Philippine Department of Tourism

Secretary Ace Durano recently signed an agreement with Birdlife International’s Head of Conservation Richard Grimmet, to firm up their support to protect this endangered bird species, endemic to the island of Cebu.

“Preventing Extinctions is a global programme of Birdlife, pushing for awareness and involvement in conservation of rare birds. Here have introduced the concept of Species Champions, concerned parties and individuals, who will provide funding for programs and establishing policies for the protection of bird species,” said Grimmet.

Among the lost bird species only recently rediscovered, the Cebu Flowerpecker was feared extinct for much of the 20th Century. In 1992, it was rediscovered in forest fragments, but it remains critically endangered. Funding from the DOT will provide initial financial support for efforts to conserve and protect this rare bird.

Durano said, “Being a developing country, the Philippines puts great pressure on the environment. Our growing population means there is always the demand to create livelihood, make sure of present resources, which may have impacts if not managed well. We wish to further educate communities on the importance of caring and protecting our natural resources, which remains the most viable asset of our country.”

“Birdwatching as an ecotourism activity is a significant valuable resource we wish to further tap in bringing tourism traffic to remote areas in the country. This relationship with Birdlife International’s program allows us to further capitalize on this advocacy to strengthen untapped regions and localities,” Durano stressed.

Also present during the signing were British tour operators specializing in birdwatching activities. They will visit Tabunan and Alcoy, where the Cebu Flowerpecker is found.

The Cebu Biodiversity Conservation Foundation (CBCF) is the Species Guardian for the Cebu Flowerpecker, DOT’s counterpart in working towards the implementation and execution of programs for conservation.

Lisa Marie Paguntalan, CBCF Research Director and a passionate environmentalist, shared, “It is heartwarming to know that we are not alone in efforts for the conservation of this bird species, endemic to the country.”

“This is the first time for a government agency to sign up as a Species Champion,” she noted, adding that such undertaking is another motivation for others organizations and agencies around the world, to support the cause.

The elusive bird was chosen as the flagship species for this year’s recent British Birdwatching Fair. Organizer Martin Davies said, “We have chosen the Cebu Flowerpecker as the emblem of this year’s birding fair because it provides hope and inspiration not to give up on lost species. We are delighted that the Philippines Ministry of Tourism has now become the BirdLife Species Champion for this forest jewel.”

Known as the ‘Woodstock of Birders,’ the British Birdwatching Fair is an exclusive event where all sectors in birdwatching and wildlife conservation from all over the world gather.

Presented by BirdLife International, the award was given to the Department of Tourism (DOT) which was also named as the Species Champion for the said endemic bird.

“This award seals our country’s status as a premier birdwatching site in the global birders’ community. More importantly, it will draw further support for biodiversity awareness and wildlife preservation from our local sectors,” said Tourism Secretary Ace Durano.

The Cebu Flowerpecker has been rediscovered by renowned birder and zoologist Dr. Rob Timmins who saw it in 1992, 100 years after its last sighting. The bird was found in the village of Tabunan, and small numbers can also be seen in Nug-As and Mount Lantoy, also in Cebu. Presently, an estimated 100 birds of this specie may be living in the area.

British birdwatchers have also confirmed new sightings of the elusive bird. Matt Merritt, Features Editor of the noted BirdWatching Magazine, wrote about his party’s glimpses of the rare specie in their visit to Cebu recently. He described it as stocky, 12cm-long, with a distinctively red back, grey-white underparts, blue-black wings and a black head with short stout bill.

Capturing the bird in a photo has long been every birder’s dream, as no photo of it yet exists due to its size and elusive nature, some of UK’s birders said.

Touted by the British wildlife enthusiasts as the bird that’s ‘back from the dead,’ the Cebu Flowerpecker was also cited as the flagship specie at the UK Birdfair. The event theme for this year was ‘Lost and Found,’ highlighting winged species which were known to be extinct but have been recently rediscovered.

Apart from the Cebu Flowerpecker, Merritt named other prized winged species that his group saw in their treks to other birding sites of the country which are Pampanga and Palawan.

