• Palace encourages everyone to participate in ‘Earth Hour 2015’
• Palace elated with survey saying Filipinos rank fifth happiest citizens in the world

“We encourage our people to participate in Earth Hour 2015 by voluntarily switching off all lights for one hour, from 8:30 to 9:30 in the evening, on Saturday, March 28.”

“In so doing, Filipinos will be showing their solidarity with the rest of the world in efforts to combat climate change, thereby promoting a cleaner, healthier and greener world,” said Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., in a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

Earth Hour is a worldwide grassroots movement of the World Wide Fund to unite people to take action for the planet.

This year’s global tagline is “Use Your Power to Change Climate Change.”

For the Philippines, the main switch-off will be held at the Quezon City Memorial Circle, according to Earth Hour Philippines.

From 2009 to 2013, the Philippines has earned the title of “Earth Hour Hero Country” as the country topped the participation records.

Earth Hour Philippines will be donating portable solar lamps to off-grid communities to help them safely and economically light up their homes, Coloma said.

“We echo the statement of Earth Hour Philippines as follows: ‘When we unite towards a common goal, we can change climate change.’ Let us all participate in Earth Hour 2015 from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 28,” Coloma reiterated. PND (ag)

“Siyempre po dapat nating ikagalak ang nabatid nating balita hinggil diyan, dahil sa pagitan naman siguro ng kagalakan at kalungkutan, mas marami ang pipili palagi ‘nung kagalakan at pagiging masaya,” said Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., in a radio interview with dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

The Philippines scored 80, based on a research conducted by the Gallup, a US-based performance-management consulting firm.

Leading the survey is Paraguay which scored 89. Followed by Colombia, Ecuador and Guatemala which shared the second spot with the score of 84.

Honduras, Panama and Venezuela all got 82 all tied at third place.

While Costa Rica, El Salvador and Nicaragua scored 81 and shared the fourth place.

Gallup interviewed 1,000 adults aged 15 and older in each country and where asked questions to gauge their Positive Experience Index.

Among the questions asked were: Did they feel well rested? Were they treated with respect? Did they smile or laugh a lot? Did they learn something interesting?

In 2012, the Philippines ranked fourth and shared the spot with Guatemala. PND (ag)