Recycling candles sustains Philippine diocese's social action work

Church workers produce at least 3,000 recycled and new candles every two days

Text and photos by Mark Saludes, Philippines.

Stock video by Videezy

Stock video by Videezy

A diocese in the central Philippines has been able to sustain its social action work, including the payment of salaries of its 22 workers, by recycling candles.

Father Mark Anthony Ongos saw the opportunity in 2016 while watching candles burn and melt inside the Gallery of Saints, his favorite place in the San Carlos Borromeo Cathedral.

Hundreds of candles are lit every week in the Gallery of Saints in San Carlos Borromeo Cathedral in the Diocese of San Carlos in the Central Philippines. In 2016, the diocese's social action center started to collect and recycle used wax and half-burned candles.

Hundreds of candles are lit every week in the Gallery of Saints in San Carlos Borromeo Cathedral in the Diocese of San Carlos in the Central Philippines. In 2016, the diocese's social action center started to collect and recycle used wax and half-burned candles.

Arsenia Rabakal, a chandler in her 50s, prepares the candle molds. She trained in candle-making in 2016 when the diocesan social action ministry started to put up a candle recycling shop.

Arsenia Rabakal, a chandler in her 50s, prepares the candle molds. She trained in candle-making in 2016 when the diocesan social action ministry started to put up a candle recycling shop.

Hundreds of candles are lit every week in the Gallery of Saints in San Carlos Borromeo Cathedral in the Diocese of San Carlos in the Central Philippines. In 2016, the diocese's social action center started to collect and recycle used wax and half-burned candles.

Hundreds of candles are lit every week in the Gallery of Saints in San Carlos Borromeo Cathedral in the Diocese of San Carlos in the Central Philippines. In 2016, the diocese's social action center started to collect and recycle used wax and half-burned candles.

Arsenia Rabakal, a chandler in her 50s, prepares the candle molds. She trained in candle-making in 2016 when the diocesan social action ministry started to put up a candle recycling shop.

Arsenia Rabakal, a chandler in her 50s, prepares the candle molds. She trained in candle-making in 2016 when the diocesan social action ministry started to put up a candle recycling shop.

The priest set up a small recycling and candle-making shop, which the social action center of the diocese adopted it as an income-generating project.

"There is big demand for candles, especially during feasts and other church events," said the priest, who also serves as deputy social action director.

Church workers Arsenia Rabakal and Alfredo Dellagado work as chandlers for Father Ongos' project, producing at least 3,000 recycled and new candles every two days.

Church workers Arsenia Rabakal and Alfredo Dellagado are the diocese's chandlers who produce at least 3,000 recycled and new candles every two days.

Church workers Arsenia Rabakal and Alfredo Dellagado are the diocese's chandlers who produce at least 3,000 recycled and new candles every two days.

Church workers Arsenia Rabakal and Alfredo Dellagado are the diocese's chandlers who produce at least 3,000 recycled and new candles every two days.

Church workers Arsenia Rabakal and Alfredo Dellagado are the diocese's chandlers who produce at least 3,000 recycled and new candles every two days.
"This is a fun job, and we earn a decent amount of money," said Rabakal, adding that offering lighted candles has been part of the lives of Filipino Catholics.

"We light candles when we say our prayers, during baptisms, weddings, and funerals," she said.

The church workers collect wax and half-burned candles in churches and later segregate these based on the color.

Arsenia Rabakal talks with a co-worker while preparing the candle molds in the Diocese of San Carlos in the central Philippine island of Negros.

Arsenia Rabakal talks with a co-worker while preparing the candle molds in the Diocese of San Carlos in the central Philippine island of Negros.

Arsenia Rabakal ties a cotton string before starting to mold the candles. The string will serve as the wick. Rabakal said she earns decent money in recycling candles.

Arsenia Rabakal ties a cotton string before starting to mold the candles. The string will serve as the wick. Rabakal said she earns decent money in recycling candles.

Arsenia Rabakal talks with a co-worker while preparing the candle molds in the Diocese of San Carlos in the central Philippine island of Negros.

Arsenia Rabakal talks with a co-worker while preparing the candle molds in the Diocese of San Carlos in the central Philippine island of Negros.

Arsenia Rabakal ties a cotton string before starting to mold the candles. The string will serve as the wick. Rabakal said she earns decent money in recycling candles.

Arsenia Rabakal ties a cotton string before starting to mold the candles. The string will serve as the wick. Rabakal said she earns decent money in recycling candles.

Some parish workers bring their used candles to be recycled. The project has been supplying candles to all the parishes in the diocese.

Rabakal and Dellagado make candles in ten different colors. Each color has a meaning. For instance, the color red is used for celebrations and special occasions while blue is used for offerings when one is praying for prosperity, peace, and good relationship.

Used wax and half-burned candles are collected from churches for recycling.

Used wax and half-burned candles are collected from churches for recycling.

The candle mold with the wicks hanging are dipped into a container of molten wax several times until the desired size of candles is achieved.

The candle mold with the wicks hanging are dipped into a container of molten wax several times until the desired size of candles is achieved.

Alfredo Dellagado lets the candles cool, then refills the container with molten wax for another set of candles.

Alfredo Dellagado lets the candles cool, then refills the container with molten wax for another set of candles.

While still warm, the new candles are cut from the mold.

While still warm, the new candles are cut from the mold.

Used wax and half-burned candles are collected from churches for recycling.

Used wax and half-burned candles are collected from churches for recycling.

The candle mold with the wicks hanging are dipped into a container of molten wax several times until the desired size of candles is achieved.

The candle mold with the wicks hanging are dipped into a container of molten wax several times until the desired size of candles is achieved.

Alfredo Dellagado lets the candles cool, then refills the container with molten wax for another set of candles.

Alfredo Dellagado lets the candles cool, then refills the container with molten wax for another set of candles.

While still warm, the new candles are cut from the mold.

While still warm, the new candles are cut from the mold.

Father Dionisio Nacario, social action director of San Carlos Diocese, said the project earns up to US$2,000 a month.

Part of the income goes to the "Priest Care Fund," which the diocese uses to provide health care and other basic needs to priests.

Most of the money is used to pay the salary of social action workers, including Rabakal and Dellagado.

In the past two years, the San Carlos social action ministry has been visiting other dioceses to introduce their candle recycling methods.

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Churchgoers light candles at the Gallery of Saints in the San Carlos Borromeo Cathedral in Negros island.

Churchgoers light candles at the Gallery of Saints in the San Carlos Borromeo Cathedral in Negros island.

Churchgoers light candles at the Gallery of Saints in the San Carlos Borromeo Cathedral in Negros island.

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