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KING OF HEAVENS
The Philippine Eagle has the countenance of regal
majesty - snowy white plumes dappled with gray,
a distinct crested head matched with a pair of
sharp eyes and strong curved beak, a powerful
eight-foot wingspan, and lethal preying claws.
An endangered species, the world’s largest
eagle has found refuge at the Philippine Eagle
Research and Nature Center in the Malagos rainforest
in Calinan, 45 minutes away from downtown Davao.
It was here where the first ever Philippine Eagle
was born in captivity. Aptly named Pag-asa (Hope),
she is testament to how seriously Davao protects
its environmental heritage. To this day, more
eaglets are bred and nurtured at the sanctuary.
Only too soon, the Philippine Eagle will take
its rightful place in the sky. Soaring proud and
unafraid as King of the Heavens.
QUEEN OF RAINFOREST
On the slopes of Mount Apo was discovered the
waling-waling, an orchid of exceptional attributes
- with full, velvety petals tinged in royal colors
of purple, red and yellow.
So delicate is this stunning bloom that it can
only thrive on fresh and balmy air. The waling-waling
(Vanda sanderiana) has since been successfully
transplanted from its natural environment and
cultivated in many of Davao’s flower farms.
Retailing at several hundred dollars a plant,
the Queen of the Rainforest has become an attractive
business proposition.
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