DAVAO CITY (December 8) — The Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) has kicked off its month-long “Your Gifts Save Us: A Green Christmas” celebration, using the holiday season to amplify calls for forest protection and stronger community action to save the critically endangered Philippine Eagle.
The launch on December 6 at the Philippine Eagle Center (PEC) went beyond tree-lighting and holiday cheer. With partners from Ayala Land Inc., BPI, and the local governments of Gigaquit, Maragusan, and Monkayo in attendance, PEF framed the event as a reminder that conservation work is a shared responsibility — and that the eagle’s survival depends on protecting Indigenous forests and the communities who guard them.
A highlight of this year’s program is “AgiLakbay: The Community Mosaic Painting,” led by artist Bing Famoso. Participants painted 40 individual tiles that form a single portrait of the Philippine Eagle, turning PEC’s Christmas centerpiece into a visual manifesto of unity, culture, and environmental advocacy.
PEF said the mosaic captures a simple truth: saving the eagle mirrors the collective journey of communities, scientists, volunteers, and conservation partners who piece together solutions in the face of habitat loss and climate threats.
Throughout December, PEC is rolling out activities designed to bring the public directly into conservation work — from the Open Classroom Project and Pag-asa Volunteers’ Day, to Socks for Species donation drives, conservation-themed bazaars, the Adopt-A-Critter sponsorship program, and a mural collaboration highlighting youth voices in protecting wildlife.
PEF’s message is clear: a “green Christmas” means choosing to act — and ensuring that the country’s national bird, and the forests that sustain it, have a future.
