Pilgrims and devotees who flock to Cebu for the Sinulog festival have a practice of releasing balloons with handwritten prayers attached to the tails. It’s a pretty touching geture said to lift prayers up to the heavens during the the feast of the Sto. Nino, but it’s bad for the planet.
Agustinian priests appealed to those who are planning to attend this year’s festivities to stop the harmful practice.
“I request everyone to stop bringing balloons at the basilica as well as during the solemn processions because these materials are hazards to the environment,” said Fr. Aladdin Luzon who heads the committee on security of the Fiesta Señor in a report by Cebu Daily News.
According to the report, “Augustinian fathers at the Basilica del Sto. Niño prohibited the sale of balloons at the church compound during the Fiesta Señor celebration in response to the call of environment advocates.”
Balloons can pollute the most remote places. They can be harmful to animals, who can easily mistake popped balloons for food.
Also, balloons may cause unwanted power interruptions.
“In 2013, a power transformer exploded along M.J. Cuenco Avenue in Cebu City when it was hit by a flying balloon during the solemn procession. It caused a temporary power outage,” said the report.
Agustinian priests would also like to take this opportunity to teach devotees “the proper way of expressing their faith.”
The Fiesta Señor celebration officially starts on Thur, Jan 5. Festivities will last until the end of the month.
Reader Interactions