Lights out for Earth Hour on March 29

MANILA, Philippines - Preparations are in full swing for the world’s eighth Earth Hour switch-off, slated from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on March 29, organizers said yesterday.

Earth Hour Philippines national director Gia Ibay said the Philippines – one of the movement’s staunchest supporters – has since 2009 topped town and city participation levels to earn the title of Earth Hour Hero Country.

Official Earth Hour representatives and celebrities shall be at the Eastwood Mall Open Park and SM Mall of Asia’s By the Bay area at 8 p.m. on March 29. The Makati City government will mark the event at the Ayala Center Garden.

Envisioned as the most visual way to stand against climate change, Earth Hour began in 2007 as a single-city event. It has become the largest recurring environmental mass action, with 153 of the world’s 196 countries joining the global switch-off.