Quezon City, Metro Manila – Every June 4 to 10, through the Presidential Proclamation No. 79 of 1999, the celebration of the Philippine Eagle Week is observed to promote the significant role of this raptor in the Philippine ecosystem. This year, the celebration kicked off on June 4 at the Ninoy Aquino Park and Wildlife Center (NAPWC) in Quezon City, Metro Manila. The theme for 2026, “Lahat Kasali, Lahat May Papel: Sama-Sama Para sa Philippine Eagle,” spearheaded by the Philippine Eagle Foundation, Inc. (PEFI) and in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), with the support of partners including the DENR-UNDP/GEF Biodiversity Corridor Project, emphasizes the sense of shared responsibility in conserving and protecting the Philippine Eagle.
Messages of support were provided by the Undersecretary for Legal and Administration of the DENR, Atty. Ernesto D. Adobo, Jr., DENR-BMB Assistant Director Mariglo Rosaida I. Laririt, Quezon City Mayor Hon. Maria Josefina ‘Joy’ Belmonte, PEFI Executive Director Dennis Salvador and Chairperson Feliciano Atienza, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Manila Mr. Karl Heič, Vice President and ESG Sustainability Lead of Insular Life Foundation Mr. Rommel Panabi, GMA Network segment presenter Mr. Kim ‘Kuya Kim’ Atienza, and Director of the Banknotes and Security of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Mr. Tomas B. Rosales, Jr.
Each highlighted the importance of the Philippine Eagle as not only an apex predator of the Philippines, but also as a part of the cultural identity of the Filipino people. Atty. Adobo said that “Every individual institution here has something valuable to contribute…let us remember that resilience exists both in nature and in people. Let us also remember that inclusion is not optional in conservation; it is essential.” Mrs. Felicia stated that “The Philippine Eagle is our national bird, but more than that, it is an emblem that reflects the condition of our forests, the strength of our communities, and the stout seriousness of our commitment to the future. This year’s celebration reminds us that conservation belongs to everyone”, emphasizing that protecting the Philippine Eagle is a shared responsibility.
The Only Reigning Queen of Metro Manila
The main highlight of this kickoff event was the recognition of Girlie, considered the oldest Philippine Eagle to live in captivity and the only eagle to be living within Metro Manila. Girlie, a female eagle, was brought to the Philippine Eagle Center (PEC) in Baracatan, Davao City in December 1982. She was retrieved by the DENR and Philippine Eagle Research and Nature Center (PERNC) teams after validating a report regarding a captive eagle in Cagayan de Oro. She arrived at the center in poor condition, with multiple bent feathers full of lice and her right eye showing abnormal discoloration as a result of her sustained injury from a slingshot back in Cagayan de Oro.
Despite her injuries, Girlie persevered, recovered, and made conservation history by being part of an early conservation breeding effort for her species. She was paired to a male eagle named Tsai, and a bond eventually blossomed, leading to the first successful fertile egg laying in captivity. While the egg did not develop into a chick, Girlie and Tsai provided the foundation for PEFI’s framework on Philippine Eagle breeding efforts.
Girlie was transferred to the DENR-BMB in Quezon City on June 4, 2009, which also marked the beginning of the celebration of the Philippine Eagle Week at that time. Since her transfer, she officially became an Education Ambassador, promoting and heightening awareness and education to the public on not only her own species, but all the different species of flora and fauna found within her ancestral home.
The Quezon City Local Government, through Mayor Hon. Joy Belmonte, embraced Girlie as a Quezon City resident and awarded her with Senior Citizen and Person with Disability (PWD) identification card. She emphasized that Girlie’s story is an inspiration not just for biodiversity conservation, but for those with lived experiences as PWDs. “Girlie is a true survivor, nalampasan na niya ang lifespan ng kaniyang species kahit may physical and motor disabilities at sensory impairments na. Girlie is here every day living out her purpose [of being an educational ambassador]…Thus it is only fitting that we honor Girlie as our VVIP or Very Vital Irreplaceable Philippine treasure.”
Girlie was also commemorated through a mosaic painting from the art workshop led by the DENR-BMB and Philippine Fauna Art Society. The tiles were painted by participants of different communities such as the youth, representatives from LGUs, and senior citizens. This mosaic will be displayed in the DENR-BMB office to honour her story and contributions for raising awareness and appreciation for biodiversity conservation. Today, Girlie still remains under the watchful eye of the DENR-BMB, telling her story of almost five decades of her existence to everyone.
Philippine Eagles as Bridges for Collaborative Action
The Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor (EMBC), covering Davao and CARAGA regions, spans across one of the last strongholds for the Philippine Eagle habitat, supporting an estimated 47 pairs or 94 individuals.
With such an extended range, the PEFI, with the support of the DENR-UNDP/GEF Biodiversity Corridor Project, conducted a collaborative approach in establishing Philippine Eagle Critical Habitats in Mt. Candalaga, Davao de Oro, and Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte, through various stakeholder dialogues, which resulted in positive feedback, with these stakeholder groups recognizing the value and importance of the eagle within the EMBC.
This is solid proof that Philippine Eagles bring together partnerships and commitments. Each partner must share the responsibility in further enhancing the protection and conservation of the Philippine Eagles in the EMBC and in the whole country.
This story is published under the DENR-UNDP/GEF Project “Integrated Approach in the Management of Major Biodiversity Corridors in the Philippines” or BD Corridor Project, which seeks to operationalize integrated management of biodiversity corridors to generate multiple benefits, including effective conservation of globally threatened species and high conservation value forests, reduce deforestation and degradation, and enhance local biodiversity-friendly livelihoods.
The project is implemented by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme and funded by the Global Environment Facility. 🪶🦅
