Mabalacat City allows physical holding of Lenten rites RIC

SAN FERNANDO, , Philippines —  For the first time since the COVID pandemic hit the country, the city government of Mabalacat in Pampanga is finally allowing the physical holding of all rites and liturgical activities in observance of the Holy Week.

Mayor Cris Garbo said the city government considered the easing of COVID situation as shown by the zero new infections for more than a week in allowing the Lenten rites.

Pampanga has been downgraded to Alert Level 1, the least restrictive in the five-tiered COVID quarantine classification system of the government.

Pampanga, particularly Mabalacat City, is known for numerous traditional Holy Week activities such as self-flagellation, Pabasa, reenactment of the way of the Cross or the Via Crucis and church visits or the Visita Iglesia.

Before the pandemic, thousands of religious pilgrims flock to Mabalacat to witness these Lenten rites, which are part of the city’s heritage.

Garbo cautioned residents about the still looming threats of COVID by observing minimum health protocols.

He activated all instrumentalities of the local government such as the city disaster risk reduction and management office, traffic enforcement group, the local police, the Sangguniang Barangays and other law enforcement agencies to ensure safe and orderly presentation of all Lenten activities from April 10 to 17.

Meanwhile, environmentalists appealed to the faithful not to leave trash in pilgrimage sites.

EcoWaste Coalition urged those planning to visit excursion spots to follow the eco-mantra: “Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but memories, kill nothing but time.”

“We request the faithful to aspire for an eco-friendly, litter-free Holy Week as we recollect the passion of Christ, seek forgiveness for past sins and rekindle our faith through prayers, penance and acts of charity,” said Aileen Lucero, EcoWaste national coordinator.

“For the sake of our fellow pilgrims and Mother Earth, please observe health protocols and avoid littering during Visita Iglesia, Way of the Cross and processions as well as Salubong on Easter Sunday.”

Those planning to go out of town were advised to avoid using single-use plastic products, use reusable water containers, opt for car pooling, conserve food, water and electricity and avoid smoking or vaping.

“Regardless of where your destination is, be an eco-friendly tourist at all times,” Lucero said.

Keeping the observance of Holy Week eco-friendly is consistent with the stance of the bishops who in 2015 said: “We are not owners of the earth. We are its stewards, to keep and cherish and nurture its resources not only for ourselves but for future generations.”

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines released the statement “Stewards, Not Owners” following the celebrated encyclical letter “Laudato Si: On Care for Our Common Home” by Pope Francis.

EcoWaste said that littering is not only unsightly, but also unhygienic and polluting as litter attracts flies and rats and causes the spread of diseases.

Litter, especially single-use plastic bags, can be blown or washed into waterways and the oceans, harming marine life, the group said. Based on the group’s pre-pandemic monitoring of popular pilgrimage churches and shrines, among the common items left by uncaring visitors are used plastic bags, bottles, cups and cutlery, soiled paper and tissue, cigarette butts, styrofoam food containers, picnic leftovers and improvised beddings.