Holy Rosary Parish Goes Green ...

non-biodegradable trash like plastic bags and styropor containers that littered and clogged the waterway. Participants brought with them sticks, empty sacks, and other cleaning implements to facilitate the removal of trash.

To this day, the old folks of Angeles
remember how crystal clear water used to flow freely along the river. They used to wash their
clothes and bathe in it. The advent of economic progress and “development” eventually led to
environmental degradation that manifested in the death of the city’s waterways. Non-biodegradable waste materials started to amass along the river. Fishes and other aquatic organisms started to disappear. Water pollution became a major concern. Soon enough, the Sapang Balen of old had become a fond memory, tucked away in many old folks’
treasure trove of childhood stories.

Unabated increase in population and lack of
discipline and awareness among the people living near the Sapang Balen were seen as major factors that contributed greatly to the death of the river. As houses began sprouting along the length of Sapang Balen, improper waste disposal became more rampant. In recent years, the occurrence of flashfloods during heavy rainfall has become aproblem in the city because of clogged waterways. When flooding occurs, the garbage that has been improperly disposed comes back to litter the streets of the city.


The May 23 rally served as a kick-off activity for the project which the parish hopes to
sustain through community involvement. Groups and individuals have pledged to continue with the clean-up drive every Saturday to help revive Sapang Balen. Meetings have been conducted to plan for an organized and sustainable campaign using appropriate methods that would help
address this particular issue.

The Sagip Sapang Balen environmental rally was a wake up call not only for the City
Government of Angeles but for all the residents of Angeles. With it came the realization that each
citizen plays a vital role in caring for the environment for the sake of future generations of Angeleños and Angeleñas.