November 3, 2014 – GMA News Interview
Quezon City
Mike Lu shared a series of photos posted by Bob Kaufman on the fb-WBCP page. The photos were of bird carcasses – Black-naped Oriole, Phil Bulbul and Coppersmith Barbet. One photo even featured two hunters with more than a dozen guns.
The hunter even said he is from Balanga (Bataan) and went to the forests of Bagac (another town in Bataan) to hunt these birds. He also said he did not kill all the birds since there are still a lot of them in the forests. After Mike posted these photos, more people sent him photos of other hunters!
With the power of Facebook (and the appalling photos) , it reached a good number of people that GMA News found it newsworthy. GMA News set an interview at the PAWB with Dir Mundita LIm. The interview will be shown Nov 3, 2014 Monday night on Jessica Soho’s SONA at 9 pm.
It may not mean much, it may not change the attitude of the hunters but it is a first step towards educating the public. (Video credit: GMA News TV)
November 8-9, 2014 – Thailand International Birdwatching Fair
Bangpoo, Samut Prakarn Thailand
The WBCP Execom planned to send President Gina Mapua and VP Willem Van de Ven as representatives of the WBCP to the Thailand International Birdwatching fair this weekend. However, Gina had to back out due to some problems with her passport and had to be replaced by club treasurer Mike Lu.
The Bird Conservation Society of Thailand scheduled the Birdlife Asia Council meeting to coincide with the bird fair in order for the Birdlife partners to participate and even set up booths to represent their organizations hence we have more foreign organizations this year. For most of these organizations it was their first time to participate in a bird fair.
Mike reported seeing old friends like – Philip Round, Willie Foo and surprised to see familiar faces – Vivien (HKBWS), Klenn Koh (Precision Optic, who was with them in Zamboanga), even Tong Higashida (Kenko). (Photo credits: Mike Lu and Andrew Sebastian)
Nov. 9, 2014 – Guided trip at UP Diliman
University of the Philippines – Diliman
One of our guided trip participants in the last trip held in UP asked if their group of home-schooling families can be guided in UP on November 9 at UP Diliman. Coincidentally, this also fell on the birthday of Ms. Chacha’s son (lead person of the group) and she thought it would be an educational treat for the occasion.
The group size is around 10-16 pax. The group birded from MSI to the new Science Complex.
November 10, 2014 – Signing of MOU with BMB-DENR
Club president Gina Mapua, Cristina Cinco and Jon Javier attended the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the WBCP and the BMB-DENR on Monday, November 10 at 8am. The MOU allows both entities to work closer in keeping our wildlife safe from hunters and catching them. The club will also be more active in the monitoring of the “zoos” that PAWB keeps of wildlife in their custody. In addition, the club will participate in their release programs. Lastly, it guarantees the DENR will participate and assist us with our bird fairs. (Video credit: Fredd Ochavo)
Director Lim's Speech for the DENR-WBCP MOA Signing
Director Mundita Sison Lim's speech during the MOA Signing between DENR and the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines
Posted by Fredd Ochavo on Thursday, November 13, 2014
WBCP President's Speech during the DENR-WBCP MOA Signing
WBCP Pres. Gina Squillantini Mapua's speech during the MOA Signing between DENR and the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines
Posted by Fredd Ochavo on Sunday, November 16, 2014
WBCP Secretary's Speech During the DENR-WBCP MOA Signing
Posted by Fredd Ochavo on Monday, November 17, 2014
November 16, 2014 – Records Committee Meeting
Lu Residence, Manila
November 29-30, 2014 – 5th Asian Bird Fair
Langkawi, Malaysia
The 5th Asian Bird Fair was hosted this year last November 29-30 by the Malaysian Nature Society on the beautiful island of Langkawi where 3 species of hornbills can be seen.
The WBCP was represented by a 14-member delegation, the largest foreign delegation not just for this bird fair but for all the previous fairs since the ABF started. The WBCP delegation is led by Club secretary Tinggay Cinco.
As co-founder of the ABF, Mike Lu was stationed at the ABF booth along with Victor Yu of Ecotourism Taiwan. The other participants from the club were in charge of providing information about birds and birdwatching in the Philippines and also to take charge of merchandise sales. (Photo credits: Mike Lu and Henry Goh)
