The month of May is fiesta-time for Bohol towns. It is the favorite month of our professional "fiesta-goers." And it pays that we all be forewarned.

Every day during May, there is fiesta in some of these 46 Bohol towns, celebrating the day of the town's patron saint with pomp and gaiety - and overloading tables with food goodies galore. The foreigner is quick to blame Juan de la Cruz' "fiesta mentality" in that he sacrifices his lone pig or cow - or else get into debt - just so his house will not be "bungol" during fiesta time.

We do not condone such ritualistic insanity but we are merely stating that fiesta celebration in the Philippine context - marked in that manner - is a reality of Filipino life. Fiestas compete with Christmas, New Year and birthdays, when it comes to rank in importance and the value they bring by the renewal of ties between families and friends.

But take heed. There is a strong ongoing lobby for an environmental consciousness among our people, such that, even frivolous material events like fiestas are enjoined, at the very least, to be eco-friendly. The town community must exercise this act of political will to make fiesta an event that does not further degrade the ecosystems which are calling for healing and protection.

On the lead here should be the influential Church, who as early as 1988 on Her Pastoral Letter on the Ecology called for citizen participation in preserving the environment. The Government efforts on this, on the other hand, should reach the barangay level with the youth possibly providing the inexpensive but visible "eco patrols" which will monitor the community's adherence to the "Green Fiesta" scheme.

There are a few practical things that can be done during fiestas, according to the guidelines of the EcoWaste Coalition.

Say "no" to plastics - use bayong made from nipa or cloth to pack things and reusable cups and glasses, fork, spoon and plate (not plastics). Do not use styro-foams.

Set up stations where the fiesta wastes are classified into biodegradable and non-biodegradable materials. Volunteers should regularly educate the community on this classification and its significance. Compost and do not burn fallen leaves, flowers and trimmings. It is better to use cloth and canvass materials instead of PVC-coated tarpaulins and for signages as well.

Do not blow too much pollution - heavy firecrackers and firecrackers and make do instead with the brass band blurting out Filipino and ballroom music and the local bank resonating with funky and rock music. Use colored cloth banners and decorations instead of too many balloons and recycle those burnt candles or make them out of cooking oil. Decorate your homes and churches with natural plants and flowers and do away with the artificial plastic ones - no matter how exotic and pretty the latter may be to the visuals.

Plan your menu and cook only for the household and the expected visitors - there is just too much waste in fiestas which are just thrown away uselessly. Try using banana leaves to serve food, they look and taste more delicious (even a Manila-based resto called Banana Leaf) does that precisely and is charming customers off their wallets.

Offer clean tap water or healthy drinks made of lemon grass or kalamansi, buko from coconut (that's really refreshing), pandan or salabat (from ginger) rather than chemically processed soft drinks, juices, tea or coffee. Serve only fruits and vegetables that are grown the natural way without the use of pesticide and those non-organic fertilizers.

Don't throw that extra food but instead share with your more unfortunate neighbors and give the food discards for animal feed or composting. Use compact flourescent lights and work for eventually lighting our homes and chapels with solar energy from the sun.

Finally, establish a Parish Ecology Center or Material Recovery Facility where the faithful can bring recycled materials that can later be sold to support the financial needs of scholars or other benevolent endeavors.

The Fight to Preserve the Environment is a world war that has been declared long time ago.

We are all invited to become warriors for this crusade - yes even, nay especially - during fiesta time. Ole!

For Comments: email to bingo_dejaresco@boholchronicle.com Or editor@boholchronicle.com