MANILA, Philippines - Environmentalists have long promoted walking as a way to reduce carbon footprints and save Mother Earth. But with the hot and dry weather in the past months, staying outdoors for too long may prove to be a difficult task.

Disheveled hair and a sweaty face is certainly not a fashionable way to spend the summer season. To help people cool their heads and walk in style while protecting the environment, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) is holding a hat design contest this Earth Day.

Here, kids and adults alike can decorate their buri hats (or any hat woven from similar materials) with a variety of materials -- from lace to glitters to beads and buttons.

Light and breezy. CCP recommends that contestants use buri hats (as shown in image) as entries for their design contest. Credit: Lucbanhat.com

The hats will be judged based on design, creativity, wearability, and its overall impact on the audience.

Prizes up for grabs include buffet dinners in Pan Pacific Hotel, 1-month gym memberships, gym bags and gift certificates from Slimmers' World and Manila Ocean Park tickets, among others.

"Make sure that your hat is still wearable and very safe to use. That is, the wearer should be able to see well and move well in his or her hat creation," CCP said, adding that contestants may have someone else model their creations.

The hat design contest will be held on Thursday at the CCP Main Theater Lobby from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Registration starts at 1:00 p.m.