Oldest known Philippine Eagle receives PWD and senior citizen cards in Quezon City

Nearly 47-year-old Girlie, partially blind and under conservation care, becomes the face of a wildlife awareness campaign during Philippine Eagle Week 2026.

A Philippine Eagle was handed a senior citizen card and a PWD ID this week in Quezon City, in a symbolic move that drew attention to one of the country’s most endangered species.

Girlie, a female Philippine Eagle believed to be around 46 to 47 years old, was symbolically awarded both cards as part of the opening of Philippine Eagle Week 2026. The unusual gesture was meant to highlight her story and the challenges facing one of the country’s most endangered species.

According to the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF), Girlie is believed to be the oldest known Philippine Eagle in captivity and has partial blindness in her right eye due to a slingshot injury sustained before her rescue in 1982.

The eagle’s life has been marked by an unlikely journey. PEF said Girlie was once used as collateral for a ₱769 loan before authorities intervened and transferred her to conservation care. Years later, she became part of early captive-breeding efforts that helped researchers better understand how to conserve the species.

Today, Girlie lives at the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center, where she serves as an education ambassador for visitors who may never encounter a Philippine Eagle in the wild. Her presence now helps raise awareness about the species’ survival and conservation needs.

The cards themselves carry no legal effect, but conservation groups hope the symbolism encourages people to see wildlife as living creatures affected by injury, habitat loss, and human activity.

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