The Wild Bird Club of the Philippines has a lot of things to celebrate, including reaching it’s 10th Anniversary! Read about all the festivities and see all the wonderful pictures of WBCP members and guests. Congratulations and more power to WBCP!
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WBCP Cheers to 10 Years! Celebrating 10th Year Anniversary Party and General Assembly
by Marites M. Falcon
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The Wild Bird Club of the Philippines has made it through 10 years! It was indeed a blast! The Club had what was by far the most memorable anniversary party at the La Vista Clubhouse in Quezon City last July 14, 2013. In celebration of the Big 10, everyone came in their most colorful and festive attire. The occasion was deemed a well-attended event with a great number of club members who came. Among the guests who shared in the merrymaking were friends of the club, VIP guests and some partners in government, media and NGOs who came all the way from other regions to grace the important occasion.
La Vista Clubhouse, Quezon City. Photo by Marites Falcon.
The WBCP General Assembly
The registration started at 3:00 pm with the support of our registration booth volunteers in the person of Maia Tanedo, Tere Cervero, Yana Osano, and Cess Chua.
Volunteers Cess Chua, Tere Cervero and Yana Osano manned the registration table with their warmest smiles. Photo by Marites Falcon.
The General Assembly head started off with the Silent Auction composed of some artworks during the Hornbill Conference exhibited at the Ayala Museum, and Merchandise sales such as bird books, souvenir shirts and other interesting items.
A Hornbill painting, array of books and other items showcased at the Silent Auction area. Photo by Marites Falcon.Several framed Hornbill masterpieces in Pen & Ink and a large print by some of our most talented WBCP members who shared their works of art. Photo by Marites Falcon.Silent Auction & Merchandise Sales team volunteers Paul Guerrero, Rose Lacson & Tommy Tan. Photo by Marites FalconAn early bird treat! The Limited Edition souvenir bag and bagtag designed by Jon Villasper for early birds who confirmed attendance before July 5th. Photo by Marites Falcon.Silent Auction volunteer Jon Javier all set for the action. Photo by Marites Falcon.And a lot of interesting items were on display. Photo by Marites Falcon.At the Celestron table (one of our partners), their birding gear in various sizes – bins and spotting scopes were also for sale during the event. Photo by Marites Falcon.Kenko with their generous support to the club, gave a spotting scope for the club’s use and raffled off two pairs of binoculars as part of the anniversary party door prizes. Photo by Marites Falcon.
During the program, members by batches were acknowledged. Arne Jensen gave his report on the Records Committee which highlighted the work accomplished during the past year, plus the new country records and unusual bird species seen. Maia Tañedo presented the 2012 to 2013 Annual Report to the body. This was followed by the Financial Report rendered by outgoing WBCP Pres. Mike Lu. Anna Gonzales gave her report on the Conservation Committee. Finally, the WBCP Batches held a group photo hug before the first part of the program ended. The GA program was graciously emceed by Trinket Canlas and Alex Tiongco.
Arne Jensen shares the report of the Records Committee. Photo by Marites Falcon.The WBCP Annual Report from July 2012 to June 2013 was presented by Maia Tañedo. Photo by Marites Falcon.Trinket Canlas Constantino and Alex Tiongco graciously emceed the first part of the program (GA Anniversary). Photo by Marites Falcon.
The WBCP Group Hugs by batches :
WBCP Batch 2013: Anthony Balbin, Jake Taleon, Kahlil Panopio, Cat Calunsod, Eire Daproza. Photo by Marites Falcon.WBCP Batch 2012: Baby Magadia, Paul Guerrero, Jessie Severino, Peter Biljmakers, Yvonne Biljmakers, Irene Dy, Mark Bezuijen, Mike Calunsod, Marites Falcon, Cess Chua, Jayce Japlit. Photo by Marites Falcon.WBCP Batch 2011: Jon Javier. Photo by Marites Falcon.WBCP Batch 2010: Jay Sta. Ana, Jude Sanchez, Nestor Dolina Juan Mesquida, Homer Patulot, Glenn Fernandez, Jops Josef, Maia Tañedo, Cynthia Kaufman, Yana Osano. Photo by Marites Falcon.WBCP Batch 2009: Che Patulot, Rose Lacson, James Asprer, Mikeli Mapua, Rex Durban. Photo by Marites Falcon.WBCP Batch 2008: Christian Perez, Tonji Ramos, Mark Wallbank, Sylvia Ramos, Peter Stevens, Tinggay Cinco, Gina Mapua, Rei Panaligan, Ivan Sarenas. Photo by Marites Falcon.WBCP Batch 2007: Carmela Balcazar. Photo by Marites Falcon.WBCP Batch 2006: Tommy Tan, Cel Tungol, Chary Dina, Rob Hutchinson, Lisa Lumbao, Ixi Mapua, Abby Santos. Photo by Marites Falcon.WBCP Batch 2005: Luigi Paterno, Adrian Constantino, Trinket Constantino, Arnel Telesforo, Christine Telesforo, Alex Tiongco, Marts Cervero, Leny Ledesma, Bob Kaufman. Photo by Marites Falcon.WBCP Batch 2004: JC Gonzales, Patsy Alejandro Paterno, Anna Gonzales, Ruben Bala, Alex Loinaz. Photo by Marites Falcon.WBCP Batch 2003 : Mike Lu, Tina Alejandro, Ricky de Castro, Mark Villa, Arne Jensen, Lu-Ann Fuentes, Mads Bajarias, Dindo Llana, Jon Villasper. Photo by Marites Falcon.
