Elders, conservationists race to record fading sacred ties to Philippines’ endemic birds

In the verdant expanse of the Iraya Mangyan ancestral domain in Puerto Galera town, on the Philippine island of Mindoro, the forest hums with life as the trail ascends. Amid the tranquil ambiance, birdsong punctuates the serene atmosphere. Fifty-three-year-old Lenito Pampilo, an Iraya community leader and ecotrail guide, strolls through the woodland, pausing intermittently as the forest's symphony resonates around him.

He points out unseen avian companions in the treetop canopy and listens intently as echoes of their calls reverberate from farther uphill.

Pampilo believes that these avian interactions carry deep significance. "Our elders taught us the meanings behind these birds' calls," he shares with Mongabay. As an ecotrail guide, Pampilo has dedicated his life to the mountains, and his expertise extends beyond bird identification. "Certain birds serve as early indicators of weather changes, warn of impending dangers, and even act as messengers between the living and the spirit world," he explains.

"Moreover, trees, streams, and ridges in the forest are repositories of stories passed down from one generation to the next."

With the passage of time and the dwindling number of young people learning from the elders, the Center for Conservation Innovations Philippines (CCIPH) steps in to assist Iraya knowledge holders in documenting the region's wildlife, medicinal plants, and culturally significant locales.