Christian and Muslim groups banded together in cleaning up the shoreline of a coastal village in the city of Puerto Princesa in Palawan province on Thursday, September 3.
The activity was led by the Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa as it marks the start of the Church’s observance of the “Season of Creation.”
Bishop Socrates Mesiona of Puerto Princesa echoed Pope Francis’ call for the people to “care for Our Common Home” and denounce the “throwaway” culture.
“We have different religions, we have different beliefs, but we live in the same world. Hopefully, we will all imbibe the spirituality of protecting the environment,” said the prelate.
Hadji Arturo ‘Abdulaziz’ Suizo, a Muslim leader, said Islam has given much importance to the cause of protecting the environment.
“Let us protect it for the next generation,” he said.
In the Vatican, Pope Francis on September 1 led the opening of the “World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.”
Carrying the theme “Jubilee for the Earth,” the month-long event is part of efforts to raise awareness about climate change and environment conservation.
In the Philippines, the celebration extends up to October 11, Indigenous Peoples Sunday observance.
Palawan’s interfaith community will also have a tree-planting activity on September 30 in the mountains of Irawan.
In 2019, the Apostolic Vicariate was able to plant 10,000 trees on Mount Mantalingahan in Brooke’s Point.
