Faith and garbage
It was a very proud moment to see millions of our people who flocked to see Pope Francis during his visit. Prouder still to have seen them fervently praying and joyfully singing "Let us Tell the World of His Love." Faith was palpable and evident not only in terms of their presence but in terms of their varied reactions and emotions recorded and posted through various media.
When the millions left, however, the very sad reality of the great divide between faith expressed in action and words and songs became very visible and apparent.
When the millions left Rizal Park, the millions irresponsibly left behind so much garbage, so much waste. The sea of believers turned Rizal Park into a wide garbage site.
How could millions who have just expressed their faith in God so carelessly vandalize God's earth, God's creation? Did not the millions hear the Pope mention the need to protect the environment, God's earth?
Millions of believers left behind 23 truckloads of trash or about 138 metric tons of trash, mostly plastic bottles, Styrofoam containers, barbecue sticks, and candy wrappers. Why did the users of these items not bring these items back home with them? Why did they bring home only their joyful hearts, why did they leave behind their garbage? Why the great divide between worship of God and protection of God's world?
Despite earlier eco-reminders to protect the environment for those who wanted to see Pope Francis, millions went ahead, deaf to eco-friendly calls. What a sad contrast to the palpable display of faith when the Pope was in their midst. When the Pope left, the millions left garbage and trash in our parks and streets.
Not only did they irresponsibly leave their waste. Cleaning up their trash meant millions of pesos spent for the garbage trucks rather than for the needy people, less productive land area for people but more for useless garbage, and more dirty, less-paying jobs for the already burdened working people. Was there no room in the hearts of the millions of worshippers for concern for others and for the environment?
The same sad situation was witnessed not only in Manila but in Cebu as well. After millions came to celebrate the Feast of the Sto. Nino, millions returned home with "strong faith" but they also left behind tons of garbage!
Cebu's post 2015 Sinulog garbage was recorded at 197 tons, far more than Manila's post papal visit garbage, and far more than the 170 tons gathered in last year's Sinulog!
Not only did this year's Cebu Sinulog garbage take so much personnel power for clean-up (600 Department of Public Services personnel and 400 barangay environment officers (BEO) and 13 garbage trucks. Like the worshippers in Manila, the Cebu Sinulog worshippers and guests were also just as irresponsible and deaf to the earlier calls and constant reminders to manage their waste properly.
The greater challenge for all from now on is how to develop real faith that will include real responsible concern for the environment. How can irresponsible garbage throwers be converted to become responsible stewards of God's earth? How can the great disconnect between faith in words and actions be transformed into a unified form of faith, where actions accompany words and songs of faith?
Now it is apparent that there is an urgent need to transform the united front presented by Filipinos during the papal visit and during the Sinulog to a unity inclusive of environmental awareness and concern as part of faith and worship.
Responsibility for ensuring cleanliness and the protection of the environment should also have been included as a very important initiative for all during and beyond the papal visit and for the Sinulog as well.
This is a task forward that needs to be emphasized and repeated by and in the church, government, schools, businesses, communities, and households. Cleanliness is part of godliness. Faith includes action to accompany words, appearances, and songs. True faith includes genuine worship of God and respect for all His creation, His earth, and His people. People of God, people of genuine faith never never irresponsibly leave behind their dirt and garbage to destroy His earth.
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