Visiting environmental advocate Al Gore commended on Tuesday the Philippines for its efforts to tap and develop renewable sources of power. In particular, Gore cited the country's lead in developing and using geothermal and wind power. The Nobel Prize winner and former US vice president also mentioned the use of electric jeepneys in Makati and the promotion of cycling by allowing foldable bikes inside the Metro Rail Transit that runs on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue. Gore showed at the SMX Convention Center in the Mall of Asia Complex an updated version of his award-winning 2006 documentary “An Inconvenient Truth,” which focused on the dangers faced by Asia. The updated documentary included images of typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana), which ravaged the Philippines in 2009. Gore advised Filipinos to seek more decisive action from global leaders on climate change. He told the audience of 4,000 – which included outgoing Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo - that the Philippines has everything the country needs to solve the climate problem, except political will. At the open forum that followed Gore's talk, the former vice president declined to answer questions about his personal life, particularly his recent divorce to wife Tipper, which ended their 40-year marriage. Photos, however, show that Gore was still apparently wearing his wedding band.
