As summer sears, a situation worsened by the daily afternoon power disruptions in the city, we are, indeed, experiencing the ill effects of climate change brought about by the degradation of our environment.

The ill effects are truly troubling as we feel the here-and-now  atmosphere, thus rationalizing even more activities for the Earth Day celebration next week. Local government units, non-governmental organizations and civic groups are pooling efforts to make the message of this year’s Earth day celebration sound even more urgent than ever.

The message of conservation and preservation was the same message reiterated during the recent Earth Hour celebration globally observed with Chicago in the United States as the lead metropolis base for the commemoration. Our Chicago contributor, Nelia Dingcong-Bernabe, recounts what happened in her community that hour in late March, when the Windy City dimmed for an hour.

The summer season will soon give way to the long-awaiting cooler days in the month of June, traditionally considered as the month for weddings. Outfits for this  occasion are the focus of the showcase of designers’ creations at SM City today courtesy of the Bacolod Association of Models, an organization starting to etch  its mark in the fashion industry in southern Philippines barely two years after it was organized. Our main story this week features a first-person account on how commercial ramp and photo modeling is gaining ground in the city through the agency, which is expanding its pool of talents.

With the Earth Day forthcoming, we cannot help but look around us and realize that we are still blessed with the bounty of the rivers, mountains, hills, forests and fields although  not as expansive as before, through the pictures of STAR photographer Andy Alvarez. We hope that the photos, taken in Salvador Benedicto town, will help set the mood for usas we look forward to Earth Day on April 22.