Filipinos urged to usher in New Year with prayer, silence

MANILA, Philippines—Greet the New Year in prayer and silence rather than with the loud bang of fireworks, a Catholic bishop said on Friday.

Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles suggested that Filipinos usher in 2012 by praying silently for a “better year ahead” instead of lighting up fireworks which every year results in injuries.

Filipinos, in a tradition influenced by the Chinese, have welcomed the New Year with fireworks for generations, believing this will drive away evil spirits and attract good fortune for the coming year.

“Noise does not drive evil away,” said Arguelles in a text message to reporters.

“The devil thrives in noise. God, on the other hand, speaks and acts in silence,” the bishop said.

He proposed that at the start of the New Year on Sunday midnight, “all must pray before the Blessed Sacrament.”

To pray and observe moments of silence would also be an act of solidarity with the thousands who lost loved ones and their homes in the wake of Tropical Storm “Sendong.”

“We must also be in solidarity with those who lost everything,” Arguelles said.

Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez made the same appeal as Arguelles, but calling for more environment-friendly alternatives to welcome the New Year.

Earlier, the bishop urged the faithful to donate their money intended for firecrackers to the victims of Sendong.

He said that Filipinos could still have revelry to welcome the New Year by clapping their hands or singing their favorite songs.

Last year, several Catholic bishops asked the public to spend their money on food and other things more useful, saying buying firecrackers to greet the New Year was a waste of resources.