SM’S UNIFIED EFFORT IN SAVING THE EARTH

As the clock strikes 8:30 pm, SM City Marilao and SM City Baliwag slipped into darkness and joined the global community in a simultaneous switching off of lights in support of the Worldwide Fund for Nature’s (WWF) Earth Hour Campaign.

               

Pledges of love for Mother Earth

On its 4^th consecutive year, SM City Marilao proudly continues the tradition of joining the world’s largest environment campaign to foster awareness on the global issue of climate change. Evident in the altered and unpredictable weather patterns as well as the major storms that have affected the Philippines, SM City Marilao aims to push the advocacy further by focusing on promoting and practicing sustainability as well as in taking an active role to engage the community in energy conservation.

“Earth hour gives us the opportunity to highlight the relevance of each individual in saving the environment” said SM City Marilao Mall Manager Bernadette Velasco. “We at SM City Marilao encourage everyone to not only commemorate Earth Hour 2013, but to go beyond the hour by observing energy saving disciplines” she added.  

 

During the program, a collaborative effort that involves support from various groups from both private and public sectors took place at SM City Marilao’s public terminal today. Days before the earth hour, students from different schools in Marilao, community members, institutions and local government authorities wrote their pledge of commitment in saving the environment. The massive turn out of pledges was formed into symbolic 60 minutes and was highlighted as the mall 100% switched off the buildings’ logo including external signages, bill boards and lamp posts. Preceded by the 10-second countdown, stores and car park lights were set at the minimum level to conserve energy while ensuring the safety of mall customers.

Making the darkness more festive and meaningful, pledges of commitment were recited while plants and seedlings were given to guests and participants to encourage green acts and to remind them of sustainable living.

Musical performances from You Tube Sensation JAMICH and Yexel Sebastian complete the festivity as participants used colorful glow sticks to light up the venue. LED (light-emitting diode) light bulbs were also used as an alternative source of power during the show.

Lights off, firefly glow on

A hundred replicas of fireflies illuminated the façade area of SM City Baliwag to highlight the 60-minute lights off for the Earth Hour Celebration. Since the program focuses on the use of energy-efficient materials and waste-management practices, discarded soda bottles gathered from mall employees were used for the firefly reproductions which were then installed with solar-powered bulbs courtesy of Solar Tech Enterprise.

The program included the ‘Pedal N’ Skate for Mother Earth’ where over a hundred cyclists trailed around town to raise awareness on the unified effort to save energy. Youngsters unplugged from their gaming devices to and hit the ramp with their skateboards during the ‘60-degrees Skating Exhibition’.

Sharing the advocacy to protect the environment were guests from the local government led by Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado, Vice Governor Daniel Fernando, Mayor Romy Estrella and Vice Mayor Tony Patawaran together with Bulacan Environment and Natural Resources Chief Eugenio Payongayong, SM City Baliwag Asst. Mall Manager Ardee Tolentino and Bulacan State University’s Dr. Mariano De Jesus. 

 

SM Supermalls continuously makes a conscious effort in the observance of sustainable business ethics and effective stewardship through the implementation of unified environmental programs under the SM Cares. One of the programs included is the monthly Trash to Cash program which highlights the importance of recycling and proper solid waste management to its customers and tenants alike. Moreover, the malls also upgraded its equipment with energy and water-saving systems such as waterless urinals and sewage treatment plant.