REGEN | Full Episode | June 24, 2026

[00:00:20][music] >> Deep in the heart of the Philippine forest, echoes a call carried by the wind.

[00:00:27]Rising above ancient trees, here soars a creature found nowhere else on Earth.

[00:00:35]The great and majestic Philippine eagle.

[00:00:39]Yet, as mighty as it is, its very existence is in peril due to habitat loss and human persecution.

[00:00:49]But in every story of loss comes a ray of hope.

[00:00:52]At the forefront of its conservation is a group working tirelessly to save this national bird from extinction.

[00:01:01]In this episode of Region, we journey to the heart of Mindanao to follow the mission of the Philippine Eagle Foundation and discover why the survival of this great bird is tied to our own.

[00:01:14]>> [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] >> Our story begins here at the Philippine Eagle Center in Davao City, a sanctuary for the Philippine Eagles and other animals rescued from the wild.

[00:02:12]For nearly four decades, the Philippine Eagle Foundation has devoted its life's work to ensure the protection of the eagles. One of its leading conservationists is Dr. Jayson Ibañez, a biologist whose love for the Philippine Eagle began with an article in an old magazine.

[00:02:31]>> So, I'm Jayson Ibañez.

[00:02:34]I'm the director for operations of the Philippine Eagle Foundation.

[00:02:40]I [music] had become fond of the Philippine Eagle way back when I was still in high school. After seeing the photo of the Philippine Eagle in a >> [music] >> in an old National Geographic magazine, I immediately fell in love with the bird, you know?

[00:02:53]Um, I I I really loved the idea that we [music] have one of the largest eagles in the world. We have this really majestic Philippine Eagle found only in the Philippines, [music] which is I believe then is as Filipino as I am Filipino. So, that that idea actually >> [music] >> struck me. And so, when I was in the university studying uh biology and majoring in ecology, I already knew that I really would want to work uh >> [music] >> in studying the bird and then helping in its uh conservation. And that dream came true when I was hired >> [music] >> fresh from the university. I was hired as a young field biologist with the Philippine Eagle Foundation. Well, the Philippine Eagle Foundation started [music] way back in the 1970s through the efforts of the late Dr. Bob Kennedy.

[00:03:43]So, it was formerly a government project started with [music] uh research on Philippine Eagles in the wild.

[00:03:50]And then a conservation breeding program [music] began.

[00:03:54]But then there were challenges with respect to government funding. And so um in 1987, [music] the program was reorganized as an NGO called the Philippine Eagle Conservation Program [music] Foundation.

[00:04:06]Uh through the efforts of the pioneer researchers [music] as well as conservation uh breeding team, the NGO had its humble beginnings. [music] So since 1987, part of our mission really is to help the country conserve its national symbol, our national bird, our apex predator, uh the Philippine Eagle. And part of that mission is also to preserve and protect the forests that the Philippine Eagles need.

[00:04:38]>> Unlike any other birds of prey, [music] the Philippine Eagle rules the forest as the largest top predator, standing nearly 3 ft tall [music] with a wingspan up to 7 ft. And talents built to crush, it is one of the rarest eagles [music] in the world that can only be found in four islands in the Philippines, Luzon, [music] Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao.

[00:05:03]>> The Philippine Eagle is [music] our apex predator. It's an important component of the Philippine forest ecosystem. We're also using [music] the Philippine Eagle as a flagship for protecting carbon forests, for protecting [music] biodiversity, watersheds, and all other benefits. It's one of the most beautiful [music] eagles in the world. It's the only raptor that is blue-eyed or blue-gray eyed. No, there's no other raptor that has uh the same eye color. [music] And uh it's also one of the largest and most powerful eagles in the world. In fact, based on a a DNA study, the Philippine Eagle [music] has a very unique genetic lineage. It's not relative to any eagles of the world. [music] It's remotely related to the snake eagles of Africa, but it's a unique product of creation.

[00:05:51]In fact, the Philippine eagle is regarded as >> [music] >> the species with the highest energy expenditure in taking care of its young.

