Philippines tops global Earth Hour participation

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines has registered the highest participation in Earth Hour 2009, a global campaign to highlight the threat of climate change. An article posted on the Earth Hour’s website said more than 650 communities switched off their lights off from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday. "The event started with the darkening of the Rizal Shrine, a major Manila landmark honouring Filipino national hero Dr. José Rizal. The massive Mall of Asia in Pasay City, the world’s fourth largest mall, also went dark in a ceremony that drew several hundred people," the article said. An Associated Press report earlier reported that nearly 4,000 cities and towns in 88 countries planned to join in the World Wildlife Fund-sponsored event, a time zone-by-time zone plan to dim non-essential lights between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on March 28. In the Philippines, the WWF for Nature, the Department of Energy, and other cause-oriented groups like Green Army and SWITCH greeted the event at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City. “We will continue to adopt energy efficiency, energy conservation measures to conserve planet Earth," Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes was quoted as saying in GMA News’ Weekend Report. - GMANews.TV