As President Benigno Aquino III reports on the state of the nation Monday, people ask: What is the state of the nation’s environment?
Some residents of Quezon City recently provided some answers: No plastic
banderitas, tarps, fireworks and meals packed in plastic bags or Styrofoam for the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish anniversary in May.
The occasion was also in honor of the Immaculate Heart of Mary’s feast in the Environment Month of June.
During the celebration of four Sunday Masses, a Powerpoint presentation touched on the environmental relevance and application of the gospels through zero waste.
Coco-cloth streamers proclaimed the fiesta theme: “Tularan ang Inang Maria sa pangangalaga ng kalikasan (Emulate Mother Mary in caring for nature).”
The celebration stressed the bond or connection between people and their environment, from the mountains and forests to the bodies of water and the very air they breathe. It cited the need for responsible stewardship of God-given resources by “returning to the earth” things that are biodegradable and ”returning to the factory” those that are not.
A procession similar to a Flores de Mayo festival featured banners proclaiming environmental slogans and the virtues embodied by “candidates” representing communities which earlier collected nonbiodegradable items that sold for P10,000.
The top collector from Pechayan was assigned the virtue ”Love of God: Care for Environment.”
The 12 other communities stood for other ideals, like “Hope: Count on nature’s bounty’,’ ”Faith: Trust in the goodness God has given through nature”; “Purity: Keep the surroundings clean”; and “Humility: We’re only caretakers, not owners of nature.”
Participants were also reminded to be “poor in spirit,” which in eco-advocacy would mean recognizing the needs of the poor in addressing environmental issues.
Thanks to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Band, no one really missed the fireworks that would have added to global warming and climate change.