Preservation of Phil. Eagle ensured (Mati Newsbits)

Preservation of Phil. Eagle ensured

As a sequel to last week’s report on the freeing of Pamana, the 3-year-old Philippine Eagle at Mt. Hamiguitan, San Isidro, Davao Oriental, two local government officials and Gov. Corazon Malanyaon pledged their all-out support for the Philippine Eagle Foundation and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the only bonsai forest in the world located in Davao Oriental’s Mt. Hamiguitan. On the 1st anniversary of the UNESCO proclamation of Mt. Hamiguitan as World Heritage Site last June 23, 2015, three officials recalled the momentous event of the release of female eagle Pamana on June 12, 2015.

Mayor Tina Yu of San Isidro thanked the Phil. Eagle foundation for releasing the said eagle in Mt. Hamiguitan, proving the integrity of the mountains of San Isidro, particularly the Mt. Hamiguitan Range and Wildlife Sanctuary. “The lady eagle is a symbol of hope for all of us, and she just found her new home where she is very safe from human intervention. May PAMANA touch the treasures of our mountains,” she said. Gov. Corazon Malanyaon considered the event as one of Davao Oriental’s honor and pride. “The preservation of the eagle has brought significance to the richness of Davao Oriental’s biodiversity. Hope that the release of PAMANA is a very concrete effort to conserve life and biodiversity,” she added. And City of Mati Mayor Carlo Rabat also committed to allocate 500 thousand pesos annually for the eagle preservation program of the Phil. Eagle Foundation. It may also be recalled that the Diocese of Mati through Fr. Carmelito Salisad, parish priest of Calapagan, Lupon, Davao Oriental, around a year ago retrieved and turned over a wounded Phil. Eagle found at his place from its captors to the Eagle Foundation for rehabilitation, and the eagle has reportedly recovered and is awaiting release sometime in the future. Davao Oriental serves as habitat to 3 to 10 pairs of Phil. Eagles.

Religious Affiliation / Ethnic Group

In the City of Mati, Roman Catholic constitutes the largest religious group in the locality having a total population of 84,224 or 79.66%, based on the year 2000 census of the National Statistics Office. Islam shares some 7.73%; United Church of Christ in the Philippines, 1.76% and Seventh Day Adventist, 1.14%. The rest of the religious sects share the residual 9.71%. Ethnicity of an individual is synonymous to the mother tongue used at home at earliest childhood. Data show that Mandaya group numbered 13,741 or 12.74% of the total household population. The Muslim group found mostly in the areas of Dahican, Bobon, Tamisan, Tagabakid and part of Central stood at 7,837 or 7.41%. Muslims in Mati are composed of Kalagan, Tausug, and Maranao.

Piso para sa Misa ng Mundo

The parishes and the Catholic schools have been steadily contributing for the Piso para sa Misa ng Mundo of the forthcoming 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) in Cebu City on January 26-31, 2015. Fr. Pedrito Mapayo of the Chancery Office expressed his thanks to all those cooperating in the IEC collection while also encouraging the priests, religious and laity to participate in the global event that is “bigger than the World Cup, bigger than the Olympics,” as described by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle. Themed “Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27), the IEC is expected to draw 15,000 participants from all over the world. Fr. Mapayo encouraged those interested to take advantage of promo-discounts. Meantime, the eight Catholic (congregational and diocesan) schools held their respective Holy Spirit Masses to start off the new school year, with Apostolic Administrator Fr. Edito Bano presiding.