NATURE has tons of stories to tell — from the mountains to the rivers and the trees, tall and big. All of these beauties have a tale, and of course, the Dulungan bird is no exception.
Telling the story of the Dulungan became the mission of Team Dulungan Lupad.
Dulungan Lupad is a social marketing campaign aimed at educating and advocating for the conservation of the Dulungan bird.
Under the expert guidance of Dr. Kyng Becodo, a team of dedicated students from the Master in Development Communication program at West Visayas State University, led by Rhaneth Joy M. Kirtley, collaborated with Hon. Felix Bernardo, Barangay Captain of Barangay Flores, and Mrs. Mary An Francisco, Principal of Flores Integrated School, Culasi, to successfully launch the campaign.
The launching was held as a community program for the 6–8‑year‑old residents of Barangay Flores in Culasi, Antique last Saturday, June 7, 2025.
The event taught the kids how to take care of the Dulungan at an early age. This was done through the storybook written by Reynaldo Palencia II and Margaret Anjelie Llorico. The latter interpreted the story alongside Jethro Aranas, who played a pivotal character explaining the Dulungan.
The Rufous‑headed Hornbill, or the Dulungan as it is known locally, is the provincial bird of the Province of Antique. With its colorful beak, strong wings, and the amazing trait of being monogamous and building a family, the Dulungan is unique. Living among the mountains in Central Panay, it has contributed to the forest’s growth — seeds that disperse from its beak fall to the earth and grow into trees.
Sadly, they are endangered. As they are poached illegally, the male Dulungan can’t return to his partner to provide food; hence, the whole family dies, shrinking their species in number.
As the program unfolded, kids were taught that, at their young age, they can contribute to the bird’s safety by letting them fly, not poaching them, and telling their friends and family that a Dulungan should not be captured.
After the storytelling, they learned a bird‑themed special handshake, and dance steps to the Dulungan Family jingle with originally composed lyrics. They drew the Dulungan and its habitat using the art materials provided, and they pressed their paint‑coated palms against the Dulungan board of promise.
After the activities, the children were awarded pins to confirm and solidify their commitment.
The event was also attended by Dr. May Delgado, University of Antique’s Vice President for Administration and Finance, and Mr. Milky John Quillo from CENRO, who supported the cause by emphasizing Dulungan conservation through their speeches.
The officials of Barangay Flores, some of the teachers from Flores Integrated School, as well as the parents of the children also came to observe the event.
Just like any other tale, the final flip of the page is not the final part of the story. Even after the event, the children were taught that moving forward, whenever they sight a Dulungan, they should remember their commitment.
As they raised their hands, they all narrated in unison, “I am a Dulungan Guardian.”/PN
