Filipinos on lockdown went digital for the observation of Earth Hour 2020, enabling the nation to bridge the gap brought on by social distancing required by the community quarantine to stop the spread of coronavirus disease.
The resilient Filipino nation showed solidarity with the world and answered the environmental call during the Earth Hour that was observed on March 28, 2020, from 8:30 to 9:30 PM.
The Earth Hour is a global movement for the environment that started in Sydney, Australia in 2007 as a campaign for switching off non-essential lights to conserve energy and promote sustainability. The movement became an annual event happening every last Saturday of March as a symbol of commitment in addressing global warming.
The Philippines, which started joining the Earth Hour since 2008, still managed to join the action for the environment through the initiatives of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Philippines). Now that mass gathering is discouraged due to the enhanced community quarantine to stop the spread of COVID-19, WWF-Philippines still managed to join the global movement by doing it online.
TV personalities and WWF-Philippines National Ambassadors Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez, who usually host the gatherings during switch-off ceremonies, had their Conservation Conversation LIVE on Instagram.
The organization’s official Facebook page also had a watch party with a special series of clips from the award-winning Netflix documentary, Our Planet.
Radyo Veritas, the Roman Catholic AM radio station owned and operated by the Archdiocese of Manila, also participated in the Earth Hour by switching off their lights on the studio and lit their candles while they were broadcasting on Facebook Live.
Filipino pride champion and multi-awarded innovator Illac Diaz and the Liter of Light, the team who successfully pulled off the 100-day Voyage of Light via Peace Boat in early 2019 to help communities without electricity across 13 countries with the solar lamps, also celebrated the Earth Hour by arranging lamps to say “THANK YOU” and dedicated it to the men and women who are putting their lives on the frontlines to fight the disease that has been spreading around the world.
“This #earthhour we are staying at home,” A Light of Light posted on its Facebook page that came with photos of its founder Illac Diaz and the solar lamps. “This year, we want to share a special message to all of the #frontliners and #backliners who are reporting for duty every day to protect us and keep us safe from the COVID-19 epidemic.
“From nurses, doctors, and caregivers; to neighborhood watch patrols, police officers; from restaurants and caterers who continue to deliver meals to hospitals; to the delivery men and women who continue to bring goods and supplies to folks that need them most. To those who are keeping the streets clean, and those who continue to drive buses to help transport workers to their essential job sites: THANK YOU.”
The post was ended with: “At a time when the world is living in darkness, we want to shine a light on you.”
SEND CHEERS in the comments below to the Filipino nation for finding ways to observe Earth Hour 2020 to care for the world even during the time of quarantine to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Want to know how to be a Proud Pinoy? Like, Follow, Subscribe to GoodNewsPilipinas.com and our socials Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Good News Pilipinas! TV on YouTube, for new story notifications and e-mail newsletters for updates on more Filipino Pride stories
