Holes of Hope: Philippine Biologists Uncover Life-Saving Secrets Inside Subic’s Trees

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Subic Watershed Forest Reserve, Zambales — In the silent depths of Luzon's forests, a race for survival unfolds—not on the ground, but high up in the canopy, where holes in trees decide the fate of birds.

Amidst the towering kupang and white lauan trees of the Subic Watershed Forest Reserve, Filipino biologists have unlocked a powerful truth: the forest's future may lie within its hollow trunks.

For many birds, especially in tropical regions like the Philippines, tree cavities—those unassuming dark spaces in living or dead trees—are not just shelter; they are sanctuaries of life. Here, chicks are born, nurtured, and protected from predators and storms. But for many species, especially non-excavator birds, these cavities are not easy to come by. They rely entirely on chance—or on other animals—to provide them.

A groundbreaking study led by Vince Angelo Gicaraya of the University of the Philippines Diliman’s Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (IESM) and Institute of Biology (IB), alongside Dr. Carmela Española of IB and the Natural Sciences Research Institute (NSRI), has now brought to light a hidden world of ecological interactions that could forever change how we approach conservation in the country.

A Climb into the Canopy—and Discovery

Armed with ropes, binoculars, and an unshakable resolve, the team—joined by experts from the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), local environmentalists from Pampanga, and dedicated volunteers—surveyed the lush trails and off-trail thickets of Subic from February to June 2022.

They cataloged 10 species of cavity-nesting birds across the forest, meticulously measuring the cavities these birds called home—depth, entrance area, and volume—all vital clues into the secrets of avian real estate.

The researchers found something astonishing: 63% of non-excavator bird nests were carved out by woodpeckers, proving that these chisel-beaked birds serve as keystone species in this ecosystem. In essence, when woodpeckers vanish, an entire community of dependent birdlife is at risk of collapsing.

"This is only the second study in Asia—and the first in the Philippines—to investigate nest web interactions on a community level," the research team noted. “It shows how intricately species are connected in the Philippine forest ecosystem through something as seemingly simple as a hole in a tree.”

Woodpeckers: Unsung Architects of Biodiversity

While in other parts of the world—like temperate Europe or subtropical South America—woodpeckers are not considered linchpins of the forest, the Subic study aligns more closely with findings from India and Canada: in tropical forests, woodpeckers are essential.

Their presence supports not just their own species, but those who follow—like the Critically Endangered Blue-naped Parrot (Tanygnathus lucionensis) and the Vulnerable Luzon Hornbill (Penelopides manillae), both of which face the compounded threats of habitat loss and a lack of suitable nesting sites.

By modeling how different birds select cavities based on physical characteristics, the team has laid the foundation for practical conservation solutions—such as designing species-specific nest boxes to mimic preferred cavity conditions.

Science at the Service of Conservation

Published in the prestigious Annales Zoologici Fennici, the research paper titled “Cavity characteristics explain the differences in realized nest niches among tree cavity-nesting birds in a lowland tropical forest in Luzon Island, Philippines” brings urgency to the call for action.

With funding support from NSRI and DENR’s Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Service (FASPS), the collaborative effort between research institutions and the government offers a promising example of how science can directly inform and empower conservation work.

But the work is far from over.

"This study underscores the urgent need to prioritize both the protection of primary excavators like woodpeckers and the preservation of native trees that support cavity formation," the team emphasized.

From Forest Floor to Forest Future

In a country where deforestation, habitat degradation, and climate change continually reshape the natural world, this study serves as a rare ray of hope. It reminds us that even the most overlooked details—like a hollow in a tree—can harbor profound significance for the future of biodiversity.

And as the Philippines continues to grapple with balancing development and environmental protection, perhaps the forest itself has something to say: listen to the trees, and protect the birds that make them home. For within these tree holes, the heartbeat of the wild continues to echo—and with it, the promise of life for generations to come.

Electricity Consumers on PBBM’s Midterm SONA: Low Electricity Rate Remains Elusive

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Metro Manila (July 28) — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. (PBBM) delivered his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), mentioning his administration’s latest accomplishments for the energy sector, but his plans for lowering the high electricity rates remain to be seen, says electricity consumer welfare group Kuryente.org.

During PBBM’s SONA on Monday, he mentioned data, such as powering 2.5 million households, as well as the government’s energy plans in the three remaining years of his term.

He reiterated the government's adherence to their climate commitments through the expansion of renewable energy, as well as plans to complete 200 power plants, expansion of the lifeline rate and implementation of a net-metering system using solar power. 

PBBM also promised that in his remaining years, his administration will investigate and make generation-erring sectors accountable, including enforcement of refunds if necessary. 

“We would like to see a clear directive from the Office of the President with regard to this matter,” says Bas Umali, Kuryente.org National Coordinator.

Umali says the operationalization of 200 plants as well as the expansion of renewable energy capacity may contribute to lowering the electricity rates but it will not happen in the near future. Umali believes the consumers will have to pay higher rates for the following years.

“What is the plan of the administration to protect electricity consumers from different factors that affect electricity prices such as armed conflict and inflation?” Umali asks the President. 

He adds that: We consumers demand protection. There are different options that the energy leaders must consider like recalibrating or removing taxes or providing direct subsidies to the residential electricity consumers which comprise the largest number in the sector.

Akbayan Youth to PBBM: Your education plans are all talk, no action

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Akbayan Youth slammed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s 2025 State of the Nation Address, calling it “empty rhetoric” and “all talk, no walk,” after the President once again failed to present a concrete and comprehensive plan to address the country’s deepening education crisis.

“Despite declaring education a priority, the President’s pronouncements were vague at best and misleading at worst,” said Khylla Meneses, National Secretary-General of Akbayan Youth.

“Kung titingnan natin ang realidad, maraming kabataan ang napipilitang tumigil sa pag-aaral dahil sa mataas na tuition, kakulangan ng suporta, at mahal na bilihin. Hindi sapat ang bragging rights kung walang tunay na reporma sa edukasyon,” dagdag ni Meneses.

In response to the President’s empty promises, the youth group laid out real solutions and reforms that would meaningfully support students.

“Kung talagang seryoso ang Pangulo sa kanyang pangako na number one priority ng kanyang administrasyon ang edukasyon, kami sa Akbayan Youth, kasama ang Student Council Alliance of the Philippines, hinahamon namin siyang suportahan ang education bills ng Akbayan Partylist—mga panukalang matagal na naming ipinaglalaban kagaya ng Allowance is Essential Bill (₱5K Student Support Program), Intern Rights and Welfare Bill, at ang pagtigil sa walang humpay na pagtaas ng tuition at miscellaneous fees o TOFI,” pahayag ni Meneses.

“Hangga’t hindi ito naisasabatas, ang aming grado sa education plans ng administrasyong ito ay malinaw na INCOMPLETE,” dagdag niya.

“Marami pang dapat tugunan at ayusin para masabing may tunay na pagbabago. Hangga’t walang kongkretong aksyon, mananatiling pangako lang at walang laman ang kanyang mga salita,” pagtatapos ni Meneses.