Sun Life Foundation Partners with WWF-Philippines for Earth Hour 2026

Manila, Philippines (April 2026) – Sun Life Financial-Philippines Foundation, Inc. (Sun Life Foundation) recently joined forces with World Wide Fund for Nature-Philippines (WWF-Philippines) to advance environmental sustainability through Earth Hour 2026, reinforcing both organizations’ mission to boost climate action and conservation efforts in the country.

 

Earth Hour is a worldwide movement by WWF that unites people across the globe in a switch-off to raise awareness about climate change and rally for urgent action. As a local activation partner for the Philippines, Sun Life Foundation played a pivotal role in bringing together Filipinos for the Earth Hour’s landmark 20th global switch-off event held on March 28 in Pasig City.

 

Beyond the main event, Sun Life Foundation also extended its support to the Earth Hour Virtual Run 2026 by mobilizing 250 Sun Lifers to participate. Taking place from March 28 to April 30, the virtual run encourages participants to walk, jog, or run at their own pace, merging personal wellness with environmental action while directly supporting WWF-Philippines’ initiatives.

 

Sun Life Foundation’s support to Earth Hour 2026 marks another milestone in its partnership with WWF-Philippines, which includes the Food Shed Farming Enterprise, an initiative that builds food production systems in remote communities to enhance food security and provide livelihood sources, and previous Earth Hour Virtual Run activations.

 

Addressing the crowd at the switch-off event, Sun Life Foundation Executive Director Kristine Dianne Millete emphasized the importance of collective commitment to climate action: “Tonight, as we switch off our lights, let’s switch on something more powerful – our commitment to care for the planet together. Because when we act as one, we can create brighter days for all.”

 

“Tackling climate change is not just the responsibility of one organization or sector, but a collective effort. We are thrilled to see Sun Life Foundation rally its employees and communities to take meaningful action for the planet, proving that every switch-off can spark a brighter, sustainable future,” said Atty. Angela Consuelo Ibay, WWF-Philippines Climate and Energy Program Head and National Director for Earth Hour Philippines.

 

As the philanthropic arm of Sun Life Philippines, the country’s first and longest-standing life insurance company, Sun Life Foundation remains committed to building a sustainable future for Filipinos through initiatives that champion education, health, and environmental sustainability.

Sun Life Foundation and WWF Philippines Scale Up Food Security and Climate Resilience Program in Surigao del Norte

Manila, Philippines (April 2026) – Sun Life Financial-Philippines Foundation, Inc. (Sun Life Foundation), in partnership with World Wide Fund for Nature-Philippines, recently launched a Food Shed Farming Enterprise project in Surigao del Norte, bolstering efforts to promote food security and climate resilience in the province.

 

The project will build four new food sheds in Barangay Julio Ouano, Pungtod, Ombong, and San Pedro in Alegria, benefiting 120 rice farmers and 600 residents. The sheds, which are constructed using sustainable materials, utilize highly replicable climate-adaptive farming technologies like composting, rainwater harvesting, and natural pest and disease control to produce food. The aim is to improve access to locally produced, affordable, and nutritious food in remote and low-income communities, provide sustainable agriculture-based livelihoods, and enhance resilience against challenges posed by climate change.

 

The project also features capacity-development activities aimed at enhancing financial wellness, including access to basic financial literacy and the formation of savings and loans groups.

 

This initiative marks the latest chapter in the collaboration between Sun Life Foundation and WWF-Philippines, which previously built five food sheds in Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte. The collaboration also constructed nine sheds in Sto. Domingo in Albay, Manjuyod in Negros Oriental, and Burgos in Surigao del Norte, through additional funding from Sun Life’s global headquarters.

 

“We are proud to expand our partnership with WWF-Philippines in bringing sustainable food solutions to more communities across the Philippines,” said Joy Castillo, President of Sun Life Foundation. “This new project demonstrates our shared commitment not only to building healthier and more climate-resilient communities but also to promoting environmental sustainability.”

 

“This collaboration goes beyond building food sheds: it is about enabling communities to take control of their food systems in a way that is sustainable and climate-resilient,” said Chrisma Salao, WWF-Philippines Director for Conservation Programs. “By equipping farmers with the right tools, knowledge, and support, we are helping ensure that even the most remote communities have access to affordable and nutritious food while strengthening their capacity to face climate impacts.”

 

As the philanthropic arm of Sun Life Philippines, the country’s first and longest-standing life insurance company, Sun Life Foundation is committed to building a brighter future for Filipinos through education, health, and environment programs.

SM Supermalls, SM Cares to join Earth Hour 2023

SM Supermalls, together with its corporate social responsibility arm SM Cares, is joining the rest of the world in observing Earth Hour this coming March 25 as the company renews its commitment to environmental stewardship.

This year's Earth Hour is all about "creating the Biggest Hour for Earth," and those who want to participate in the global activity are encouraged to spend 60 minutes doing something positive for the planet, in addition to switching off their lights.

SM Supermalls has been supporting Earth Hour and the WWF since the initiative was first held in the Philippines in 2008. This year, customers, tenants and employees at SM malls nationwide are once again encouraged to “Give an Hour for Earth” as SM Supermalls joins the annual Global Lights Switch Off from 8:30 PM to 9:30PM on March 25. 

This day also marks the start of the World Wildlife Fund’s Virtual Earth Hour Run, a self-paced run supported by SM Cares, to be held from March 25 to April 30, 2023. The run aligns with SM Supermalls’ bid to make “Earth Hour, Any Hour” as participants are encouraged to adopt an eco-friendly lifestyle by running and win prizes along the way. Joiners may register here and tag SM Cares and WWF as they post their stopovers at SM malls with hashtag #BiggestHourForEarth and #EarthHourVirtualRun.

Aside from these, SM Supermalls has been pushing to minimize its carbon footprint in support of the global green movement through various programs ranging from responsible energy consumption to investing in renewable energy.

For instance, more than 50 percent of the energy consumed by SM malls all over the country now come from renewable sources. In terms of solar energy usage, SM now has 12 malls equipped with energized solar panels, with SM Mall of Asia as the latest mall to receive a solar panel installation, which has a capacity of 2.003 MWp.

SM has also been recognized for exceeding compliance with RA7920 or the New Electrical Engineering Law, which regulates the practice, licensing, and registration of electrical engineers and electricians. This is proof that SM is operated and maintained only by highly qualified engineers.

SM Cares' sustainability initiatives include the Trash-To-Cash Market and the Plastic Waste Collection program, which encourage responsible solid waste disposal among Filipinos; the annual Green Film Festival which promotes environmental awareness among students and the youth; and the International Coastal Cleanup which encourages stakeholders to do their part in keeping our seas and oceans clean.

SM Cares is the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Supermalls, the country’s biggest chain of malls built by one of Southeast Asia’s leading real estate developer, SM Prime Holdings. It is responsible for initiatives that promote sustainability and the development of the community, including programs on Women and Breastfeeding Mothers, Persons with Disabilities, Senior Citizens, and Children and Youth, as well as the Bike-Friendly SM initiative, in addition to its Programs on Environment.

To learn more, visit www.smsupermalls.com/smcares.