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Tuesday, January 21, 2003
Niño prayer balloons end up as pollutants
By Linette C. Ramos
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
AFTER all the Sinulog revelry and the novena masses, prayer balloons released into the air are most likely to be found in the waters or in roofs of buildings.
As if balloons really reach the heavens, thousands of devotees made it a habit to release balloon offerings in their devotion to the Sto. Niño, thinking that prayers reach the Holy Child faster this way.
Petitions are tied to the balloons and are sent flying high up in the air. Never mind if the balloons cost P20 each.
While the practice is only a symbolic prayer offering to the Holy Child, some actually think the balloons will bring their list of petitions straight to the Sto. Niño.
“Upata lang dong kay baga ra ba ning papel, di ’nya kadaog. Maayo nang daghan kay paspas maabot,” a devotee was heard telling a balloon vendor. (Make it four balloons to reach the heavens quick. This is thick paper I’m using.)
Judging on the number of balloons released last Sunday, it is probably unknown to many that balloons come back to earth as pollutant.
Thousands of multi-colored balloons bearing pieces of paper dotted the skies Sunday dawn, as devotees offered their prayers and thanksgiving to the Holy Child.
During Msgr. Frederick Kriekenbeck and Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal’s masses at the basilica Sunday morning, the balloons appeared like forming a roof that covered the Pilgrim Center.
Although balloons do not pose danger to the ozone layer, they often end up in the waters, eventually endangering marine life, Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) 7 Regional Director Bienvenido Lipayon told Sun.Star.
“After a few hours, they land back but most of them blow up before they reach the ground because of extreme heat. Some also end up in the waters and because they are made of either rubber or plastic, they pollute the seas,” he said.
Lipayon added these materials often suffocate fishes and other sea creatures, resulting in their death. The same materials also cause drainage systems to clog, causing flooding.
Basilica del Sto. Niño balloon vendor Awa Bacho said he already sold almost 600 balloons as early as 7 a.m. at P20 each last Sunday.
“Sukad pa pagkagamay nako, nahimo na nga tradisyon ang pagpalupad ani kay himoon man ni nilang halad sa Sto. Niño. Ang uban butangan ug ilang mga petisyon unya ipalupad dayon,” the 45-year-old vendor said. (Since I was small, this has been the tradition.)
But symbolic or not, various Sinulog traditions have been carried on for years, some of which strengthen the Cebuanos’ faith in the Sto. Niño.
(January 21, 2003 issue)
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