06/10/2026
From Alain Pascua: This , I find myself looking back on a journey of 16 years, defined by a bird that has shaped my life as a photographer, writer, & conservationist.
In 2010, I spent a day at Davao's Philippine Eagle Center, waiting for a moment that ended in a thousand frames, with two photos becoming milestones in my life: Ang Banog and Haring Ibon.
For my first book, Haring Ibon: The Great Philippine Eagle, I wrestled with the decision of which image should grace its cover. I chose Haring Ibon. The side profile, veiled by a wing, conveyed majesty and quiet power, fitting for a king.
In 2012, Ang Banog won the First Birds as Art International Competition by famed bird photographer Art Morris. In 2021, Ang Banog was chosen for the cover of All the Birds of the World by Lynx Edicions.
I often marvel at how fate unfolded. Had I used Ang Banog as the cover of my first book, it would not be the face of one of the most important ornithological publications ever made.
In 2026, my second book, Lord of the Forest: The Fall and Rise of the Great Philippine Eagle, would carry another chapter through the image of Mt. Kitanglad's Kalumbata, from 2014 in the forests of Cinchona and Pamarayeg. These books tell the continuing story of the Haring Ibon, not only as the world's largest eagle but also as a symbol of a nation. Few species have come to embody the spirit of Philippine biodiversity as fully as the Haring Ibon.
Whenever I look at a photo of the Haring Ibon, I am reminded of Dioscoro Rabor's words:
"The Philippine Eagle is a purely Filipino bird. It's just as Filipino as we are Filipinos. It is not found anywhere else in the world. So, we should take good care of this population that are still found here. We should do our best to save the eagle, because when it is gone, it is gone from the list of animals of the world."
As this year's Week comes to a close, let's remember that the future of Haring Ibon is inseparable from our forests and our identity. When the forests fall silent, and the eagle disappears, we lose more than a bird. We lose a part of ourselves.
is more than the King of Birds. It is a symbol of the Filipino.
