NEWS & EVENTS
‘Paulinian Earth Hour’ launched
By: Mr. Joseph D. Dayag
Date posted: 06.22.2010
June 21, 2010 is a date to remember for Paulinians in Tuguegarao City for on this day St. Paul University Philippines observed an hour of ‘lights off’ for the preservation of Mother Earth.
SPUP launched the first-ever Paulinian Earth Hour at its Student Center, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.
Spearheaded by the Vice President for Academics, Sister Nicole de Marie Dabalus,SPC, the Paulinian Earth Hour started at 6:45 pm with the opening rites of lighting three symbolic candles. The first candle lit by the President of the Supreme Board of Students was offered for clean energy; the second, by a High School Representative, symbolized Paulinians’ deep concern for climate change; the third, by a Grade School student, stood for Paulinians’ efforts in slowing down the degradation of forests, atmosphere and the ecosystem.
After the lights were switched off, the University premises were enveloped in darkness, except at the venue of the launching, which was temporary lit by different hues of glow sticks waved by the participants headed by the University President, Sr. Remy Angela Junio, spc.
During the 60-minute observance, the participants were entertained by the SPUP Dance Troupe with a dance number; the select faculty and students rendered meaning-laden songs, such as “Kapaligiran” and “We are the World.”
Participants were SPC Sisters, administrators, faculty, personnel and students from elementary, secondary and tertiary levels. Starting this academic year, SPUP will be observing Paulinian Earth Hour twice a year, one for every semester.
Starting this academic year, SPUP will be observing Paulinian Earth Hour twice a year, one for every semester.
Initially, Paulinian Earth Hour was proposed as a common project of the St. Paul University System Advocacy Committee (SPUS), in response to the anti-climate change advocacy.
Gratitude
In her closing prayer, Vice President for Administration Sister Adelina Portillo, SPC, expressed gratitude to God for giving Paulinians the chance to participate in the “blossoming awareness around climate change issues.”
“Thank you for allowing us to express that individual action on a mass scale can help change our planet for the better,” expressed Sister Adelina.
Background
Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia, when 2.2 million individuals and more than 2,000 businesses turned their lights off for one hour to take a stand against climate change. Only a year later did Earth Hour become a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries participating. Global landmarks, such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, CN Tower in Toronto, Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and Rome’s Colosseum, all stood in darkness, as symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour (http://www.earthhour.org/About.aspx).
On March 22, 2010, the Earth Hour Orientation for Cagayan Valley was held at SPUP. On March 26, 2010, SPUP joined the whole world in the observance of Earth Hour 2010, from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm.