Black Nazarene devotees told: Observe cleanliness during Traslacion

Environmental watchdog EcoWaste Coalition on Friday urged the devotees of the Black Nazarene to exercise proper waste disposal during the observance of Traslacion.

According to a report by Isa Avendaño-Umali on Dobol B sa News TV, the group staged in Plaza Miranda an awareness drive on keeping the environment clean, especially during the upcoming Traslacion, in which millions of Catholic devotees  join every year.

"Ang layunin po ng aming activity ngayon ay para manawagan sa ating mga kababayan lalo na sa mga milyon-milyong deboto ng Mahal na Poong Nazareno na sana iwasan na ang pagkakalat," Jove Benosa, "Zero Waste" campaigner from the EcoWaste Coalition said.

"Gusto sana natin maiwasan na natin at maiwaksi 'yung ganoong klaseng kaugalian dahil sa kabila ng ating dalisay at malaim na pananampalataya, nagkakaroon din ng mukha ng pagkakalat at pagdudumi na ayaw na sana nating mangyari pa," he added.

Benosa said that January is being celebrated as "Zero Waste Month."

Near the Quiapo Church, members of the group held up a tarpaulin with the inscriptions "Pista ng Itim na Nazareno: Pagkakalat Iwaksi Mo."

In a separate interview on Dobol B sa News TV, parochial vicar Fr. Douglas Badong also urged everyone, especially the vendors, to observe cleanliness.

"Ako po kahapon ay biktima ng basura kasi pagbaba ko ng sasakyan, natusok po ako sa paa ng barbecue stick. Nakasapatos na ako kahapon natusok pa," he said.

"Sana po 'yung vendors, 'yung magtitinda, sana po linisin nila 'yung kanilang sariling kalat din," he added.

Most of the devotees walk barefoot during the largely attended procession of the Black Nazarene every January 9. —Dona Magsino/LBG, GMA News