From Horror Clichés to Conservation Champions: SGF facilitates Workshop on Urban Fruit Bat Ecology
Published August 17, 2025
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Last August 15 at Central Philippine University, we brought our fruit bat heroes into the spotlight with our workshop, “Reclaiming the Night: Catalyzing Conservation and Overcoming Stigma through Integrated Approaches in Urban Fruit Bat Ecology, Public Health, and Ecosystem Restoration” as part of the 32nd Philippine Biodiversity Symposium organized by the Biodiversity Conservation Society of the Philippines and co-hosted by Haribon Foundation and Central Philippine University under the theme “Our Future: Biodiversity, Climate, and Health.” Read more about the event through this LINK.
This workshop was organized by Sulu Garden Foundation, Inc. (SGF) in partnership with the PREVENT (Pandemic Response Preparedness for Emerging Bat-Borne Viruses from Rural and Peri-Urban Environments) Program and the Philippine Initiative for Conservation of Environment and People (PHILINCON), and co-facilitated by the UPV Biological Society.
Angela Magarzo of SGF delivering the opening remarks (left); attendees from various academic institutions and organizations (middle); attendees receiving free photocards featuring the flora and fauna of Miag-ao (right).
At its core, this event addressed a persistent conservation challenge: despite providing essential ecological services, bats remain shrouded in stigma and widely misunderstood. By examining social perceptions and their impact on wildlife policy, the workshop fostered a richer understanding of how human attitudes can significantly influence the success or failure of conservation initiatives. This integrated approach bridged gaps between ecological research, public health considerations, and community-based restoration efforts.
The workshop unfolded in three parts: presentations on fruit bat ecology, public health, and conservation challenges; a forum session for questions and reflections; and a hands-on interactive activity.
Dr. Phillip Alviola, renowned bat expert and PREVENT project leader, opened with “Echoes in the Dark: Diversity, Ecology, and Disease Risk in Philippine Bat Populations,” discussing Philippine bat diversity, ecological importance, and disease risks, including preliminary pathogen findings from Miag-ao’s fruit bats.
Next, Dr. Rebecca Tandug, executive director of PHILINCON, presented “The Displacement Narratives of the ‘Silent Sufferers’ in the Northwest Panay Peninsula,” highlighting bats’ vulnerability to human-induced activities, the necessity of climatic refugia, and the weight of social stigma. She detailed the tragic decline of Boracay’s fruit bats—from 15,000 in 1989 to just 105 in 2024—attributing it to habitat loss, development projects, and unsustainable tourism practices, and discussed emerging challenges for Northwest Panay Peninsula refuges.
The final presentation, “Ang Kabilaw Kang Miag-ao: The Urban Fruit Bats of Miag-ao, Iloilo,” was delivered by Kim Alunan of SGF, who showcased foundation’s initiatives such as regular bat counts in partnership with DENR CENRO Guimbal and MENRO Miagao since 2021, including the latest findings from June 2025. He traced the history, species composition, and local myths surrounding Miagao’s fruit bats and highlighted citizen science as a powerful tool to promote local species and combat stigma through proactive community engagement.
From left to right: Dr. Phillip Alviola, Project Leader of the PREVENT Program; Dr. Rebecca Tandug, Executive Director of PHILINCO; and Kim Alunan of SGF
An open forum then allowed participants to engage directly with our presenters and delve deeper into the issues at hand. The session concluded with an interactive sequencing activity, enabling attendees to collaboratively surface perceptions and co-create solutions around urban bat conservation, public health, and ecosystem restoration.
Certificates and hand-painted 3D-printed tokens, crafted by Chief Artist Julious Nieles and Jess of the SGF Arts Department, were awarded to Dr. Alviola, Dr. Tandug, and Ino Shaun Ayon, President of the UPV Biological Society.
Forum session allowing attendees to ask questions and engage directly with the presenters (left); attendees participate in the interactive sequencing activity where they answer questions and pass to other participants (middle); token given to presenters and co-facilitators made by SGF Arts Department (right).
We extend our sincerest gratitude to participants from academic institutions and organizations across the country: researchers from Ateneo de Manila University, Central Philippine University, Davao Medical School, Southern Luzon State University, Tarlac State University, The University of Hong Kong, UP Baguio, UP Diliman, UP Los Baños, UP Visayas, University of Santo Tomas, and Western Mindanao State University; and members of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, Biodiversity Conservation Society of the Philippines, Euro Generic International Philippines Foundation Inc., Haribon Foundation, Mindoro Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc., Philippine Genome Center Visayas, PHILINCON, UP Diliman Institute of Biology – Biodiversity Research Laboratory, and UP Diliman Marine Science Institute.
Thank you for joining us in transforming stigma into stewardship and building more resilient urban ecosystems. Ahead of us lie new methods to refine, partners to unite, events to convene, and initiatives to ignite—and we can’t wait to see how today’s momentum propels our collective journey forward!
Read more about the event through this LINK.
Learn more about our ongoing work with fruit bats: CLICK HERE
About SGF
Sulu Garden Foundation is named after the Sulu Sea – the largest inland sea in the Philippines. Our mission concentrates on this sea and the provinces that surround it. These provinces have diverse cultures and religions, yet, they all share history and traditions. The foundation has various programs and activities focused on history and heritage, the arts, nature conservation, research and development, and community.
About PBS and BCSP
Organized by the Biodiversity Conservation Society of the Philippines (BCSP)—formerly the Wildlife Conservation Society of the Philippines (WCSP)—the 32nd Philippine Biodiversity Symposium shines a spotlight on the complex interplay between biodiversity loss, the climate crisis, and human health. It champions the transdisciplinary approaches needed to secure a sustainable future for people, the planet, and the life we share. The symposium will feature a curated selection of research and case studies that illustrate how integrated strategies can safeguard ecosystems, bolster climate resilience, and enhance human well-being.
BCSP is a professional network of wildlife researchers, managers, scientists, and conservationists committed to strengthening wildlife research and conservation in the Philippines. Since its founding, the Society has advanced collaborative research, delivered technical assistance and training, and driven public awareness to promote evidence-based conservation at every level.
