Traveling Morion | Travel + Photography: Davao City | The Philippine Eagle Center in Malagos

I had the chance to visit The Philippine Eagle Center in Malagos, Davao City early this year. This unplanned and quick visit helped me understand the real situation of the country’s mightiest bird (or I should say “one of the most vulnerable species”), the Haribon or simply called the Philippine Eagle.

It may be a bit far from the City Proper of Davao, which travel time is about an hour or more, but being able to look straight into the eye of a critically endangered species is truly worth a person’s precious time. No one knows, maybe one day, we will just see the majestic Philippine Eagles in print. But of course, everyone hopes for their preservation. That’s why visiting this center is helpful to raise awareness and for a concern in a person’s heart to be triggered.

The center is not only a home to a number of our country’s pride but also to other kind of birds, mammals and reptiles. The facility is primarily intended for the conservation breeding of some of the endangered birds and also to conduct further studies about those species.

ACTIVITIES AT THE CENTER

Entrance Fee

Adult - P150.00

Kids (18 years old and below) - P100.00

Schedule: 8:00AM - 5:00PM (Daily)

If you want to simply observe and immerse yourself with the splendor of flora and fauna, you can just stroll around and enjoy the presence of endemic species, old but beautiful large trees, and magnificent tropical foliage.

But if you also long to have an educational experience, they offer below activities:

Guided Tours

The tour guides here, who are like walking encyclopedia, are the ones who will walk you through the center. Guided tours are free of charge but you may give tips, which will be a great encouragement for the volunteers to continue on what they do.

Keeper Talk

This is where you can hear from a bird’s caretaker all the things that you want to know about birds. But there is only a specific time for this activity, so be sure to verify its schedule for the day once you arrive at the center.

Open Classroom Project

This activity is dedicated to students from Pre-school to High School. The students will definitely enjoy this because there are games that have been prepared for the learning experience to be memorable.

Aside from the educational activities above, you may also want to be part of a benevolent activity that will help the center.

Wild Trail

For P500.00, you can be part of the center’s “walk of fame”, where your name will be engraved in its cemented paths. More importantly, you will be extending help in saving the species in the center.

Tree of Hope

You may also donate P100.00 as a support to the growth of one seedling under the Arakan Forest Corridor Development Project.

Gift Shop

By purchasing a souvenir item, you are helping the maintenance of the facility and in funding their different programs.

TRAVEL NOTES

Don’t forget to wear your most comfortable shoes for you to enjoy the stroll around the center.

Be sure to bring an insect repellant since there are mosquitoes around the area. It is also advisable to wear comfortable pants instead of shorts to avoid insects from nibbling your precious legs.

Though it gets cold in the morning at the center, which is at the foothills of Mt. Apo, your sweats could still escape because of the long walks. So it’s better if you will also pack some sweat towels.

Just always be ready to beat the heat by carrying with you an umbrella, a fan, a hat and bottled water.

It is important to keep in mind to keep your voice down to not disturb the animals, most especially during the breeding season for the Philippine Eagles which is from July to February.

Contact a staff from Philippine Eagle Center office before visiting to ensure the availability of tour guides.

Don’t worry on where to stay; great accommodations by hostels are now available in the city.

WHERE TO EAT

More or less 30-minute drive/ride from the center, Golden Egg Restaurant is conveniently located along Kilometer 19 Highway of Davao-Bukidnon Road in Tugbok (Los Amigos), Davao City. They serve the best Pinoy dishes like pritong hito and tinolang native chicken! I can assure you – I’ve been there twice. For reservations, you can reach them on this Tel. No. +63 82 271 9332.

HOW TO GET THERE

By Bus: At Annil Terminal, located at corner Quirino and San Pedro Extension, take a bus ride to Calinan. Buses depart every 15 minutes. From Calinan, take a motorcycle ride to the Philippine Eagle Center which is P20.00 per person.

By Jeepney: From Bankerohan Market, ride a jeepney going to Calinan. Fare is PhP45.00. Then take a motorcycle ride to the center.

By Taxi: Though this is the most convenient way, I would not recommend this since it will be too costly because of the distance from the City Proper to the center.

CONTACT DETAILS

THE PHILIPPINE EAGLE CENTER

Malagos, Baguio District, Davao City
Telephone number: (082) 324 1860
Mobile number: 09178627146
For reservations, you may email them at reservations@philippineeaglefoundation.org

or fill-out the form at the end of this page: http://www.philippineeaglefoundation.org/philippine-eagle-center.
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