Devotion or Disregard? EcoWaste Coalition Highlights the Mess Left Behind at Holy Week Pilgrimage Sites

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

While millions of Filipinos walked with solemn faith through traditional Holy Week pilgrimages, another path unfolded—one littered with plastic bottles, food containers, and discarded devotional items. In a dramatic juxtaposition of spiritual devotion and environmental neglect, the EcoWaste Coalition sounded the alarm on the growing trail of trash left behind by pilgrims who forgot that cleanliness is next to godliness.

This year's Maundy Thursday and Good Friday observances once again drew multitudes to sacred sites across the country. However, not all left behind footprints of reverence. The EcoWaste Coalition, the country’s leading waste and pollution watchdog, released a sobering report after monitoring several key pilgrimage destinations. The contrast was stark: while some churches and shrines radiated not only spiritual but also environmental purity, others bore the unsightly remnants of human negligence.

Shrines of Devotion, Scenes of Degradation

In Antipolo City, the International Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, more popularly known as the Antipolo Cathedral, witnessed a slight improvement in cleanliness compared to previous years. But even in this progress, the early morning of Good Friday revealed a disheartening sight—discarded religious flyers, plastic bottles, fast food containers, and even makeshift bedding such as plastic sheets and boxes, abandoned by exhausted pilgrims.

The streets leading to the cathedral, particularly Ortigas Avenue Extension, told a similar story: strewn with single-use plastics, the pathway mirrored the chaos of post-festival waste rather than the solemnity of spiritual reflection.

The Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto Shrine in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan, fared no better. Overflowing trash bins, picnic tables cluttered with used plastic bottles and paper bowls, and plastic candle wrappers littering the Stations of the Cross painted a heartbreaking picture. Even the sacred hill depicting the crucifixion of Christ was not spared—its holy ground blanketed in garbage.

Other pilgrimage sites that suffered a similar fate included:

The Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno in Manila,

The National Shrine and Parish of the Divine Mercy in Marilao, Bulacan,

And the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Grace in Caloocan City.

Sanctuaries of Cleanliness: A Glimpse of What Could Be

Yet, amid the mess, there was hope. Several pilgrimage sites stood tall as shining examples of environmental discipline and community cooperation.

In the Archdiocese of Manila, the following Jubilee Churches were commended for their litter-free sanctuaries:

Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception

Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar

Minor Basilica of San Sebastian

National Shrine of Our Lady of the Abandoned

National Shrine of the Sacred Heart

Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Loreto

Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Guia

Saint John Bosco Parish

San Ildefonso Parish

San Pablo Apostol Parish

Likewise, the National Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Parañaque, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica in Quezon City, St. Gregory the Great Parish in Cavite, and the Cathedral of the Holy Child in Manila stood as bastions of spiritual and environmental integrity.

A Call for Year-Round Awareness and Action

The EcoWaste Coalition expressed deep gratitude to local government units and church authorities who took proactive steps to promote eco-friendly practices among the faithful. But gratitude alone is not enough.

“There is a glaring need to institutionalize environmental value formation—not just during Lent, but year-round,” the Coalition asserted. “We must also enforce long-existing laws like Republic Act No. 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act) and elevate our practices beyond mere compliance.”

In particular, the Coalition underscored the urgent necessity to ban single-use plastics—the most common and persistent form of litter—while promoting reuse and refill systems that cut down waste at its source.

The group also gave a heartfelt salute to the silent environmental heroes of Holy Week: the street sweepers, waste workers, and informal recyclers, who bore the burden of others’ irresponsibility. Without their thankless toil, the aftermath would have been far worse.

The Real Pilgrimage: From Faith to Responsibility

As Holy Week reminds Filipinos of their spiritual journey, the EcoWaste Coalition challenges everyone to also reflect on their environmental stewardship.

“Faith is not just about prayers and penance,” the Coalition emphasized. “It is also about respect—for God’s creation, for our fellow men, and for the generations who will inherit this Earth.”

It is time for pilgrims not only to walk in faith but also to tread lightly on the earth.

About "WazzupPilipinas.com"

WazzupPilipinas.com is the fastest growing and most awarded blog and social media community that has transcended beyond online media. It has successfully collaborated with all forms of media namely print, radio and television making it the most diverse multimedia organization. The numerous collaborations with hundreds of brands and organizations as online media partner and brand ambassador makes WazzupPilipinas.com a truly successful advocate of everything about the Philippines, and even more since its support extends further to even international organizations including startups and SMEs that have made our country their second home.