Cebuanos ready for Earth Hour of darkness, entertainment

Cebuanos ready for Earth Hour of darkness, entertainment
By Ma. Bernadette A. Parco, Aileen Garcia-Yap, Chris Ligan
Cebu Daily News
March 27, 2010

Seven cities and 44 towns in the province will join tonight’s Earth Hour, a symbolic gesture of turning off non-essential lights from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. to fight climate change.

The biggest global energy conservation campaign to cut earth-warming greenhouse gas emissions will also be joined in by the Aboitiz Group of Co., Cebu Holdings Inc. (CHI) and its subsidiary Cebu Property Ventures and Development Corporation, Philippine Business for Social Progress, Cebu Business Park and Asiatown I.T. Park.

Countdowns to Earth Hour will be held at SM City Cebu and at Ayala Center Cebu.

Outdoor Advertising Association of the Philippines Cebu chapter head Me'Anne Alcordo-Solomon said they will turn off at least 100 billboards tonight

At SM City Cebu, an Earth Hour show after lights are switched off will feature performances by the world-renowned Mandaue Children’s Choir.

A group of fire dancers called Fire Attraction Dancers and a percussion ensemble, the Lupon Anduyo, are also slated to perform.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Department of Energy Usec. Roy Kyamco are expected to deliver speeches during the program.

The “countdown switch-off” at Ayala Center Cebu’s The Terraces will be will be led by the country’s premier band, Side A.

The Department of Energy has launched an exhibit to complement the Earth Hour at SM City Cebu.

The “Energy Exhibit” showcases different energy-saving technologies used by a number of companies.

Eden Biotech has solar panels on display. VE Engineering is introducing microhydroturbines. The energy department is showcasing its wind turbines.

CHI corporate communications officer Jeanette Japson said the company expects to save an estimated 4,626.70 kilowatt hours for an hour-long turning off of lights and unused electrical devises in their properties. These include Cebu Business Park, Asiatown I.T. Park and CHI-managed properties which include Ayala Center Cebu, Cebu Holdings Center, Ayala Life FGU Center, City Sports Club Cebu, Park Towers 1 & 2, Amara, Garden Ridge Village, eOffice, eBloc and The Walk.

Japson added that they have also set up a computer terminal at the Active Zone of Ayala Center Cebu where shoppers can register as Earth Hour participants online.

An initiative of the World Wildlife Fund, one of the most respected international environment preservation organizations, Earth Hour started in the city of Sydney, Australia in 2008. It is now a yearly event held from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in every time zone on the last Saturday of March.

According to a statement on the WWF website, Earth Hour “is a global call to action to every individual, every business and every community throughout the world. It is a call to stand up, to take responsibility, to get involved and lead the way towards a sustainable future.”