EDITORIAL - A change in our attitude?

One of the most surprising and good news about this year’s Sinulog festivities was about the thing we often don’t care about; trash. Specifically, how much trash was collected after the Grand Parade and the merrymaking was over.

According to reports, only 130 tons of trash were collected this year, compared to the 210 tons in 2019, or translating to 40% less trash.

Forty percent is a big thing. Ten percent would not have been noticeable, 20 percent, still not much of a difference, 30 percent would have caught our attention. And 40%? That’s almost half. Another 10% and the city would only have needed half the resources to get the job done.

There could have been many factors why there was a smaller volume of trash left on the street; the reminders by the local government might have been more persuasive, many people might have brought recyclable containers, or many decided not to buy plastics.

However, we may not also be wrong in saying this drastic reduction in trash can also be the result of a change in attitude.

Because, come to think of it, there was also less trash collected in 2019 compared to 2018, which yielded 219 tons. And it’s not like there have been less and less people attending the Grand Parade and partying after the event through the years, it more or less hovers around the same number. So yes, it might have a lot to do with attitude change.

If this is a continuing trend, that we are getting more and more conscious about leaving trash behind during the Sinulog, then this is more than welcome, considering how the Sinulog next year is closely tied to the quincentennial celebration of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines, an event expected to be attended by important dignitaries from the Vatican and Spain.

Of course, there will always be naysayers who will say that this attitude is only reserved for the big celebrations, that normally, Cebuanos will still carelessly throw their trash in the street for the rest of the year. However, this little attitude change can go a long way, and get bigger over time.

It is also proof that if we put a little effort in it, a little discipline, we can actually keep our city and our surroundings clean.

As locals would like to say “kaya ra man diay.”