IN OBSERVANCE of this year’s Earth Hour, the Ateneo Environmental Science Society, together with the World Wildlife Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF Philippines), held a switch-off event and program yesterday, March 22, at the Zen Garden. The event marked its first official iteration to be held in the Ateneo. 

The initiative featured various performances and talks from key environmental leaders and indigenous groups, culminating with the formal lights-off ceremony.

At 8:30 PM, the campus turned off all non-essential lights in most buildings within the College Complex. Areas such as the Gonzaga, Kostka, and Berchmans buildings, as well as the Science Education Complex, the Rizal Library buildings, and the Church of the Gesú went dark for an hour in solidarity with the initiative.

Call for environmental action

Former University President Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ opened the evening of discourse with his speech on environmental anxiety. He pointed out that while things may be uncertain at present, the same uncertainty opens the possibility of hope and its potential to lead into tangible action. 

“This planet is still a work in progress—an unfinished garden. Kailangan bungkalin ‘yung lupa, kailangan alagaan, at hindi pwede nating sabihin ayoko na. […] My friends, let us not lose heart,” Villarin expressed.

(This planet is still a work in progress—an unfinished garden. We need to till the soil, take care of it, and refuse to give up on it. My friends, let us not lose heart.)

A roundtable discussion was also held during the event. Among the speakers were Assistant Director Tonichi Regalado of the Manila Observatory’s KLIMA Center, Regional Finance Campaigner Cesar Carlito Baclagon of 350.org Pilipinas, Executive Director Toni Dominique Madulid of Reboot PH, and Krishna Ariola of the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development. The forum was facilitated by Matikas Santos of WWF Philippines.

Lights off for Earth

Echoing the call for proactive change, WWF Philippines Communications Officer Janine Peralta explained that Earth Hour was not just simply closing lights but a symbolic promise to unite in the fight for the planet. Peralta explained that these simple contributions give humanity hope in combating key environmental issues such as global warming and climate change.

Before the lights were switched off, all attendees logged their participation in this year’s Earth Hour through the Hour Bank, which recorded each person’s participation in the cause and their pledge to help WWF’s causes.

The switch-off lasted for 60 minutes before lights were turned back on. Afterwards, the event concluded with a performance by WWF Philippines.

In an interview with The GUIDON, Project Head Paolo Cabato shared that this year is the first official iteration of the event held within the Ateneo, in partnership with WWF Philippines, that featured a formal ceremony and advocacy discussion

Following the event, Cabato hopes that the advocacy goes beyond just the hour. “The hope is that it becomes a yearly initiative since the advocacy of Earth Hour is not subject to one moment during a year, but something that continues beyond Earth Hour,” they shared.

Editor’s Note: A previous version of the article mentioned that WWF Philippines has coordinated with the Ateneo in the previous years to participate in the Earth Hour. However, the Ateneo Environmental Science Society clarified that WWF Philippines has never been involved in the Ateneo’s previous light switch-offs until this year. The article has been updated to reflect this change. We apologize for the oversight.