Cheers, jeers: Cleanliness hits, misses in Holy Week pilgrim sites

The Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu in Cebu City  (INQUIRER file photo / NESTLE SEMILLA)

MANILA, Philippines — Pro – environment group EcoWaste Coalition on Sunday commended the faithful in several areas for keeping many religious shrines and churches this Holy Week “litter-free” but likewise cited the mess left behind in other pilgrimage sites. 

“We laud the faithful for maintaining the cleanliness of many of our shrines and churches despite the throngs of Holy Week visitors by not dropping trash anywhere. It’s litter-free or darn close in most cases, and it’s a joy to see such places of prayer and worship clean,” EcoWaste zero waste campaigner Ochie Tolentino said in a statement on Easter Sunday.

“On the other hand, we are saddened by the persistent littering observed in some pilgrimage sites as if such an inconsiderate and disrespectful act has now become a tradition,” he added. 

Below are the shrines and churches that were noted to be litter-free during the monitoring EcoWaste conducted last Maundy Thursday and Good Friday: 

• Cubao Diocesan Shrines of the Sacred Heart, St. Joseph
• Caloocan Diocesan Shrine of the Our Lady of Grace
• Our Lady of Perpetual Help
• Manila Archdiocesan Shrines of the Blessed Sacrament, Espiritu Santo
• Sacred Heart, San Jose de Trozo
• Our Lady of the Abandoned
• Our Lady of Guidance
• Our Lady of Peñafrancia  
• Diocesan Shrines of the Our Lady of Fatima
• Our Lady of Pillar
• Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary
• Our Lady of Candelaria
• The Minor Basilica of the Holy Child (Cebu City), 
• National Shrine of the Our Lady of La Sallete (Silang, Cavite)
• Our Lady of Remedies Parish (Manila City)
• Saints Peter and Paul Parish (Makati City)
• Most Holy Rosary Parish and San Jose Manggagawa Parish (Montalban, Rizal)
• Our Lady of Lourdes Parish (Tagaytay City)
• Parish of the Holy Sacrifice (Quezon City).

Meanwhile, below are areas where litter were still found: 

• The Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno (Manila) 
• The Bahay ng Mahal na Señor ng Bangkulasi (Navotas City) 
• The streets of Quiapo, following the procession of the revered image of the Black Nazarene
• Ortigas Avenue Extension from Pasig City to Taytay, Rizal, and on the streets leading to the newly-proclaimed International Shrine of the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage

“Despite the constant reminder not to dispose of trash anywhere, some visitors left empty plastic water bottles inside the Antipolo Cathedral. Some visitors who spent the night at the church patio and on the sidewalks after a grueling walk simply abandoned their improvised sleeping materials such as corrugated boxes and used papers for others to pick up,” the group said. 

“Together with the Church, we will continue to remind the faithful about our shared responsibility to care for Mother Earth and uphold our human right to a clean and healthy environment in everything that we do, especially in our faith life — hope springs eternal,” it added.