter for a more fitting affirmation of our faith,” the group’s president Roy Alvarez said.

For her part, Eileen Sison, non-government representative to the National Solid Waste Management Commission, hoped that the country’s “passionate devotion” to the Black Nazarene should be translated into commitments for a clean and safe environment.

Citing reports from its Basura Patrollers, EcoWaste said it was disappointed to see tons of garbage piles as countless believers flocked to Rizal Park and to Quiapo Church to pay respect to the Black Nazarene and present their petitions for good health and fortune.

“From afar, the streets, particularly the street corners and gutters, appear to be white due to a snowstorm that pounded Quiapo,” EcoWaste quoted an unidentified Basura Patroller as saying.

According to City Government data, garbage collection in the Quiapo area rises to 36 tons per day during the two-day fiesta period, of which 85 percent are reportedly biodegradable like food leftovers and kitchen scraps.

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