Water Awareness Month: Ligum Dulom (Earth Day 2025) and Subay Suba 2025

Traditionally for the MIWD, the month of march marks the apex of the globally celebrated World Water Day Celebration, but this year, the MIWD and several other government agencies partook in the month of March’s Water Awareness Month.

The month long Water Awareness Month spearheaded by the  Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGNRO) kicked off with the Women-Led Limpyo Iloilo last March 7, 2025. This was followed up by the World Water Day celebration on March 21, headed by the MIWD, MPIW and MIB, hosted by our venue partner, Robinson’s Place Pavia.

March 22 rolled in and the next venue for the month-long water awareness celebration was at the Provincial Capitol grounds for the Ligum Dulom Year 3: the provincial government’s program for the globally celebrated Earth Hour—an activity where all lights are dimmed for one hour for the Mother Earth.

The program kicked off with the welcome message of PGENRO PENR Officer, Atty. Cesar Emmanuelle P. Buyco, Jr., followed by messages of support from program partners, on behalf of RCY Iloilo Chapter Administrator, Mr. Gilbert Martin L. Valderrama, Mr. Christopher Montaño, Board Director of the Philippine Red Cross-Iloilo Chapter delivered an inspiring message ; Mr. Alfredo L. Tayo III, General Manager of Metro lloilo Water District; Hon. Esara Aldequer Javier, PPSK President; and Atty. Angela Consuelo S. Ibay, National Director of Earth Hour Philippines and Head of Climate and Energy Program.

A high-energy Zumba activity for the youngsters and the young-at-heart ensued, tapping into the boundless energy of the young participants, of which the numbers were very significant. At 8:30 PM, all the lights were dimmed and the gathered throng were serenaded by the Pughanan Lambunao Rondalla and the RCY Buskers.

A 15-minute moment of silence ensued afterwards, and concluded by a mass candle lighting at the Capitol Gronds that can be seen from above as the number 60—symbollizing the one hour in the year where we commemorate Earth Hour.

The final phase of the Water Awareness Month was the Subay Suba Phase 2, where MIWD staff also participated in, together with the PGENRO team, MENRO San Miguel, and MENRO Pavia and MENRO Alimodian.

The activity was a water sampling and data gathering activity to assess the state of the Tigum Aganan Watershed. The hands on experience allowed the participants to see for themselves the current status of the Tigum Aganan Watershed, which, for the MIWD, holds high import, as it is one of the primary source of the waters with which the province and city of Iloilo subsist on since time immemorial.

The MIWD would like to heartfully extend its gratitude to the MPIW and MIB, particularly to Ms. Louge Mueno and Ms. MJ Josue of MPIW and the dedicated staff of MIB—Ms. Sheena Marie Antonio, Engr. Ariel Huyong, Ms. Florence Harder, and Ms. Julienne Amador—for their invaluable support in ensuring the World Water Day Celebration, and to the PGNRO management and staff for including the MIWD in the month long Water Awareness Month celebration.