The last day of the Introduction to Birdwatching and Community Tour Guides Training began with a short recap of the week-long activity. A written examination was given, to assess the participants’ knowledge of wetlands, birds, and basic principles in eco-guiding. The exam was facilitated by Mr. Adrian Constantino, Mr. Virtito Natural Jr., and Mr. Antonio Arbias, together with the SCPW Team and the Department of Tourism.
From pen and paper, the day then moved to the field as participants underwent their individual practical examinations. One by one, they stepped into the role of a birdwatching and community tour guide, demonstrating how they would handle guests, interpret the environment, and share the beauty and significance of Candaba’s environs. Under the guidance and assessment of the three mentioned resource persons, each trainee was given the chance to truly experience what it means to be a frontliner of nature-based tourism.
The afternoon was further enriched by inspiring messages from guests from the tourism guiding community. Chef Angelo Paulo Chico, President of the Central Luzon Tourism Guides Association, spoke about the growing number of tour guides and how this expanding community plays an important role in strengthening tourism in the region. He emphasized that tourism is not just about travel but about creating meaningful experiences, livelihood opportunities, and pride in one’s place.
This was followed by a message from Ms. Marichelle A. Bernardo, Co-chair of the same association, who reminded everyone that as newly trained guides, they now stand at the frontline of promoting Central Luzon’s tourism. She emphasized the importance of helping one another, working together, and lifting each other up as they take on the responsibility of representing their communities and natural heritage.
The program then proceeded to the awarding ceremonies. Certificates of Appreciation were awarded to the resource persons—Mr. Adrian Constantino, Mr. Virtito Natural Jr., and Mr. Antonio Arbias—for generously sharing their time, expertise, and passion throughout the training. This was followed by the awarding of Certificates of Participation to all the trainees, handed by the Department of Tourism and cared for by Mr. Nathan Palma, marking their transition from learners to newly trained birders and community tour guides.
To close the program, Mr. Caloy Quintos, SCPW’s Senior Project Officer, expressed sincere thanks to everyone who made the training possible: the LLBCP partners, Department of Tourism Region III, Mayor Rene E. Maglanque, the Local Government Unit of Candaba, the Municipal Tourism Office, the Macagatal Irrigators Association, and all partners and supporters. Above all, he acknowledged the diverse batch of participants who embraced the challenge and completed the seven-day journey.
Ms. Amy Lecciones, Vice President and Executive Director of SCPW, Inc., wishes to extend her heartfelt gratitude to Sir Adrian, Sir Bob, Sir Anthony, and the rest of the team for finally making this activity possible. She shared that they had been trying to schedule this for two years, and expressed deep appreciation for their willingness to accommodate the training despite their busy schedules. She added that although she was on official travel during their available dates, she chose to push through because of the importance of this activity. Additionally, she also wishes to convey her special thanks to DOT Region III, as well as to the Candaba LGU and MIA for their invaluable support.
As the training came to a close, the Macagatal Irrigators Association and the local stakeholders gained another meaningful step in their journey as wetland managers under Frontrunner Initiative 1 (Establishment of Sustainable Farm Tourism in Paligui Wetlands) under the Philippine component of the Living Lakes Biodiversity and Climate Project. Once the Paligui Wetland Education Center becomes operational, they will be the community’s frontliners, guiding visitors, educating the next generation of bird enthusiasts, and ensuring that the rich biodiversity of the area is protected through responsible and sustainable ecotourism. There may be many wetlands across the country, but we remain one flock under one sky, called to conserve our birds, our wetlands, and the stories they carry.
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This activity is part of the Living Lakes Biodiversity and Climate Project (LLBCP) in the Philippines—a five-year initiative funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) through the International Climate Initiative (IKI). The project is led by the Global Nature Fund (GNF), with SCPW as one of 12 partners across 10 countries.
