...the Earth Hour hero country

Philippines aims to be Earth Hour Hero Country for 5^th straight year!

 

Nikko Tuazon
Philippine Entertainment Portal
02 March 2013
 

Earth Hour Ambassadors Marc Nelson, Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski and Rovilson Fernandez with World Wide Fund for Nature mascot "Chichi the Panda."

Photo: Courtesy of WWF-Philippines

World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature Philippines, the local organizer of Earth Hour, is gunning for the country’s fifth straight win for the title Earth Hour Hero Country.

Earth Hour, which started in Sydney, Australia last 2007, aims to motivate people in reducing their energy consumption by switching off their lights for an hour. The Philippines joined this advocacy on March 28, 2008, at the CCP Open Grounds.
 

This year's nationwide "switch-off" is slated for March 23, at exactly 8:30 p.m. Many of the nation’s landmarks including Cebu and Davao are expected to participate in this event. Cities from Argentina to Zimbabwe are also expected to join in this worldwide call for action on climate change.

In a press conference held last February 27 in Makati City, WWF-Philippines Vice-chair and CEO Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan expressed his ambition for more Filipinos to join this stand against climate change.

“We’ve reached a point where the Philippines has not only come across as a leader in Earth Hour but a leader in many technologies and in many ways.

“When we are ahead, let’s stay ahead and when we make a difference let’s make that difference.”
“And we are allowed to make a difference but mainly because we are a democracy, like very few countries in Asia.

“Democracy is not merely freedom, it is participation and that’s the key behind Earth Hour.”

Earth Hour Philippines National director Atty. Gia Ibay also noted that they are now going to use the digital media to motivate Filipinos to participate in the event.

“[For] four straight years, we’ve actually been doing this and now we’re going digital. We are living in such a digital age that we want to capitalize [on] it.

“If Gangnam Style can galvanize other people, why not Earth Hour galvanize people in actually doing something for their planet.”

Atty. Ibay further explained the objectives of their "I Will If You Will" campaign: “We really want the people to not just think about what the challenge is in terms of the handle of ‘I Will If You Will’ but really dare yourself what can you do on a day to day basis?”
 
BEYOND 60+. Meanwhile, Filipina equestrienne and actress Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski joins Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez as the newest ambassador of WWF-Philippines for Earth Hour.

In an interview, Mikee emphasized how a small contribution by every person can make a difference.

She also challenged everyone to go beyond the 60-minute Earth Hour switch off by starting on their own environment-friendly activities.

“Every small contribution is a big deal not just when we add all up because when we put it all together, you know, it all adds up but for ourselves, I think [it’s] the fact that we try to challenge ourselves and no one’s telling us what to do and how we do it.

“It’s how we know ourselves... our strengths, our limitations, our weaknesses and what we think our effort is worth.

 

...the WWF International Board member

First Pinoy in WWF Int'l Board gets re-elected

 

 

ABS-CBNnews.com

12/02/2012

 

 

MANILA, Philippines – Former Philippine Energy Secretary Vincent S. Perez was unanimously re-elected to the International Board of Trustees of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the organization announced.

 

 

 

Perez is the first and only Filipino to be elected as a member of the 14-person board and has served with distinction since 2010. His second term will be from 2013 until 2016.

"Vince brings to the Board the unpaired experience of private and public policy making, as well as a passion for conservation," said WWF International President Yolanda Kakabadse.

Perez became the Philippines' youngest Energy Secretary in June 2001 and served until March 2005.

He currently sits as Chairman of WWF-Philippines and the El Nido Resorts, and is the chief executive of renewable power company Alternergy Partners.

Among WWF-Philippines' achievements during Perez's term were revitalized engagements with corporate partners, enhanced cross-crounty collaboration between WWF-Philippines and other WWF organizations within Asia-Pacific, and four highly-celebrated years as the world’s most participative Earth Hour country.

"Each WWF International trustee brings to the table unique competencies. Aside from providing excellent insights as to the adoption of clean energy sources, Vince offers sound advice on the measured development of Asia and other developing nations," said WWF-Philippines Vice-Chair and CEO Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan.

WWF-Philippines has been working as a national organization of the WWF network since 1997. It develops practical solutions to help the Philippines adapt to climate change, secure food and water sources, conserve endangered species, and promote renewable sources of clean energy.

The WWF is the world's leading conservation organization, with about 1,300 conservation projects and offices in over 100 countries and over five million supporters. Its International Board is responsible for the conduct, administration and representation of the organization globally.