Subic Bay Freeport – The Wild Bird Photographers of the Philippines (WBPP) recently announced that it will organize the first International Bird, Wildlife and Landscape Photomarathon in Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
WBPP co-founder and president Alain Pascua said this inaugural event titled Subic Bay 1st International Photomarathon (Birds, Wildlife, Landscapes) slated on August 30 to September 1, 2024 aims to showcase the beauty and biodiversity of the Philippines and Subic Bay while promoting conservation awareness and a sense of community among bird, wildlife and landscape enthusiasts and photographers.
Aside from the photo contest, the event will feature an exhibit of Philippine bird photos as well as birding-related equipment and merchandise. Photography classes on birds, wildlife and landscapes will also be offered for participants to hone their skills and deepen their appreciation for nature photography.
Pascua said since the Puerto Princesa Underground River International Bird Photography Race is organized every November in Palawan by the Protective Area Management Board and the City of Puerto Princesa, the idea of the photomarathon is to do the same in mainland Luzon in September not only to celebrate the establishment of the WBPP but also to have a competition for the best photo and not for the most birds photographed, to have a different kind of competition. The inclusion of other wildlife and landscapes should encourage more participants to take part in nature photography.
The event was recently announced and promoted at the 1st Vietnam Bird Race, which took place from May 10-12, 2024 at Tràm Chim National Park in Dong Thap Province, Vietnam, where WBPP Team Pilipinas won 4th place. WBPP Team Pilipinas is the only foreign team to have won the very tight bird race. With 68 bird species photographed, it was only 1 point behind the Vietnamese team Spot-billed Pelican, which scored 69 points and thus took third place. Second place went to the Vietnamese team Bengal Florican with 70 bird species and the winner was the Vietnamese team Brown Bobby with 71 bird species. The WBPP Pilipinas team consists of WBPP co-founder and president Alain Pascua, treasurer Djop Tabaranza, secretary Bert Madrigal and trustee Loel Lamela.
Pascua said the WBPP will also announce and promote the Subic Bay 1st International Photomarathon (Birds, Wildlife, Landscapes) competition at the 35th Malaysia Fraser’s Hill International Bird Race from June 7 to 9, 2024 and at the UK Global Bird Fair from July 12 to 14, 2024, the largest and most prestigious bird fair in the world, as well as other international bird fairs and bird races from May to August 2024.
“This is a step towards making Subic Bay Freeport Zone the birding capital of the Philippines. We will strive to put SBFZ and the Philippines at the center of the international birding community,” Pascua said.
The Subic Bay 1st International Photomarathon aims to celebrate Philippine biodiversity, raise awareness on conservation, awareness;promote photography as a tool for conservation, promote and encourage birding in Subic Bay, promote sustainable birding and photography, provide educational opportunities, exhibit birding-related equipment and merchandise, and inspire and empower participants.
By fulfilling these goals, the Subic Bay 1st International Photomarathon competition will not only be a celebration of photography and biodiversity, but also a catalyst for conservation action and community engagement. (Dante M. Salvana)