Its wings may have already fallen silent since its untimely demise in September last year, but renewable energy (RE) firm Energy Development Corporation (EDC) of the First Gen group has taken a high-principled step of preserving the lasting legacy of “Geothermica”, also nicknamed “Geo”, the majestic 19-year-old Philippine male eagle which was once a symbol of humanity’s bond with nature.
EDC said it worked on Geothermica’s preservation through taxidermy, and it subsequently turned it over as a permanent specimen exhibit at the National Museum under the Natural History section.

The unveiling of Geothermica’s taxidermy mount was held recently at the National Museum, coinciding with the annual celebration of the Philippine Eagle Week, which also featured special exhibit on the national bird and its natural forest habitat.

The unveiling of Geothermica's exhibit at the National Museum with Boeing Southeast Asia Interim President Nell Breckenridge; PEF Chairman Edgar Chua; DENR Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga; National Museum Director-General Jeremy Barns, and EDC Corporate Relations and Communications Department Head Ma. Nancy Ibuna.

With the eagle’s nature-linked heritage getting immortalized, Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga highlighted that “we are here to celebrate the life of ‘Geo’ and the legacy that it represents in terms of our own dedication to the conservation and preservation of valuable keystone species.”

As narrated by EDC, Geothermica—along with its mate Sambisig—had been the indomitable ‘lovebirds’ of Philippine eagles that came to be, and that was concretized via the landmark international wildlife loan deal that was cemented between the Philippines and Singapore in 2019.

“The agreement is in line with continuous conservation efforts, not only in terms of mating and reproduction of critically endangered species but also educational and informational campaigns on forest management and biodiversity,” the Lopez-led firm explained.

Driven by its profound respect for nature and having a company name which is almost synonymous not just with its pure RE investments but also for environmental stewardship, EDC had adopted Geothermica from the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) - Philippine Eagle Center in Davao City in 2012.

Ma. Nancy Ibuna, head of the Corporate Relations and Communications Department of EDC, asserted that “in more ways than one, ‘Geo’ truly represented EDC’s vision of a bright and green future of energy that nurtures all living creatures on this planet.”

The moniker given to the eagle, according to the EDC, had been patently anchored on its core business, which is geothermal energy.

As eagles are typically regarded as symbol of strength, freedom, unyielding resolve and being the silent guardian of the skies, Philippine Eagle Foundation Chairman Edgar Chua stated that “each one of us has a critical role to play - whether supporting local conservation organizations, reducing our carbon footprint or advocating for more robust environmental policies.”

He thus intensified calls for humanity to “protect the Philippine eagle and all endangered species that share our planet.”

National Museum Director-General Jeremy Barns similarly emphasized that “Geothermica will be a valuable part of the Philippine zoological reference collections that are here in the National Museum.”