If I discovered the Philippine Eagle, I would name it -

Haribon philippinensis.

That is the proposed name of the Philippine national bird if I discovered and classified the bird. But of course I am in no position to do so. So let us just allow the rules of the International Code for Zoological Nomenclature to do it. It can literally translate into "king of Philippine birds".

Pithecophaga jefferyi, or commonly known as the Philippine eagle, is perhaps the world’s biggest bird of prey. It is endemic to the Philippines and is known to inhabit the country’s bigger islands such as Mindanao, Samar and Luzon. Being also called haribon (hari ng mga ibon, means king of birds), this majestic bird feasts on a variety of diet offered by the Philippine forests, such as lemurs, snakes, rats, and monkeys. Due to habitat loss and hunting in the past century, the Philippine eagle has been categorized by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as critically endangered since less than a thousand of these birds are in the wild.

Photo grab from the Philippine Eagle Foundation (Armand Dominguez)

Due to its significance as a natural indicator of the Philippine forest, then Philippine president Fidel V. Ramos declared the eagle as the country’s national bird in his Presidential Proclamation 615, s. 1995. Since then, various public and private groups worked hand in hand in conserving the eagles. Today, the Philippine Eagle Foundation tirelessly worked in the conservation of not only the eagle but also its habitat. The efforts of our government, together with the generosity of various groups in protecting the bird, the Philippine eagle has now captured the attention of the international community.

Photo grab from Philippine Eagle Foundation (Armand Dominguez)

With all of the challenges our national bird have faced, the Philippine eagle now symbolized the heart of every Filipino, giving us a sense of direction, and giving us distinct identity as a nation.

Photo grab from Philippine Eagle Foundation

With the rising generation of Filipino naturalists and scientists, coupled with the growing awareness of the Filipino community’s passion on conservation, I guess it is high time for us to let our Philippine eagles fly higher by promoting their conservation.

To know more about nomenclature, you can visit the frequently asked question (faq) of the International Commission for Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN).

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