MANILA, Philippines–As the country goes dark in support of Earth Hour on Saturday, organizers will lead a glow-in-the-dark dance party at Quezon Memorial Circle during the hour-long lights switch-off starting at 8:30 p.m.
After leading the country in the past seven years into successfully observing the global event for climate change awareness, World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines decided to hold a Zumba party this year.
“This is a fun, interactive way to observe Earth Hour,” said WWF Philippines communications manager Gregg Yan.
Since 2009, the country has consistently topped the event in terms of participation. In 2013, WWF Philippines reported that a record-breaking 1,671 cities and towns in the Philippines joined the 60-minute switch-off.
“Now we have to go beyond Earth Hour. Filipinos have to reduce their carbon footprint for the rest of the year. One of the ways is to be able to fund concrete climate change solutions,” Yan added.
He said this year WWF will provide hundreds of portable solar lamps to households that do not get electricity service.
The group’s first beneficiaries are in Palawan’s island-municipality of Beton. Yan said they aim to provide at least 200 portable solar lamps to the households that rely on fishing and grouper culture.
The Zumba party will kick off at 5 p.m. During Earth Hour, dim lights and glow sticks will be used so the participants can follow the Zumba instructors. Organizers expect 3,000 to 4,000 people to join the event and wear bright or neon colored attires.–Dona Z. Pazzibugan