Celebrating Earth Hour 2013 at SM Lanang Premier in Davao

 

I've been supporting Earth Hour by simply turning the lights at home for an hour.  Although, I wasn’t able to document this participation in my blog, I never failed to continue practicing the aim of this advocacy and now that I am married, the challenge is to commit my household to do the same.

Earth Hour is the largest , symbolic way of participating and showing your love to mother Earth with the aim of mobilizing the people to lead and take action on climate change.

In the country, it was then a single-city event in 2007 but turned out to be the largest recurring environmental mass-action occasion joining 7,001 cities and towns across 152 countries to switch lights off for an hour as a way of showing their love for the environment.

Thank you SM Supermalls for taking part in the nationwide celebration of  Earth Hour on March 23, from 8:30 to 9:30 pm most especially at their several SM malls nationwide and successfully inviting the public to participate in this occasion. 

The Earth Hour was celebrated here in SM Lanang at the Fountain Court, the longest dancing fountain in the country.

What made this occasion more meaningful to me, who used to be an ordinary participant at home, is now joining the advocates together with others who believe that we can make a difference and inspire others.

SM Lanang Premier Fountain Court

It was one of the many reasons why I went to Davao last Friday, not only for the launch of ParkInn by Radisson. I was recently in Davao to celebrate Earth Hour and I am so privilege to be part of this advocacy. It was a different kind of experience. There was so much excitement few minutes before 8:30pm, when people started to arrive at SM Lanang Premier’s Fountain Court. Dabawenos and even tourists says it’s one of their favorite spot here in SM Lanang. Why? Because the fountain is so beautiful specially during evening when it dances as the music plays. It’s the longest fountain here in the Philippines. But that evening, when the clock stroked at 8:30pm, the area was enveloped with darkness. The source of light that we had were the lighted candles that we hold, signifying the Earth Hour.

There was moment of silence too, until we make our pledge “Pledge For The Planet” together with SM executives, Miss. Earth 2005, herself and all who joined the celebration. The lights and music at the fountain court were all turned off, even the mall and it’s tenants participated. The newly opened ParkInn by Radisson never miss joining the celebration, too!

We spent a minute of silence and prayed for the victims of calamities. That was then I felt the sadness. We wouldn’t want to live in darkness, we want our kids to watch and enjoy the SM Lanang Fountain Court. We want the future generation experience a better and easy life. But we can only do this if we save the environment. That is why SM challenges us with their campaign, “I Will if You Will”.

The crowd holding lighted candles; at the back is ParkInn by Radisson, participated in Earth Hour 2013

Earth Hour came very timely in the face of power crisis here in Mindanao, where several areas have reported experiencing rotating blackouts, thankful that we did not experience one during our three days stay. Electric shortage is a fear to worsen in the summer months yet  Earth Hour hopes to inspire various stakeholders to reduce their energy consumption and to make a commitment to a low-carbon lifestyle by taking simple and realistic measures as easy as switching off their lights when not in use. 

Fire Dancers as the lights were turned off

SM with the company's advocacy and campaign for "I Will if You Will" challenged and encourage each and everyone to create their own challenges towards saving Mother Earth. Creating a positive chain reaction to the environment is one of their efforts. Teaching our kids at home to save energy such as turning off the lights, creating a schedule of turning on and off the television while introducing other activities that are worthwhile.

Here in Mindanao, all 4 SM Malls namely SM City Cagayan De Oro, SM City General Santos, SM City Davao and SM Lanang Premiere led the city's switching off a significant percentage of their lights to be one with the global call to take a stand to save our mother Earth.

SM, with its partners in WWF, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, SMART Communications, Davao Bloggers, Park Inn by Radisson, Boy Scout of the Philippines, BonChon, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, JCI Kagayhaan Gold and Team Titans Davao, encouraged people to participate.

For others who were not able to come at SM Lanang Premier, I guess their families also participated by switching off their lights at home and their work areas.

Thank you SM Lanang for taking part in Earth Hour 2013 and for the continuous effort of saving the Earth. 

We dare the world to save the planet. Let’s support the Earth Hour, accept the challenge and continue this advocacy.

Join the Earth Hour Global Community now!

 

 

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