[00:06:01]You know, it spends a lot [music] of energy.

[00:06:03]You know, it it lays a single egg. It incubates the egg for the next 6 months.

[00:06:08][music] And then beyond that, it still takes care of a single young for the next 1 and 1/2 years.

[00:06:15]And [music] until the young eagle flies off the nests when it's almost 2 years old. So, it has the longest um caring period for its for its young.

[00:06:28]>> But despite its power, this great bird is in peril. Since 1996, it has been declared by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as critically endangered with an estimated number of only 400 breeding pairs left in the wild.

[00:06:47]>> Well, apart from uh operating as an NGO that's very dependent on grants and donations, [music] we also have logistical challenges such as the difficulty of doing uh surveys [music] in the field. There's also the challenge of insurgency problems in many of the Philippine eagle habitats.

[00:07:07][music] There's also the challenge of continuing persecution of Philippine eagles. You know, we still have some of our fellow Filipinos who [music] still see the Philippine eagle, our national bird, as um a food source.

[00:07:21]Um some of them still uh use the forests um and convert them to agricultural areas.

[00:07:30]It's sad to say, >> so unfortunate [music] for this species of birds, uh which is also endemic in the Philippines. They are now critically [music] endangered, so they're facing a really critical conditions. [music] It means very alarming. Because you know, the worst things to happen next would be extinct from the wild. [music] So, the numbers of them are getting smaller [music] and smaller. One of the reasons why for so long they're still critically endangered species by the IUCN.

[00:08:01]Because you know, number one, their breeding biology is sometimes really challenging. In the wild, if we refer to the wild behavior, the cycle really takes two years. So, [music] they will produce one egg every two years. And then in every clutch, >> [music] >> it's only one egg.

[00:08:20]And then the maturity is very slow.

[00:08:23]It takes 5 years to 7 years [music] for the Philippine Eagle, especially the female, before [music] they reproduce by its own.

[00:08:32]So, there are two main reasons why the Philippine Eagle population [music] is diminishing. One is loss of habitat. So, deforestation, conversion of forest to agricultural areas, the cutting of forests [music] for development is a major threat. The Philippine Eagle cannot live outside of the forest. It couldn't live in plantations. [music] It couldn't live naturally in farms.

[00:08:57]The forest is its natural home. And second is the continued persecution, [music] the shooting, hunting, and trapping of Philippine Eagles. And so, that means that Philippine Eagles are still vulnerable to human [music] persecution.

[00:09:12]And this needs to change.

[00:09:15]Because as long as there's threat to the status of the Philippine Eagles, it means that our very own [music] lives are also in danger. That's the reason why the PEF foundation was formed to help protect, propagate, and in captive setting about this conserving and the preserving our national heritage. At the same time, you know, our thing national [music] bird, of the Philippine eagle.

[00:09:39]>> Up next, we dive into the daily routines at the Philippine Eagle Center and discover the work it takes to protect the country's national bird from extinction. We're done, we'll be right back. [music] >> When a story [music] starts with faith, it can only grow further and stronger.

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[00:10:52]>> It's feeding time at the Philippine Eagle Center.

[00:10:56]Senior animal keeper and breeding manager Dominic Vedana leads [music] their care. For him, protecting the eagle is more than just a job, but the fight for its survival, the forest, and the future.

[00:11:09]>> Every time in the morning, I have to go [music] visit uh my birds. Uh for example, Vigo, because Vigo is one of my uh human imprinted birds. So, it [music] to push you and they shall come back. There's interference, involvement, big [music] involvement of human being to do their breeding activities or or behaviors. So, for example, I have to go visit with my birds, [music] feed the birds, spend time a lot of time and I say spend time quality time with the birds. So [music] I have to do that every day, at least 30 minutes every visit and then I do visits four five [music] times a day.

[00:11:51]So that's my routine. So I have to go around all with my birds.

[00:11:55]It could be male, female birds that I'm >> [music] >> I'm really working with for the breeding purposes.

[00:12:06]So pairs of a breeding and mating nest building will not eat and produce.

