ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Sept. 5, 2013) – Zamboanga, known as Ciudad de Flores (City of Flowers) in Mindanao region is the venue of this year’s 9th Philippine Bird Festival, according to the Department of Tourism.
It said the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines and the Department of Tourism in Western Mindanao are hosting the annual festival which would be held on October 4 and 5 at the Paseo del Mar. This year’s theme is “Pajaros: Bula Sin Miedo, Sin Lingasa” (sic) which translates to “Birds: Fly without fear, without worries.” (Pajaros: Volar sin miedo, sin preoccupaciones)
The Philippine Bird Festival is an annual event organized by the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines and participated by its more than 200 members from all over the country and members of other wild bird clubs in the ASEAN region.
“The festival is an opportunity to promote Zamboanga City in terms of its natural assets, wild bird conservation efforts, eco-adventure activities and cultural heritage. It will also encourage friendship, collaboration and the exchange of experience and best practice among the conservation organizations and the local government; and foster birding as an ecotourism activity in the city. It also aims to promote the Pasonanca Natural Park as a birding destination,” the Department of Tourism said.
The park is classified as an Important Bird Area and is featured in the second volume of the book “Birdwatching in the Philippines.”
The three-day festival will include a series of lectures, a photo exhibit of local flora and fauna, a booth exhibit, bird watching trips and various competitions for students.
The event will also coincide with the staging of the 1st Ecotourism Fair which will showcase an exhibit of various eco-tourism destinations in the country.
Mary June Bugante, the regional tourism head, has urged the public to join the festival. (Mindanao Examiner)
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