More Bird Talks, etc.

Two years ago, I wrote a post about Teaching Moments, relating my several talks about Birding and Photography in 2022 and 2023. Here is the link for said post https://chiwitchronicles.wixsite.com/website/post/teaching-moments. Last year, 2025, I had several opportunities to give birding related talks.

The first such opportunity was in February, during the World's Best Island Travel Fair at Glorietta in Makati. I was tasked to talk about Bird Tourism in Palawan. To be honest, the thought of giving a talk at the Glorietta made me feel nervous. That the audience included the officers of the Palawan Tourism Coincil, Palawan Tourism Office, and other VIP's just added to the pressure. But once the talk started, I felt more comfortable and everything fell into place so to speak. Sharing some photos taken by my friend and fellow birder, Bert Briones (who brought along his 600mm lens, ano ako ibon???)

The second opportunity was during the Graphic Expo Exhibit last June at the World Trade Center wherein WBPP had a bird photo exhibit. The club was invited to give a presentation and I was assigned to give the talk because both Alain Pascua, WBPP President and Djop Tabaranza, WBPP Treasurer couldn't make it. So panakip butas (hehehe). But talking about birds and birding is always fun at nakataya ang pangalan ng WBPP, so I accepted. The topic of my talk was an Introduction to Philippine Birds, Birding, and Bird Photography. Inspite of the venue, the World Trade Center, this was a very loose and relaxed talked because of the presence of several birders in the audience. Photos are again courtesy of Bert Briones.

The third opportunity happened last October 4 at the Arellano University campus. This was not a bird talk per se but a talk about Designing Activities for Resorts. But being a birder, Birding figured prominently in my talk.

The fourth instance was last October 14, at the Marine Science Institute at UP Diliman. First a bit of back story. Sometime in June, the Press Photographers of the Philippines, invited a few of us birders to join their exhibit. Naturally we said yes. (No photographer refuses to chance to exhibit). A month or so later, I was asked if I am willing to give a talk on birds and bird photography. Again, I readily said yes. In my mind, I already have a presentation anyway (the one I gave at the Graphic Expo). However, when I got the formal invitation and program sometime in September, I was surprised to learn that the Photo Exhibit had a theme. The title of the exhibit was Climate Crises: from Desperation to Hope. And my talk must conform to the theme. My instant reaction was, "patay!". The thought of backing out briefly entered my mind but for the love of birds, I went ahead with it. But the prospect of giving a serious talk in front of people from the press and from UP, plus sharing the stage with George Tapan, a photography icon, filled me with dread. With the help of the Almighty and gallons of coffee, I believe I was able to acquit myself.

Here are some photos shared by fellow photographers present during the event.

With Edwin Bacasmas, President of the Press Photographers of the Philippines

Thank you to the Palawan Tourism Council, WBPP and Fierra de Manila, Arellano University, and the Press Photographers of the Philippines for giving me the opportunity to share my knowledge and talk about Birds and Birding. Thank you Lord for guiding me in all these.

Ut In Omnibus Glorificetur Deus...