CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- In its constant efforts for environmental protection, SM Supermalls across the city took part in the annual observation of Earth Hour over the weekend.
SM City Pampanga, San Fernando Downtown, and Telabastagan on Saturday, March 30, simultaneously switched off lights totally at logos and billboards and 50 percent on operations at exactly 8:30 p.m.
Aside from the ceremonial switching off of lights, each malls also featured special activities to encourage tenants, shoppers, and mall goers to participate in the global movement for Mother Earth.
At SM City Pampanga, a giant 60+ centerpiece made from recycled plastic bottles was placed right in front of the Sky Ranch Pampanga where the ceremonial switching off of lights took place.
SM City Mall manager Aaron Montenegro said at least 200 recycled plastic bottles gathered from the mall and its tenants were used in putting up the 60+ signage.
“We have formed this giant 60+ display from used plastic bottles that came from our own material recovery facility, while some of our tenants and staff also pitched in their efforts in making the display,” he added.
Montenegro said the annual participation of the SM malls all over the country and in China is part of their environmental protection program which includes energy efficiency and sustainable practices such as water conservation, solid waste management, and air quality projects.
For SM City Downtown, a centerpiece featuring replicas of Mother Earth and panda installed in the mall entrance were lighted up during the hour-long lights off inside the mall.
SM City Telabastagan, meanwhile, incorporated its Earth Hour participation in its Castaway Music Festival activity, wherein reggae singer Kokoi Baldo sang acapella while audience turned on their cellphone flashlights while the electricity was switched off.
SM City Telabastagan Mall manager Bong Garcia said the mall’s participation to Earth Hour will also become an annual tradition alongside all the SM Supermall in the country.
“Being a newly-opened mall, this is our first time to join the Earth Hour, but will definitely not be the last as this will be included in our annual programs,” Garcia said.