Some which he mentioned include, the Philippine Duck, Cinammon Bittern, Night Herons, Luzon Hornbill, Philippine Hanging Parrot, Bar-bellied Cuckoo Shrike, Philippine Falconet, Sooty Woodpecker, Yellow-vented Bulbuls, Brahminy Kite, Great Sand Plover, Terek Sandpiper, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Palawan Peacock Pheasant, Tarictic Hornbill and Black Shama.

“With one-third of our birds endemic, birdwatching is a viable tourism product for serious birders who make up a sizeable part of our high-spending segment,” added Durano.

The country’s participation in the recent Birdfair has likewise shored up gains for the country, said Undersecretary Eduardo Jarque, Jr., Tourism Planning and Promotions.

“UK’s biggest bird tour operators have included us in their packages and some well-known birders are expected to arrive in the country in several batches,” Jarque said.

Rockjumper Birding Tours, Ornitholidays, Birdseekers, Nature Trek, and Birdquest are just some of the major tour operators which have added the Philippines in their program and brochures as one of the world’s premier birdwatching sites.

The country was well-represented in the Birdfair, with noted speakers Dennis Salvador, Nicky Icarangal, Jr., and Lisa Marie Pagnutalan giving a forum on subjects which include, Status and Conservation of the Great Philippine Eagle, Birdwatching in the Philippines, and Conserving Core Habitats in Cebu, respectively.

Stanie Soriano, Corporate Relations Manager of Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation, further shared that the country also won second place for the Best Stand Awards, having the most popular booth in the venue. “We gave out a comprehensive Birdwatching kit with books, CDs, and flyers on the tourism product. Our local Banda Kawayan also created a very festive atmosphere in the booth, delighting guests with our local music,” shared Soriano.

I think I’ve developed a new kind of phobia — being scared that summer will soon be over and I have not made the most out of it. So being the proactive person that I am, I have taken advantage of free and/or long weekends to soak in as much sun and swim in as much water. And I think I’ve been imposing myself on Mia too.

Just about an hour and thirty minutes away from Manila, a butterfly haven is nestled in the heart of Pulilan, Bulacan in an unassuming old house. The place doubles as a wedding reception site, a resort, a tourist spot, and even movie/TV locations. (more…)

The SM Investment Corporation is presently developing its biggest project to date: the 1,800-hectare Hamilo Coast in Nasugbu, Batangas. Those of us who are accustomed to the giant edifices that are the SM Malls will find in Hamilo Coast a refreshing development. It will showcase to residents and tourists 13 natural coves, a sweeping 32-kilometer coastline and a number of lush hills, cliffs and valleys boasting of virgin flora and fauna. Activities in the site will be geared towards eco-tourism including diving, hiking, mountain climbing, kayaking, sailing and the like.

The first phase of the Hamilo Coast masterplan is the 40-hectare Pico de Loro Cove. This resort community, which is slowly being built, shall boast of a country club, marina, golf course, hotel, forest park, condos, lakeside townhouses, retail shops and a boardwalk surrounded by restaurants and entertainment centers. I foresee that in the future this will be a snazzier alternative to Boracay and other resort towns. The best thing is that it will soon be very accessible from Manila. With a ferry terminal to be built in SM Bay City, travelling to Hamilo Coast will only take 1 1/2 hours by sea. Alternatively, it can be reached at almost the same time by land; with a road network being built through Coastal Road, the 114-km. stretch it takes to travel to Nasugbu at present will be cut to 70 kilometers.

There’s no doubt that Pico de Loro and Hamilo Coast will in no time be a gem of real estate south of Manila, with SM as the developer, the overall fast return-on-investment of the place to potential buyers and its ability to give you the ultimate nature trip. What more, a significant part of the site will be open to the public, giving tourism in this part of Batangas a much-needed boost. I will be very excited to see how the grand masterplan that is Hamilo Coast will unfold in the next few years, most probably like a precious pearl coming out of its shell to reveal unseen facets of the beauteous canvas that is the Philippines.

“Promoting Philippine tourism should be every Filipino’s task. It is through tourism that we can compete in the global marketplace.” Taipan Henry Sy Jr.

