Are you planning a trip to Davao City? Since the Philippine Eagle Center (PEC) is just 3 minutes away from Malagos Garden Resort, it makes for an ideal day-tour combination. During our family trip, we decided to visit the sanctuary to observe its wildlife up close—including Viggo, the famous Philippine Eagle featured on the ₱1,000 bill!
Philippine Eagle Center Entrance Fee & Operating Info
Visiting the center is affordable and directly supports local wildlife conservation efforts:
- Environmental Fee: ₱5 per person (paid at the gate)
- Adult Entrance Fee: ₱150 per person
- Location: Malagos, Baguio District, Davao City
What to See at the Philippine Eagle Center
Here is what you can expect to see while exploring the facility:
White-Bellied Sea Eagle
The feathers of these birds completely amazed me. They have massive bodies and beautiful colors. We first encountered two White-Bellied Sea Eagles facing away from us. They have white heads and gray bodies. They make loud noises that sound more like geese than typical birds. These eagles like to hunt turtles, sea snakes, and fish.
Philippine Serpent-Eagle
The Philippine Serpent-Eagle looks cute and harmless with its spotted feathers. However, it actually loves to eat snakes.
Philippine Eagle
If you are traveling through the Philippines, make time to see the Philippine Eagle, our national bird and the main icon featured on the ₱1,000 bill. We saw that exact bill model in person—an eagle named Viggo. When my cousins and I first visited his enclosure, he stayed high up on a branch and just stared at us. But when we returned with our parents, Viggo hopped down and showed off his wings. It was so amusing. He probably thought, “These people keep coming back, so I’ll grant them a photo.”
Viggo is the 23rd captive-bred Philippine eagle produced by the center’s prolific pairing of LDI (female) and Tsai (male). Conservationists released him into the forests of Bukidnon when he was 8 months old. However, because he lacked a fear of humans, he kept approaching nearby villages. To protect him from local hunters, rescuers returned him to the Philippine Eagle Center. Later, photographers captured his image in 2017, turning him into the model for the ₱1,000 bill.
I noticed that Philippine Eagles tilt and nod their heads sideways. I learned that they do this to adjust their vision, judge distances, and bring objects into sharp focus.
Philippine Eagle Owl
This rare, giant predator lives nowhere else except the Philippines. Although this species is nocturnal, its eyes shone brightly and looked puzzled that day. It is also the largest owl species in the country.
Philippine Brown Deer
The Philippine Brown Deer is an endangered species. People can also spot them near Mount Apo, but these deer pose no danger to humans. They are naturally shy, docile, and elusive creatures that almost always flee into the dense forest whenever they sense a human nearby.
Estuarine Crocodile
At first glance, you might think you are just looking at a patch of moss—until you spot eyes staring right back at you. Since these are saltwater crocodiles, they are impressively massive. When the staff fed them, one lunged upward to grab its food, revealing its monstrous size.
Monkey
These long-tailed macaques commonly inhabit forests throughout Southeast Asia. We saw them hanging out at the very top of the trees, completely unbothered.
What I Sadly Missed
If you visit, make sure you don’t miss the civet section! (Note: We missed this area because we turned right immediately after crossing the bridge as seen on the map).
- Malayan Civet (Viverra tangalunga): A small, cat-like mammal native to Philippine forests that feeds on rodents, insects, and native fruits.
- Asian Palm Civet (Musang / Alamid): Famous for producing Kape Alamid (Kopi Luwak)—one of the world’s most expensive coffees. These nocturnal mammals forage for the sweetest, ripest coffee cherries. Unlike some international facilities that cage civets, Philippine production relies on ethical, wild harvesting in agroforests.
Verdict: Is the Philippine Eagle Center Worth Visiting?
Yes, absolutely! Exploring the Philippine Eagle Center feels like walking through a live nature documentary. My cousins and I had a great time observing animal behaviors and reading the educational displays together.
If you are searching for the best family-friendly activities in Davao, make sure to add the Philippine Eagle Center to your itinerary!
