Filipino-Canadian primatologist and animal keeper Lohwana Halaq showed the majestic real-life Philippine Eagle printed on the new P1,000 bill. On July 24, she posted a TikTok video of her posing with the national bird named Sinag while holding a P1,000 bill.
“The head shot of the Philippine eagle species replaced the former 1000 peso bank note design of the three Filipino martyrs and civic rights actitivists of the resistance against the Japanese occupation of World War II,” she wrote.
@lohwanahalaq 💰The Money Shot 💰 The head shot of the Philippine eagle species replaced the former 1000 peso bank note design of the three Filipino martyrs and civic rights actitivists of the resistance against the Japanese occupation of World War II. The Philippine eagle is the national bird of the Philippines 🇵🇭 and thus should recieve the recognition it deserves. From my experience working with these beautiful animals I can truthfully say that it shocks me much our own Filipino citizens do not know this eagle exists or what it even looks like. Despite its high profile status in media, culture and government. I’ve had many guest interactions in which local Filipino visitors come up to ask me: “ma”am, nasaan ang Philippine agila?” , “ma,am where can I find the Philippine eagle?” … I am literally holding the Philippine Eagle on my arm…. I look at them look at my eagle, Sinag, and look back at them and point out “You are staring at the Philippine Eagle”… I have conservations with Filipinos abroad in Canada and I explain to them that I work and live in the Philippines as an Animal Keeper and I help breed the critically endangered Philippine eagle species. Many of them comment: “I did not know we have this eagle in the Philippines”…. my response usually is “did you even open your Filipino passport?” As the Philippine Eagle is also featured in the Filipino Governing passport. It is clear that awareness plays a crucial role in species conservation from local to international recognitions. Education is key. There is improvement, and progress may be is slow, but saving this species from extinction is worth it. #philippines🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭 #philippineeaglecenter #philippineeagles🦅🇵🇭 #capcut
She emphasized that the Philippine Eagle is the national bird of the Philippines and should receive the recognition it deserves, as she encountered many Filipinos who didn’t know about its existence.
“From my experience working with these beautiful animals, I can truthfully say that it shocks me much our own Filipino citizens do not know this eagle exists or what it even looks like. Despite its high profile status in media, culture, and government,” she said.
Photo: @lohwanahalaq TikTok
Lohwana also shared her interactions with local tourists, “I’ve had many guest interactions in which local Filipino visitors come up to ask me: ‘ma’am, nasaan ang Philippine agila?’, ‘ma,am where can I find the Philippine eagle?’ I am literally holding the Philippine Eagle on my arm. I look at them, look at my eagle, Sinag, and look back at them and point out, ‘You are staring at the Philippine Eagle.'”
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She mentioned that even Filipinos abroad are unfamiliar with the national bird and often asked her what it looks like. As a response, she said she told them to check their passport to see the Philippine Eagle featured in it.
“It is clear that awareness plays a crucial role in species conservation from local to international recognition. Education is key. There is improvement, and progress may be slow, but saving this species from extinction is worth it,” she added.
Sinag is among the semen donors of the Philippine Eagle Conservation’s breeding program in Davao City.
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