New Book Lord of the Forest Now Available, Offering a Powerful New Narrative on the Philippine Eagle
QUEZON CITY, Philippines – A compelling new book that explores the life, history, and uncertain future of the Philippine Eagle is now available to readers nationwide.
Written by wildlife photographer, conservation advocate, and author Alain Pascua, Lord of the Forest: The Fall and Rise of the Great Philippine Eagle is a sweeping work of narrative nonfiction that blends science, history, conservation, culture, and storytelling into a powerful account of the country’s national bird and the forests upon which both wildlife and people depend.
More than a book about an endangered species, Lord of the Forest presents the Philippine Eagle as a symbol of the nation’s identity and resilience. It traces the eagle’s remarkable journey – from its ancient origins and scientific discovery to the modern-day struggle to save one of the world’s rarest and largest eagles – while examining the broader environmental, social, and economic issues surrounding forest conservation in the Philippines.
Structured as a five-part saga spanning 26 chapters, the book brings together more than a century of scientific research, historical records, field observations, interviews, and conservation experiences. It explores the eagle’s biology, behavior, habitat, and conservation challenges while introducing practical proposals that link biodiversity protection with sustainable development, governance, and community participation.
Unlike traditional field guides or coffee table books, Lord of the Forest combines rigorous research with literary storytelling, making complex conservation issues accessible to students, educators, policymakers, researchers, photographers, and general readers alike.
The book has received praise from leading figures in Philippine conservation, science, and public policy.
Wildlife biologist Blas R. Tabaranza Jr. describes it as a work that “virtually covers the whole gamut of the eagle’s saga” while demonstrating that “the survival of the Philippine Eagle and the Filipino people are inextricably linked.”
Ecologist Neil Aldrin D. Mallari calls it “more than an invitation to marvel at the Philippine Eagle’s grandeur – it is a powerful call to action.”
Oxford-trained ornithologist Juan Carlos T. Gonzales describes the book as “a literary homage grounded in natural history” and “an invaluable ethno-ornithological compilation” of the relationship between Filipinos and their national bird.
Former Agriculture Undersecretary Segfredo R. Serrano praises the manuscript as “a compelling, cannot-put-down read” that is “distinctively Filipino.”
Author and public policy advocate Leonardo M. Manalo says the book elevates the Philippine Eagle “into the realm of the Filipino spirit” while offering realistic pathways toward ecological restoration.
Lord of the Forest also serves as the companion volume and sequel to Pascua’s acclaimed 2017 coffee table book, Haring Ibon: The Great Philippine Eagle. Together, the two publications form the first two installments of an envisioned trilogy chronicling the story of the Philippine Eagle – from visual celebration to national reflection and collective action.
The book concludes with a central message: the future of the Philippine Eagle is inseparable from the future of Philippine forests, water security, biodiversity, climate resilience, and ultimately the well-being of the Filipino people.
As Pascua writes:
“This is not an ecological obituary. It is a reckoning, a mirror held up to the nation, and a blueprint for a second chance.”
Published by Birds in Focus, Inc., Lord of the Forest: The Fall and Rise of the Great Philippine Eagle is now available.
For inquiries regarding book orders, media interviews, speaking engagements, or bulk purchases, interested parties may contact Haring Ibon (https://www.haringibon.com/products/lord-of-the-forest-the-fall-and-rise-of-the-great-philippine-eagle).
