This Was My Hour

According to WWF (World Wildlife Fund) Philippines , the organizers of Earth Hour 2009, the Philippines topped this year’s celebration with 647 participating towns and cities and approximately 15 million people! Greece was in a distant second with 484 participating cities.

I’m proud to say that I’m one of the 15 million who took part in this – literally – world changing event.

I spent the evening at the Southeast Asian Youth Baseball & Softball Tournament (SEAYBST) Awards Banquet, helping my sister out (collecting tickets at the entrance, running errands, and such), and playing photographer/screaming fan/roadie to my nephew, Leandro, who played with his band.

At around 8:15 I started lighting votive candles to put on the tables while Ate handed out glow sticks to the guests. When 8:30 struck, the house lights were turned off and only the stage lights and those by the rest rooms and exits were kept on. I had burned my finger on some hot wax and my thumb was absolutely sore from flicking a lighter 50 times (one for each of the votives on each of the tables) but it was totally worth it; the kids had a lot of fun playing with the glow sticks and the adults enjoyed the romantic candlelight to go along with their dinner.

I'm happy to report that Earth Hour at the SEAYBST awards ceremony was a success.

This was my Hour; what was yours?

Here's Leandro and the rest of his band mates showing off their glow sticks


This kid put the glow sticks in his hair.


And this is me the next day, proudly showing off my sore thumb from lighting 50 votive candles.