Spare Black Nazarene feast from propaganda, politicos told

Please do away with the “Happy Fiesta" posters. They will likely end up as piles of garbage that will litter Quiapo’s streets. On the eve of the start of activities marking the Feast of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, an environmental group appealed to politicians not to use the event for self-promotion and political mileage. "We request all well-meaning politicians, especially those seeking elective posts in May 2010, to spare the Feast of the Black Nazarene of blatant self-promotion and abstain from putting up ‘happy fiesta’ tarpaulin banners," EcoWaste president Manny Calonzo said on the group's blog site. EcoWaste also noted that Quiapo Church rector Msgr. Jose Clemente Ignacio already reminded politicians not to use the feast for political campaigning.

As early as Monday night, "Happy Fiesta" banners featuring politicians were already placed in some areas near Quiapo Church. Instead of wasting resources for out-of-place political propaganda, EcoWaste said politicians should quietly pay homage to the Black Nazarene. The group added politicians could likewise help in post-fiesta cleanup of littered streets, take down unsightly buntings and banners, and support village-level enforcement of ecological solid waste management. 10-hour procession Police expect more than three million devotees to attend the activities marking the Feast of the Black Nazarene starting Friday. The yearly procession around Manila's Quiapo district will highlight the actual feast on Saturday. Manila Police District head Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay said they are also expecting this year’s procession to drag for about 10 hours, like last year’s. But Magtibay said police hope to stay on top of the situation by using the closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems installed along the route of the procession. “Gagamitin natin ang CCTV, makakatulong yan sa pag-monitor ng dadaanan ng prusisyon (We will use the CCTV system, it will help us monitor possible troublemakers)," he said. Magtibay likewise warned devotees against drinking and lighting firecrackers in the path of the procession. He also warned them to avoid bringing children and their valuables. The MPD and National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will deploy at least 1,500 policemen to key areas in Manila to secure the event. At least 40 ambulances will also be on hand to attend to injuries. Magtibay said the police personnel will start their tours of duty as early as Friday, when the image of the Black Nazarene is brought to Quirino Grandstand in Manila. - with Sophia Dedace/LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV