Black Nazarene devotees told: Respect environment
MANILA, Philippines–An environment advocacy group has urged devotees of the Black Nazarene to remember the adage “Cleanliness is next to Godliness” when they join the traditional procession of the historic image this Friday.
The EcoWaste Coalition noted how, in the exercise of a devotee’s faith, the saying, often taught from grade school, ended up being neglected.
“Piety is not an excuse to litter. In fact, littering goes against the proverb ‘Cleanliness is next to Godliness’ that most, if not all, Filipinos are aware of,” Aileen Lucero, Eco-Waste Coalition coordinator, said in a statement.
The group noted how, citing various reports, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said it collected a total of 28 truckloads or about 336 tons of garbage, mainly plastic food wrappers, during last year’s procession of the Black Nazarene.
“The awe-inspiring expression of religious fervor in honor of the Black Nazarene is tarnished year after year by the brazen disrespect for the environment as demonstrated by the unchecked disposal of trash on the streets, especially in the environs of Quiapo,” Lucero added.
She also noted how this adage ties in with the advocacy of Pope Francis for the protection of the environment.
“We invite all devout followers of the Black Nazarene to reflect on a key message uttered by Pope Francis and strive for an ecological devotion,” Lucero said.
She added that the pontiff, who would be visiting the Philippines from Jan. 15 to 19, had urged the faithful to “be protectors of creation, protectors of God’s plan inscribed in nature, protectors of one another and of the environment” during his inaugural Mass at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City in March 2013.
Meanwhile, to ensure the safety of devotees who will participate in the celebration of the Black Nazarene feast on Dec. 9, the Manila Police District (MPD) has divided among its 11 stations the monitoring of the grand procession’s six-kilometer route from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church.
Supt. Marissa Bruno, public information office chief, said officers from MPD’s 11 stations would each be assigned to monitor one segment of the procession route. They will be assisted by members of the National Capital Region Police Office and the four Metro police districts.
The Ermita Police Station and Plaza Miranda Police Community Precinct will serve as security command posts throughout the whole procession. Overall, around 2,000 police officers will be deployed to Manila with most of them focused on the Quirino Grandstand and Quiapo Church, Bruno added.
The police will also closely monitor MacArthur Bridge to ensure that no devotees use it to get to Quiapo Church, said Bruno. During last year’s procession, the route was revised so that it would pass through Jones Bridge instead of MacArthur Bridge which had been declared unstable by the Department of Public Works and Highways.
However, some devotees used to the old route managed to pass through MacArthur Bridge despite barricades put up by the local government. This year, more officers will be posted in the area to prevent a repeat, said Bruno.–With Annelle Tayao-Juego
