A conservationist and an animal keeper at the Philippine Eagle Center in Davao City educated the netizens that the bird printed on the new 1000-peso note really exist in real life.
Through her TikTok page, Lohwana Halaq showed ‘Sinag,’ one of the Philippine Eagles she was taken care of while handling a 1000-peso bill.
According to her, she was surprised that many Filipinos thought that the bird imprinted on the said peso note was fictional.
“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.
“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”…” she added.
Philippine Eagle is considered the national bird of the country, but sadly it’s also considered an endangered species.
Fortunately, it’s extinction was prevented, thanks to the joint effort from several groups and the government.