[00:12:13]We [music] incorporate two methods or techniques in doing this. The first one [music] which we always prioritize to have these birds in the natural pairing we call it. So both male female >> [music] >> living together in one big enclosures for breeding.

[00:12:55]>> For the Philippine Eagle Foundation, every rescue tells a bigger story.

[00:13:01]One of their [music] core missions is the rescue and rehabilitation of injured or displaced eagles, ensuring these birds get the care they need to survive and return to the wild.

[00:13:12]>> [music] >> So our mission is really to help save the country's national bird, the Philippine [music] Eagle.

[00:13:18]And we have four major programs, namely the conservation breeding program, [music] the research and conservation program, we have the development program as well as our education program.

[00:13:35]We've been doing rescue operations.

[00:13:38]>> [music] >> As a matter of fact, this Philippine Eagle Center started with the rescue birds. So, we do rescue and then rehabilitation. After rehabilitation, [music] we do evaluations of the behavior of the birds if it's really fit to be released in the wild. [music] So, for those birds that are qualified to be released, we right away release after everything all the physical [music] check-ups, all the laboratory tests qualified or really passed.

[00:14:07]But some that were >> [music] >> compromised, that have permanent damage, couldn't survive in the wild. So, we retain them as our breeding materials.

[00:14:16]>> [music] >> And then the offsprings are the ones that being released in the wild now.

[00:14:21]We rescued Kalatungan one from Bukidnon, [music] from Kalatungan Mountain. There were some other stories behind it. People just say, "Oh, it was just found on the ground." [music] But when we do our physical check-ups, thorough check-up, and blood sampling, swabbing, [music] so it's found out that the birds have multiple bullets >> [music] >> or pellets inside his body.

[00:14:43]And so, with that, our vets really made a good job there performing surgery for like [music] just a minor getting all collecting all those pellets within the bird's body and the bird really successfully recovered >> [music] >> and >> [music] >> something reintroduction program of our Philippine Eagle in the on the island of Leyte.

[00:15:17]>> [music] >> I guess the most challenging so far that I've experienced is doing rescues during the pandemic.

[00:15:24]>> [music] >> And this happened when we rescued Philippine Eagle Shokun [music] from Zamboanga del Norte.

[00:15:32]So we did the first telemedicine or video conference with our colleagues from Zamboanga together with a veterinarian [music] to discuss how we can take care of a rescued Philippine [music] Eagle.

[00:15:46]Uh because our team couldn't go there.

[00:15:48]She was um accidentally trapped in a trap intended for wild pig. And so our colleagues from the DNR [music] took care of the bird with instructions coming from our team again through video calls.

[00:16:02]Uh we prescribed [music] what medicine to give, uh what how how they should take care of the bird, what they [music] should feed it. And then that was very successful.

[00:16:11]After a few months of rehabilitation, after [music] x-rays and tests showed that she's ready to be back in the wild, we installed >> [music] >> GPS and radio transmitters on each bird that was successfully rehabilitated before we release them back to the [music] wild.

[00:16:27]>> Philippine Eagle Foundation is having a big milestone right now. With the breeding success that we have, even [music] right now we succeeded with our artificial breeding.

[00:16:38]We even now practicing the semen cryopreservation techniques, like freezing semen for long-term [music] storage. So it means we can now have our semen preserved and we can [music] use it after like 50 100 years. This time we stimulate the other females.

[00:16:57]No worries about the semen because we have ready like stored semen that we can use right away. So it's very very advanced technology that we're using right now here.

[00:17:08]And so [music] it's a good milestone for the PF.

[00:17:11]And the hope is really up high. Uh high expectations uh that we can have it right now.

[00:17:20]>> [music] >> We actually have a lot of educational campaigns. First here at the Philippine Eagle Center, we are positioning the Philippine Eagle Center as a premier educational hub for biodiversity conservation and wildlife appreciation.

