Celebrating Earth through sustainable living

CEBU, Philippines - What better way to celebrate Earth Hour than to initiate a fair that promotes the sustainability of our planet’s resources?

This is the concept behind Aboitiz Equity Ventures, and its newest urban development Persimmon Plus’ Passion For A Better World Sustainability Fair, gathering the island’s most sustainable micro, small, and medium enterprises. The companies featured were diverse including The Fair Trade Shop, We Love Organics, Plantex Green Advocates, Urban Indulgence Spa, Greenin’ Philippines, and even a dental spa, a coffee shop, and a beverage outlet.

There were also interactive and educational booths like the VECO CFL Switch Booth and the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation interactive booth on biodiversity conservation.

And then on the day when the world turned black, the fair went the extra mile by conducting lectures and other activities, all to raise awareness on how the Cebuanos could make green a way of life.

From the fresh produce market to the recycling market where one could sell their recyclables for a few pesos, which, by the way, they can donate to more sustainable efforts for Mother Earth, to lectures on renewable energy, recycling, controlling water pollution, permaculture, sustainable livelihood, natural farming, and most importantly energy conservation.

There was also a walkathon from the corporate office of Aboitiz in Banilad to the fair site. And for the countdown, they had a film showing that showed the urgency of living green and a free concert before the huge voluntary black out at 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.

The black out was lighted up by entertainment focusing on man’s primitive artificial light – fire. There were fire dances, fire eating, and fire ballers. So, who says dark is scary?

Earth Hour, the Aboitiz way, is not just about turning off the lights, it is also about living green.