Filipino bishop urges faithful to observe Earth Hour

A Catholic bishop reminds Filipinos to be good stewards of creation by conserving electricity and participating in Earth Hour on March 23, 2024, from 8:30  p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Bishop Ruperto Santos of the Diocese of Antipolo urged the faithful to preserve the environment for the benefit of future generations, not just the current ones.

"We can show that we are God’s true children when we care for His creation, and in doing so, we give back in a way that honors God,” the bishop said in his interview with the local Radio Veritas in the Philippines.

Bishop Santos emphasized the importance of dedicating an hour to helping the environment and promoting rest for Mother Nature.

He also highlighted the importance of recognizing our responsibility for the world God has entrusted to us. Participating in a global action such as Earth Hour is a meaningful way to demonstrate our care for our only home.

“We must then show obedience by protecting the environment and helping it to thrive and prosper in whatever way we can,” he added.

As the holy week also approaches, the bishop pointed out, “God calls us to give support, in any form, as part of our stewardship responsibility.”

The bishop then challenged all the faithful to show that they are true sons and daughters of God by caring for His creation.

The Philippines' Manila City Government is partnering with the World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature in the Philippines to celebrate Earth Hour 2024.

Since its inaugural event in Sydney, Australia, in 2007, this gathering has become a global phenomenon, with participation from over 7,000 cities and 193 countries worldwide.

We also expect various churches, dioceses, and Catholic institutions to participate in the event by turning off all lights and other unnecessary appliances that consume electricity.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) also supported this initiative.

Pope Francis, in his encyclical Laudato Si, also emphasizes the need for sustainable practices, including the responsible use of energy and electricity, to address the drastic environmental challenges in the world.

One is “substituting for fossil fuels and developing renewable energy sources.” He wrote that in this way, “the emission of carbon dioxide and other highly polluting gases can be drastically reduced.”

Although there are initiatives to switch to renewable sources of electricity, coal power plants are still the number one energy source in the Philippines. - Leahna Villajos