[00:17:36]And we're also developing the center [music] to be a center for entertainment or education and entertainment. [music] Uh so basically people come here not only as a tourist, but they also come here as learners [music] of biodiversity conservation, what we do as a foundation, and influence of the general public to participate [music] in our conservation mission. And we also have a learn with Malaya. We use Malaya, our mascot, as the our education [music] ambassador. Um but we also do field-based education outreach. We go to the community, especially [music] those who are recognized as Philippine Eagle nest sites, and um indigenous cultural communities [music] to educate them what biodiversity conservation and how them as a community can help participate in our mission and the importance of protecting wildlife in their cultural legacy or in their cultural context.

[00:18:32]>> [music] >> I guess a major milestone for the conservation program is of course coming up with [music] a concise population estimate. Now we know that there are no more than 392 pairs [music] across the Philippines.

[00:18:46]And we also know where suitable habitats are. [music] Now it's a very important scientific information.

[00:18:52]You cannot save a species if you don't know where they are.

[00:18:56]So by [music] um using this information, what we're now doing is to is [music] exploring as many habitats as possible, finding the Philippine Eagle pair, and then making [music] sure that if that pair is threatened, and if the habitat is in danger, then there should be [music] a conservation program that's put in place.

[00:19:18]>> Every release we have, there's always a chance for this Philippine eagle to leave long-term survival in the wild.

[00:19:26]So, every birds, every individual counts. So, every time we release, we know that we add >> [music] >> numbers in that specific regions, specific mountains, hoping that they have to make of their own.

[00:19:42]There's no need for human [music] interventions anymore.

[00:19:46]After the release, what we do is always just monitor the birds, do wildlife awareness to the communities nearby. And there's always a hope in every release of this birds.

[00:19:58]>> As Region continues, we'll hear stories of hope and commitment from the people who believe in the Philippine Eagle's future.

[00:20:06]And how each Filipino can take part in protecting it. We'll be right back.

[00:20:13]>> [music] >> Get ready for the ultimate Mindanao adventure. From mastering Siargao's famous waves to tracking Bukidnon's wild terrains and diving into Mindanao's vibrant sports traditions. Plus, [music] discover how to get there, what to pack, and where to stay for your next adrenaline-fueled escape in Mindanao.

[00:20:33]Thrills and travel tips, all right here in Mindanao. [music] This is action packed, only on 25.

[00:20:41]>> Let's live together [music and singing] Sunday 25.

[00:20:47]Sunday 25. [music] >> Ang mas dako ang critically endangered.

[00:20:54]Ang sunod niyo mahitabo ana worse kung dili nato mag-apan extinct na sila from the wild.

[00:20:59]So, pwede sila makita diri sa atoa enclosures.

[00:21:04]Pero wala na sila sa wild.

[00:21:07]>> [music] >> I believe that the Philippine Eagle really symbolizes our story.

[00:21:14]First of all, it's found only in the Philippines.

[00:21:16]You know, so we can probably say that the Philippine Eagle is a genuine Filipino.

[00:21:22]>> [music] >> It's also dependent on the forests that we are also very dependent on. The Philippine Eagle also holds large tract of territories >> [music] >> in the same way that indigenous peoples have their own ancestral lands and so territories. In fact, many indigenous peoples associate with the Philippine Eagle because they believe that the Philippine Eagle also represents their aspirations and their status.

[00:21:47]And so, we believe that the best way to really keep forests intact [music] is to work with the indigenous and community owners of these forests. If we can demonstrate that people and Philippine Eagles can actually [music] coexist, you know, and they can use the same forests sustainably, then I think we have a chance at saving [music] our national bird. So, the work of the Philippine Eagle Foundation invests also on building community capacities and then community empowerment so that they can >> [music] >> save the Eagles, protect the forests on everyone's behalf. So, how do we do it? So, we make sure that conservation brings in green jobs for the indigenous peoples. We hire them as our core researchers. Now, we train them.

[00:22:37]We put in place a forest guard program.

[00:22:41]They get [music] extra income from getting hired as forest guards.

