10th PHILIPPINE BIRD FESTIVAL – BATAAN December 8-12, 2015

Birds & Nature: our nation’s treasure

Ibon at Kalikasan: kayamanan ng bayan

December 8/Tuesday

Arrival in Manila/check-in Orchid Garden Hotel/

Airport welcome and assistance by Department of Tourism-NCR/ Transfers by Alamo Rentals

1300 Check-in at Orchid Garden Hotel (whole day)

1400-1700 Intramuros Tour – old walled city (for early arrivals)

1900-2100 Welcome Dinner at Quezon Hall, Orchid Garden Hotel

~  Registration and distribution of festival kits

~  Welcome Message by Gina Mapua, WBCP President

~  Introduction of organizations

~  Video of PBF-Zamboanga

~  Dinner

~  Announcements

December 9/Wednesday

0600 Breakfast/check-out

0700 1st bus departs for Quezon City before proceeding to Balanga

0730 2nd bus departs for Balanga City

1100 Lunch at Bataan Provincial Tourism Center, Balanga City

1300 Check-in hotel (Plaza Hotel/Crown Royale/GAP)

1400-1700 Conservation Forum to be hosted by DENR-BMB at the Crown Royale Hotel

1400-1500 Bataan biodiversity, threats and successes

(Nikki Dyanne Realubit /Dr. Carmela Española/Atty. Ipat Luna/Katala Foundation)

1500-1530 Question and answer

1530-1630 Breakout session and propose action plan

1630-1730 Presentation and synthesis

1400-1700 Cultural/bird watching tour for other delegates

St. Joseph’s Cathedral, WW2 museum, Amanda’s smoked fish industry, Balanga Wetland Park

1900 Mayor’s Dinner at Plaza Mayor de Balanga

~  Acknowledgement of participating organizations

~  Message from Balanga City Mayor Jose Enrique Garcia III

~  Message from WBCP President Gina Mapua

~  Dinner

~  Launching of bird logos of Bataan towns

~  Gift exchange with Balanga City Mayor Jose Enrique Garcia III

December 10/Thursday

0500 Depart for Mount Samat

0530 Walk-up to Mount Samat, Pilar

Mini-bird race for selected delegates starting from Km 3

0730 Opening Program

Welcome message from WBCP Secretary Cristina Cinco

0800 Breakfast – boodle fight sponsored by LGUs of the 12 towns

0900 Depart for Balanga City

1000 Booth set-up at Bataan Capitol grounds

1000-1130 Usapang Kalikasan at 2/f, Bataan Library

~  20-minute lecture followed by 10-minute Q&A per speaker

~  Life-giving watersheds by Karen Ochavo

~  Philippine Plant Diversity and Endemism by Anthony Arbias

~  Birds, bats and bugs – the role of wildlife in Philippine Forests by Willem van de Ven

1130 Lunch

1300 Ribbon-cutting and tour of exhibit by Guest-of-honor Senator Cynthia Villar

1300 Opening Ceremonies at the Bataan People’s Center, Bataan Capitol grounds

Parade of colours led by participating organizations

~  Message from Bataan Provincial Governor Albert Garcia

~  Message from WBCP President Gina Mapua

~  Message from Senator Cynthia Villar

1330 Bird festival starts

Bird Buzz for 2,500 students inside the Bataan People’s Center

Bird Quest for 500 students at the Bataan Capitol grounds

1600 Birdwatching at Ochog fishponds (30 selected students)

1700 Festival closes/Return to hotel

1900 Asian Bird Fair-Jingshan Night at Blue Horizon, 4/f, Crown Royale Hotel

~  Asian Bird Fair history by Andrew Sebastian

~  Welcome message by Cuncaoxin Rural Environmental Protections Association

o  President James Zhan

~  Jingshan video

~  Mechanics for benefit auction

~  Dinner

~  Announcement of auction results/next day’s activities

December 11/Friday

0530 Mini bird race/Birdwatching at Ochog fishponds (optional)

0600 Fun Run from Plaza Mayor to Balanga Wetland Park (optional)

0700 Breakfast at hotel

0800 Bird festival opens at Bataan Capitol grounds

0800-1000 Usapang Kalikasan at Bataan Library/20-minute lecture, 10-minute Q&A

~  A future without forest-planting birds by Dr. Carmela Espanola

~  Where orioles used to sing by Joni Acay

~  Documenting ethno-ornithology by Dr. Juan Carlos Gonzalez

~  Terrestial ecosystem & marine conservation in Bataan by For. Mila Ramirez

1000 Ecotourism Forum at Bataan Library/ 5-8 minute presentations

~  Victor Yu (Ecotourism Taiwan)

~  Andrew Sebastian (Ecotourism Malaysia)

~  Gawin Chutima (Thai Cycling Club)

~  Philip He (Chengdu Birdwatching Society)

~  DOT IX RD Ma June Bugante (Zamboanga)

~  Rudy de Mesa (Bataan)

1130 Lunch

1300 Bird festival starts

Bird Buzz at Bataan People’s Center

Bird Quest at Bataan Capitol grounds

1600 Festival closes

1700 Depart for Las Casas de Acuzar, Bagac

1730 Tour of Las Casas de Acuzar

1830 Governor’s Farewell Dinner at Las Casas de Acuzar

December 12/Saturday

Departures for post-festival tour/Departures for Manila