The WBCP Anniversary Program
The second part of the celebration was the Anniversary Program which was co-hosted by Paula and Charlie Fernandez. Among the special guests who came were the Honorable Senator Cynthia Villar with Atty. Armi Corpuz of the Villar Foundation and Director Mundita Lim of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Other personalities included Howie Severino with the GMA 7 News team.
Charlie and Paula Fernandez co-hosted the second part of the event, the Anniversary Party. Photo by Marites Falcon.
Charlie and Paula Fernandez co-hosted the second part of the event, The Anniversary Party. Photo by Marites Falcon.
With the newly-elected officers, President Gina Mapua and Treasurer Mike Lu, among the guests who came to grace the event were Rey Aguinaldo of LPPCHEA, Senator Cynthia Villar and Atty. Armi Corpuz of the Villar Foundation. Photo by Marites Falcon.GMA 7 News personality Howie Severino with Mike Lu. Photo by Marites Falcon.
During the Anniversary Program, the founding members of the club were duly acknowledged. Mike Lu gave the 10 WBCP Highlights while Anna Gonzales gave the Conservation Committee Report which featured the Club’s history, background and projects participated in by club members.
The WBCP Founding members: Aimee Lu, Benedict Lu, Mark Villa, Jon Villasper, Ricky de Castro, Mike Lu, Kitty Arce, Arne Jensen, Tina Alejandro, Mads Bajarias, Lu-Ann Fuentes, Dindo Llana. Photo by Marites Falcon.The Top 10 WBCP Highlights presented by outgoing President Mike Lu. Photo by Irene Dy.
One of the highlights was the launching of the 9th Philippine Bird Festival in Zamboanga City by Gina Mapua. Also launched and revealed was the beautifully designed event logo by Arnel Telesforo. The logo design imageries of the bird with colorful flower motif evoke a portrayal of Zamboanga City as the City of Flowers. A reminiscent of the 70’s pop art era and the 70’s Flower power.
The 9th Philippine Bird Festival Zamboanga Event logo revealed. Photo by Marites Falcon.
Special dance numbers were performed by the dancers from the Western Mindanao State University who were brought in courtesy of our special guest from the Department of Tourism (DOT) Region IX in the person of Director MJ Bugante. Also present was Zamboanga City Tourism Officer Ms. Sarita Sebastian.
The performances by the Western Mindanao State University dancers were indeed very much engaging and worthy of applause. Photo by Marites Falcon.The performances by the Western Mindanao State University dancers were indeed very much engaging and worthy of applause. Photo by Marites Falcon.Lovely costume design with very intricate beadworks! Photo by Marites Falcon.For the finale, they performed an interesting dance that truly entertained everyone in the audience as they danced in crescendo with their colorful costume complete with hand accessories and head gears. Photo by Marites Falcon.
As part of the 10 WBCP Highlights, winners of the Borneo Bird Race Mark Villa, Adrian Constantino and Ivan Sarenas were also acknowledged during the anniversary party.
The winners of the Borneo Bird Race: Mark Villa, Adrian Constantino and Ivan Sarenas. Photo by Marites Falcon.The Borneo Bird Race 2013 trophies. Hats off to the team for a job well done! Photo by Marites Falcon.
The new set of officers for 2013 were announced: Gina Mapua as President, Maia Tanedo as Vice President, Jon Javier as Secretary and Mike Lu as Treasurer.
The new set of WBCP officers for the year 2013: President Gina Mapua, Vice President Maia Tañedo, Secretary Jon Javier and Treasurer Mike Lu. Photo by Marites Falcon.
One of the event highlights was the awarding of the Big Year winners. Rob Hutchinson topped in the professional category with the most number of species (429 species), followed by Ivan Sarenas, 2nd place (360 species) and Bram Demeulemeester, 3rd place (328 species). Birder Couple, Tonji and Sylvia Ramos captured the top spots for the regular birders category, Tonji with 362 species with Sylvia with 355 species followed by Christian Perez with 328 species. Congratulations to all the winners!
Rob Hutchinson and Ivan Sarenas as The 1st WBCP Big Year Winners for the Professional Birders category. Photo by Marites Falcon.The Big Year Winners for the Regular Birders category: Tonji and Sylvia Ramos. took the highest spots, followed by Christian Perez. Photo by Marites Falcon.
Moreover, our generous partners gave away special prizes. Primer Group gave out ten (10) Back Joy seats (for back support), Grimalkin gave a pair of binoculars for the BIG Race and Air Asia gave a round trip plane ticket to Hong Kong.
The lucky recipients of the Kenko pairs of binoculars during raffle were Ixi Mapua and Rose Lacson. In the photo are Gina Mapua, Ixi Mapua, Rose Lacson, Mike Lu and Kenko export manager Mitsuhiro Higashida. Photo by Marites Falcon.Mark Villa with two lovely Guest Liaison Officers Mikeli Mapua and Anna Gonzales. Other Guest Liaison officers for the event were: Gina Mapua, Ixi Mapua, Tintin Telesforo, Chary Dino and Tere Cervero.Yana Osano with Jops Josef who handled most of the computer works such as powerpoint presentations as well as the online election works. Photo by Marites Falcon.Some of the guests who graced the evening came all the way from Zamboanga. DOT Region IX Director Mary June Bugante and Zamboanga City Tourism Officer Sarita Sebastian. Photo by Marites Falcon.Susie Bugante and journalist Ross Harper-Alonso. Photo by Marites Falcon.More guests. Photo by Marites Falcon.GMA News Network team interviewed Mike Lu on WBCP’s 10th Year Anniversary. Photo by Marites Falcon.
The 10th WBCP Anniversary Party and General Assembly was a huge success and it was indeed a memorable event for all of us. All the great efforts that everyone who put in to ensure that the whole event progressed smoothly were commendable. We certainly look forward to the next one for our 11th Anniversary next year.
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