MANILA - Two Filipinos, both graduates of De La Salle University-Manila, have joined an online user-generated video contest on YouTube that seeks to raise awareness of climate change worldwide.

Paul Darwynn Garilao and Alfonso Orioste, Jr. said the “Raise Your Voice” video tilt is sponsored by CNN, YouTube and the Danish government. The contest encourages individuals to send videos with their views, opinions, and questions about the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark from December 7 to 21.

In an interview, Garilao said producers of the two best video campaigns will have a chance to join the conference dubbed as the biggest convention after Kyoto Protocol. Earlier reports said the United Nations Climate Change Conference will iron out platforms to “reduce global warming emissions and ultimately chart a course that avoids the most severe impacts of climate change.”  

Garilao, who finished mechanical engineering and used to work for a local public relations firm, said he was challenged to join the contest after seeing the devastation wrought by Typhoons Ondoy (Ketsana) and Pepeng (Parma).

"The Philippines was struck by two typhoons recently. I was looking for a way to help and this opportunity came for us to raise our voice and be heard about the need for disaster management system in the country," he told abs-cbnNEWS.com.

Garilao said the video takes a wholistic approach towards managing climate change. "There should be a stakeholder approach towards climate change. Instead of becoming reactive, the government should be proactive. That means getting support from the Armed Forces of the Philippines for relief operations while also tapping companies for donations," he said.

For the private sector, he said there should an umbrella of organizations similar to the Red Cross that will implement relief and rescue operations during times of calamity. He said this umbrella group should know which organizations to tap in specific areas affected by disasters.

Garilao also encouraged the use of alternative energy sources including solar panels and turbines.

Finally, he said individuals could also help in the climate change effort by reducing carbon emissions as well as conserving energy. "There are different ways to make an impact such as conserving water, turning off airconditioners and turning off lights when you're not using them. It's something that could be done in the workplace and at home," he said.

Garilao said their video entry was featured by YouTube together with other four contenders from Germany, France, India, and Italy. He said the video intends to raise awareness of the impact of climate change and how leaders should respond to the issue.

"We challenge government officials to highlight climate change as an election issue for 2010," he said.

To vote for Orioste and Garilao’s entry just visit www.youtube.com/cop15; click “vote”; search Philippines on the videos per country; and click the “green thumbs up” sign for the entry entitled: “Raise Your Voice by Filipino environmental advocates.”