Save these animals from extinction, save the earth
How much do you know about the creatures inhabiting our Philippine forests, coastal waters, and oceans? Not deep enough, but we can name at least six of them.
One is the Philippine pangolin, sometimes known as a scaly anteater, and is a friend to plants and trees as they keep insects at bay by eating them. Native to Palawan, it is valued for its scales and meat.
Ever heard the rasping squawk or whistling noise of the Philippine cockatoo, aka katala? This rare large parrot of the forest of Palawan has an all-white plumage with a red and yellowish undertail. Measuring 12 inches long with a wingspan of 8.6 inches, it fetched US$300 (P16,585) in 2006. Never cocky, the cockatoo is a favorite caged bird because it can mimic the human voice. So, be careful what you say to the cockatoo.
Ever swam with a dugong? The dugong is a marine mammal with a dolphin-like tail and paddle-like flippers. It is prized for its meat and oil. Historically, dugongs were found in all areas of the Philippines.
Ever seen a pawikan (sea turtle) hatch eggs? Could be pretty egg-citing to watch this gentle sea creature during the nesting season. This gentlest ocean traveler helps keep our sea healthy.
Ever seen the brave and helpful tamaraw, aka Mindoro dwarf buffalo? Not a subspecies of the water buffalo, it is slightly hairier, and has a stocky build and shy demeanor. The only endemic Philippine bovine, it holds a special place in Philippine biodiversity.
And now comes the king of the sky—the Philippine eagle! The largest of the existing eagles in the world in terms of length and wing surface area, the great Philippine eagle is native to Philippine forests. It is proudly called the national bird of the Philippines. Killing a Philippine eagle is a crime punishable by up to 12 years in prison and carries heavy fines.
What do these six wildlife icons have in common? Sadly, they’re all on the verge of extinction, threatened by poaching (illegal hunting) and habitat loss due to deforestation, illegal and legal logging, mining, road and urban development, and climate change.
From the jungles and the deep seas, which are home to these endangered animals, their desperate cries for help are happily being heard and today, people have come together to lend their voices — and hearts — to support the "Save from Extinction” campaign spearheaded by SM in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources which has also partnered with wildlife conservation groups to safeguard these animals, such as the Forest Foundation of the Philippines, Katala Foundation, Philippine Eagle Foundation, World Wide Fund for Nature-Philippines, D’Aboville Foundation, and the Zoological Society of London.
Throwing their unwavering support behind the campaign, too, are media partners represented by Miguel Belmonte, president and CEO of The Philippine STAR, and Emil Yap, president of Manila Bulletin.
“This is more than a campaign, it is a mission that reminds us of our shared responsibility to protect the endangered species that are native to the Philippines and uniquely irreplaceable,” says DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga in her keynote address. “Our country is home to extraordinary animals, from the skies to the seas to the forest trails to the reef walls.”
She asserts, “But extinction is not inevitable, there’s still hope if we come together and fuel that hope with awareness, creativity and community action.”
Sec Loyzaga recounts how the campaign, launched in October 2024, started: “Tessie Sy-Coson, vice chairperson of SM Investments Corporation, was part of the conceptualization of this work. A random conversation with Mrs. Coson during a DENR thanksgiving event last year led to a brainstorming by the SM family and their friends, and the DENR biodiversity management bureau and its conservation partners who strategically worked out how our programs could build on each other’s shared goals, values and resources.”
“We should keep them safe and protected in their natural habitats,” stresses Steven Tan, SM Supermalls president.
Lending her young and committed voice to the campaign, Hanna Carinna Sy, SM Supermalls assistant vice president for marketing, addresses guests at the fully packed Atrium of SM MOA: “We’re launching the second phase of ‘Save from Extinction’ and your presence today shows our shared commitment to protecting our nation’s wildlife. ‘Save from Extinction’ is a call to protect six of our most endangered animals which are part of our national heritage and whose future, as well as our own, depends on what we do today.”
Turning awareness into action — and passion (or fashion) into purpose, SM is strengthening its commitment to wildlife conservation with the launch of a new merchandise line dedicated to six of the Philippines’ most endangered species, such as captivating and huggable plushies of the Philippine eagle, Philippine cockatoo, pawikan, dugong, tamaraw, and pangolin. You can shop—and save these wildlife species—at SM with its expanded offerings which include new shirt designs from Kultura and a children’s apparel line from SM Fashion.
The ‘Save from Extinction’ merchandise is available at select Kultura and Toy Kingdom branches: SM Podium, SM Mall of Asia, SM Aura, SM North EDSA, and SM Makati.
In addition to the merchandise, Banco De Oro Unibank Inc., a key partner in the campaign, is offering donation channels so that the public can easily send their donations through BDO ATMs and branches nationwide, as well as through the BDO Online app.
The goal is to generate funds to reach P100 million! But here’s more: Every peso raised will be matched by DENR to make a cool total of P200 dedicated to the conservation of these endangered species.
“It’s very basic that we protect these endangered species,” declares Hans Sy, SM Prime chairman of the executive committee. “And when SM puts its heart into something, we will see it through.”
By saving the homes of these endangered wildlife creatures, we’re also saving the only home we’ve got: Planet Earth.
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