[00:22:46]>> [music] >> We also provide livelihood support, and then we also help them with their other aspirations such as providing social services. In one of our communities in Davao City, we helped set up a uh, daycare center for the community >> [music] >> that's living close to a Philippine Eagle nesting site. So, by doing that, they appreciate what the Philip- the Philippine Eagle can bring to them, which is essentially a social service that they need.

[00:23:15]>> [music] >> We also have adoption schemes for the animals. We have Adopt-a-Crater where a family or even an individual or a company can adopt our non-Philippine Eagles, but we also have the Adopt-an-Eagle sponsorship.

[00:23:40]>> [music] >> We have this #YouCan.

[00:23:52]A #YouCan means that Philippine Eagle conservation and biodiversity conservation in general is a shared responsibility. We just serve as instruments to conduct and [music] to implement conservation efforts on the ground, but it is really the responsibility of every Filipino to protect our national bird [music] since it has ecological integrity and cultural relevance as well, it being our national bird. So, it's representative of us being Filipinos.

[00:24:21]From the interest of helping out in my little way, in my own little way of saving this species.

[00:24:28]Now, at first it was just a hobby of working [music] with wild life animals.

[00:24:34]So nice to be, you know, helping with them, feeding, cleaning, interacting with them, but that habit really developed into a passion. It so happened that it's I really like the Philippine Eagle because they are the ones that really need understanding, help for their own survival because these birds really need some human understanding at the moment. They are the king of our Philippine skies.

[00:25:00]Only human are the enemies.

[00:25:03]Like direct enemies of this Philippine eagle.

[00:25:05]>> [music] >> And I want to dedicate my myself to helping protect and prevent this Philippine eagle from being extinct.

[00:25:13]>> So, for those who are living in the Davao region, you know, we're open to uh volunteers. You know, they can do work [music] here at the Philippine Eagle Center or join our research team. Um [music] if um they're in other islands, you know, we also [music] have partners um that uh the volunteers can also contact.

[00:25:35]>> You can do like simple ways of like offering, rendering your internship or volunteering activities here in the PF. It could be in the field monitoring for wild populations, community resource projects, or even in captive settings.

[00:25:51]So, let's work it hand in hand. We cannot do this without everyone else.

[00:25:55]>> I'm really grateful to all our pioneers and to all the experts that [music] came before us, uh Philippine Eagle Conservation practitioners that came before us.

[00:26:07]>> [music] >> The work that we're doing now is just a continuation of what they have started.

[00:26:12]They have provided [music] the inspiration.

[00:26:14]They have provided the guidance.

[00:26:17]Many of our pioneers [music] went through a lot to maintain this project. And I will always be grateful to them. Again, we're standing on the shoulder of giants.

[00:26:29]And I think I have that moral responsibility [music] to continue the inspiration that they've shared, the efforts that [music] they've shared.

[00:26:39]And this is something that I believe I should do, to pass on eventually the responsibility to the next generation [music] of um biologists. And by doing that, we keep [music] the flame of hope for Philippine Eagle conservation alive.

[00:26:57]Well, my hope for the future of [music] the Philippine Eagle is to be brighter.

[00:27:03]And a brighter future would mean that every Filipino recognizes [music] the value of the Philippine Eagle to their lives.

[00:27:14]Um I really hope that each Filipino [music] would recognize the Philippine Eagle as a legitimate citizen [music] of this country.

[00:27:25]And in the same way that we don't want to harm our fellows, um my hope is that in every decision [music] that our fellow Filipinos make, they would also consider the welfare of um the Philippine Eagles.

[00:27:41]My hope is that there would be more protected territories [music] for wild Philippine Eagle pairs.

[00:27:49]My hope is that kids of this generation and of the next can still [music] have the chance to see the majesty of the Eagles not in captivity but in the wild.

[00:28:03]And um my uh statement is that this is doable.

[00:28:10]Uh especially [music] if every Filipino would do his part.

[00:28:15]>> Saving the king of the skies is a fight we all share.

[00:28:19]Every effort to save this great bird helps secure the forests and the future.

[00:28:27]>> [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] >> Mhm.