Earth Hour 2013 @ SM Lanang, Davao
The last time I joined Earth Hour was in 2011. I was in Singapore then atop ‘The Lantern‘ of Fullerton Bay Hotel. It was a quiet celebration with candle lit tables and dimmed lights, uncommon for a rooftop pool bar, and overlooking Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands.
Earth Hour 2013
Two years later and a more environment-conscious world society, Let’s Go Sago joined Earth Hour once again last March 23, 2013 at the Fountain Court of SM Lanang Premier in Davao City. In contrast to that of the Singapore experience, the observance of Earth Hour 2013 involved a public event program with no less than environmental advocates and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Other SM malls in Mindanao: SM City Cagayan de Oro, SM City General Santos, and SM City Davao, had similar activities. This is actually part of the bigger picture participated by all SM Supermalls around the country. However, this exercise is particularly significant for Mindanao where most provinces are currently experiencing an electric-power crisis with rotating blackouts.
Earth Hour @ SM Lanang Premier
Hosted by Bb. Pilipinas-International 2007 Ms. Nadia Shami, the event started as early as 8pm. The opening remarks was delivered by Ms. Debby A. Go, AVP-Operations, Mindanao-SM Supermalls. This was followed by the showing of SM and Global Earth Hour videos. The main message was given by guest speaker Mr. Arturo Boncato, Jr, Regional Director Department of Tourism (Region 11). There were also dance performances from Davao’s local groups.
The Fountain Court was also filled with hundreds of participants from all walks of life and ages from children to old folks alike. Come 8:29 pm, the much anticipated countdown towards the ceremonial lights switch-off was held. The synchronized shut-off covered most of the mall lights in and outside SM Lanang Premier, fountain court show lights, and the adjacent new hotel by Radisson – Park Inn Davao.
Check out this YouTube video of Earth Hour 2013:
Candle lights among the crowd were also lit up and shared as another dance group celebrated the occasion. A huge ‘60+‘ standee was alighted with energy-saving LED lights as well. And as can be expected from a Filipino crowd, a number of ‘photo opps‘ were taken advantaged off. 🙂 A Filipino celebration is never complete without the so-called ‘Kodak‘ moments. 🙂
WWF ‘I WIll If you Will‘
Another crowd-drawer was the fire dance exhibition which was a feast to the eyes. A writing wall of “I Will if You Will” was also available near the registration table in an effort to get the public’s commitment to saving power and getting more Earth-friendly. The advocacy is central to WWF‘s campaign of encouraging people to commit in contributing in saving the Earth in exchange for a commitment to sacrifice some pleasures which produces a large amount of carbon footprint.
