AS the world celebrated Earth Hour’s 11th year, SM Bulacan Malls in Marilao, San Jose del Monte, Pulilan and Baliwag deepened their commitment by driving mass awareness on climate change and engaging communities to action.
This year’s worldwide theme “#Connect 2Earth” seeks to get the local community involved in the urgent need to care for the planet’s biodiversity and the environment.
Earth Hour 2018 shifted its focus by aiming to raise awareness on the crucial importance of biodiversity as a viable resource link that families, communities, nations and future generations depend upon. As the movement connects people to the Earth, Earth Hour hopes to jump-start conversations on how people can conserve and preserve their own diversity and inspire actions on healthy forests, plastic-free oceans, wildlife conservation and sustainable business.
“SM’s celebration of Earth Hour is more than an annual tradition of turning off the lights, but also a platform where we hope people can understand their great role as stewards of the environment,” SM City Marilao Mall Manager Bernadette Velasco said.
Each SM Mall in Bulacan came up with creative programs and centerpieces to celebrate Earth Hour 2018.
Inspired by nature, fields of solar-powered light installation made, of bamboo, recycled cables and light-emitting diode or LED bulbs brightened up SM City Marilao’s front garden. SM City Marilao featured the creative use of light art and sustainable technology for Earth Hour to evoke awareness on climate change and to provide an imaginative focal point on recycling, as well as environmental protection. The hundred blooms were complemented by 4 feet of illuminated dandelions, which were all solar powered. Representing a magic garden, the sustainable installation offered guests the opportunity to enjoy not only the beauty of nature, but also to connect and experience the beauty of nature in a unique and mesmerizing way.
Reinforcing SM City San Jose del Monte’s call for action to recycle and reduce waste consumption, hundreds of tin cans used by households were repurposed into lanterns. Tiny holes in tin-can lanterns created a beautiful scattered light patterns of flowers, trees, animals and sea creatures that reminded audience of conservation. It also showed how simple gestures could help save the environment.
“Earth Hour should not just be a one-time, big-time, once-a-year event. Our Earth Hour should be every hour, every day,” SM City San Jose del Monte Assistant Mall Manager Arch Nelson Lopez said.
In SM City Baliwag, 16 feet of Glow in the Dark String Art Installation reminded the community of how things on earth is interconnected.
Because all of us share one home and one planet, understanding interconnectedness is one of the keys in solving Earth’s pressing challenges,” SM City Baliwag Mall Manager Andrew Cristobal said. He added that concerted efforts on saving the environment are needed to bring significant and positive change to the Earth.
A mural of candles depicting Earth Hour and the World Wildlife Fund Logo was lit in the foreground of SM Center Pulilan. Participants in the event also showed their commitment to save the planet through a Pledge for the Environment, led by SM City Pulilan Assistant Mall Manager Apple de Leon.
On top of the hourly lights-off campaign every year, SM Supermalls has long focused on energy efficiency and sustainable practices, such as water conservation, solid-waste management and air-quality projects, including SM Cares’ environmental programs through education and awareness. Regular cleanup drives and trash-to-cash activities were, likewise, conducted to involve the community in saving the Earth.