About the Author
Annalyn Jusay, more popularly known as Ajay in the blogosphere, is a contributor and gadget reviewer for Manila Bulletin’s Technews. In March 2005, she started for MB her weekly column Blog-O-Rama which features bloggers in classic Q & A format. She says: ” My aim is to cover all bloggers, or at least those worthy of it, and give everyone their five minutes of fame. She claims to now write and blog mostly for fun as she concentrates full-time on her job as a manager for the Philippines’ one and only casino company.

Jatropha curcas also called physic nut, is used to produce the non-edible Jatropha oil for making candles and soap, and as a feedstock for the production of biodiesel. The cakes remaining after the oil is pressed can be used as feed in digesters and gasifiers to produce biogas for cooking and in engines, or the cakes can be used for fertilizing, and sometimes even as animal fodder.

Jatropha curcas or Barbados nut or Physic nut is a poisonous shrub belonging to the Euphorbiaceae or spurge family. The plant, originating in Central America, is mainly grown in Asia and in Africa, where it is known as Pourghère. It is resistant to a high degree of aridity and as such does not compete with food crops. Moreover, its cultivation is uncomplicated. It thrives on a mere 250 mm of rain a year and only during its first two years does it need to be watered in the closing days of the dry season. Ploughing and planting are not needed regularly as this shrub has a life expectancy of approximately forty years. The use of pesticides and other polluting substances is no longer called for, thanks to the pesticidal and fungicidal properties of the plant.

The oily seeds are processed into oil, which may be directly used to fuel combustion engines or may be subjected to transesterification to produce biodiesel. Jatropha oil is not suitable for human consumption. A colourant can also be derived from the seed.

In the early 1990s, a growth trial in Nicaragua covering 2,000 hectares did not live up to expectations, yielding only a disappointing 200 litres of Jatropha oil per hectare. However, Jatropha is well able to yield as much as 1,900 litres of diester per hectare, largely exceeding the capacity of rapeseed.

Municipal Mayor Charles Cattiling disclosed that they are starting the cultivation of this genus in his municipality with the hope of putting up a biodeisel refinery in the future.

Cattiling informed that during a recent seminar he attended, a commitment for a grant was offered by the Japan Government and the Philippine Councils for Agricultural Research and Development (PICARD) for this purpose.

With the plant growing well in the area and with no much needed maintenance, the mayor intends to promote it to farmers in his municipality to plant in vast idle lands or in between corn fields.

This when developed is not just an excellent tool for real sustainable development but great for developing countries in terms of jobs and energy because it holds enormous potentials to farmers.

Catilling hopes their local farmers will give intent attention and interest to this.

Meanwhile, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here claims that jatropha curcas has been used by the Ifugao folks for fencing since time immemorial.

Nestor Baccay, Assistant Chief of the Forest Production Utilization of the DENR here said that the plant which easily thrives in the province is commonly seen in fencing the pigpens, farms and pasturelands.

Baccay also said that jatropha called “magic tree” because it was discovered as a source of biofuel, is being used by Ifugao folks in the olden times to produce fire using the seeds which have an oily substance.

“Little did our folks know that this specie can free the country from being dependent on expensive imported crude oil,” he said.

Baccay shared that when the government thru the DENR launched the Green Philippines program last year, their office planted about 30 jatropha curcas along the national road instead of the germelina. The specie is only 6 to 7 feet tall thus it will not reach the electric lines which is the common problem of the local electric office here, he said.

“Jatropha which is considered as a shrub can be propagated through cuttings or planting the seeds,” Baccay said.

With the new developments that the said specie can produce oil, the local Agriculture Office here is now trying to encourage farmers to utilize marginal lands by planting Jatropha.

Avelino Lunag, of the Provincial Agriculture Office here said that the tagumbao is commonly seen in pasture lands because it can be used as fence, the leaves can be used for castration, snake repellant and biofuel.

“It has high resistance to drought that’s why it can tribe easily even in warm places such as pasturelands,” he said.

Ignacio Baniya, the Municipal Agriculturist of the municipality of Asipulo, on the other hand, disclosed that his office thru the help of a Peace Corps volunteer distributed five kilos of jatropha seeds donated by the Forest Corporation based in Manila to farmers in Asipulo last February this year.

Having planted about 2,000 jathropa last year, he observed that it takes one year for the seeds to grow and the cuttings will only take eight months.