With almost 15 million participants from 647 cities and town, the Philippines bagged the top rank for the country who has the most number of people who turned their lights off last March 28, Saturday, in the global call of reducing climate change and saving the earth.
The Earth Hour 2009 was a huge success for the country. It signifies that there are a lot of Filipino who still care for the nature. There are some who turned their lights off to at least lessen their electric bills, and they didn't know they're helping mother nature unnoticed.
I was in Batangas during the Earth Hour 2009 and even though there were only a few cities and towns in Batangas who participated, the village where I am staying at that time fully obliged for the event. The Brgy. Captain did well in making his subordinates follow.
My cousin said even malls, television networks, major companies and even giant e-commerce names. He said the pathway lights of SM North EDSA where turned off and lines of lit candles provided the light on the dim patios. McDonald's also slightly lessen the light of the M arch on chosen stores.
But the biggest event of the Earth Hour Philippines 2009 was held in SM Mall of Asia. There was a countdown before the clock turned 8:30pm. For the full duration of the Earth Hour, people waved glow-in-the-dark sticks while activities such as marking a Message Board for the Earth continues.
A countdown marking the end of the event was also held and an array of bands performed as a reward for all for their participation. Here is a photo and video montage of the Earth Hour 2009 program held at the Philippines' SM Mall of Asia.