When Dr. Jayson C. Ibañez was a child, he aspired to be an inventor – though not in the traditional sense like the American cartoon character Dexter. As he candidly shared in an exclusive interview, “Not necessarily the serious laboratory type, but someone who could venture outdoors, identify a problem, and create something beneficial from whatever resources were at hand.”
His childhood aspiration was more akin to that of MacGyver, another American television character. MacGyver is portrayed as a secret agent who resolves issues without violence and is shown as a supporter of social and environmental initiatives.
“I enjoyed watching MacGyver solve difficult problems using simple objects and practical thinking,” he recalled. “At home, I was always tinkering with spare parts and old things. I tried to repair bicycles and cassette tapes, turn scraps into toys, make bird cages, and build whatever I thought we needed at home or in school.”
Jayson was raised in a rural area in Bayambang, Pangasinan, where spending time outdoors was an integral aspect of growing up. “I spent a great deal of time catching frogs and birds, gardening, gathering food from the bush, and exploring the places around us. I did not yet think of these activities as an interest in nature or conservation. I was simply curious, happy outdoors, and interested in how things worked,” he stated.
Reflecting on his past, his childhood ambition closely aligns with his current profession. He now holds the position of Director for Operations at the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF), where he oversees the integration of field research, species recovery, habitat conservation, strategic planning, partnerships, and community involvement.
PEF is a non-profit organization committed to the preservation of the critically endangered Philippine eagle, which is the national bird of the country, along with its rainforest habitat. Located in Davao City, it focuses on rescuing, breeding, and safeguarding these magnificent birds while also supporting local forest communities.
“Conservation is also a form of practical problem-solving,” he said. “The difference is that, instead of fixing bicycles or making toys, I now work with others to find solutions for wildlife, forests, and communities.”
While growing up, Jayson had several fictional heroes: Superman, Batman, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Wonder Twins, and Zorro. “I was not thinking about conservation then, but these childhood heroes helped shape my understanding of service,” he said. “They taught me, in a very simple way, that a meaningful life involves helping others, defending what is vulnerable, and contributing to something larger than yourself.”
In those times, Jayson held a rather straightforward perception of heroism: “Heroes appeared when someone was in need of assistance.”
This notion shaped many of his initial aspirations. At one stage, he aspired to be a doctor (“because I believed I could assist impoverished individuals who were sick”). At another time, he aimed to become a lawyer (“to represent those who could not afford legal help”).
However, neither of these ambitions came to fruition. While in college, he enrolled at the University of the Philippines at Los Baños (UPLB) pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biology. “UPLB was not my first preference,” he remarked. “Initially, I intended to study Political Science at UP Diliman as I was still contemplating a legal career. Unfortunately, Political Science was a quota program, and I did not meet the requirements for admission.”
On why he took biology, he explained, “Biology interests me because it gives me a way to understand the natural world that fascinated me as a child. I have always been curious about animals, plants, forests, and why living things behave and change the way they do.
Jayson further stated, “Biology gave structure to that curiosity. It taught me how to ask better questions and reminded me that a good explanation should be supported by observation, evidence, and careful reasoning.”
He graduated in 1996 and when he learned that the PEF was hiring, he immediately applied. “Among wildlife ecology students at UPLB, the Philippine eagle conservation program in Davao City was already well known and highly respected,” he said. “For many of us, it was a dream workplace.”
While still working as a young conservationist at PEF, he chose to pursue a Master of Science in Biology at Ateneo de Davao University. At that time, he was married to Bing, and they had one child. “Studying in Davao enabled me to balance my work, family, and graduate studies,” he stated.
By the time he completed his master’s degree in 2008, he had welcomed another child. In total, the couple has three children.
For his PhD, Jayson went to Australia and attended the Charles Darwin University, focusing on natural resource management. “I heard about a scholarship and the deadline was only about a month away,” he recalled. “One important requirement was an official letter of acceptance from a prospective supervisor at an Australian university.”
With very little time, Jayson searched online and wrote to ten professors from ten universities. “Their fields ranged from ecology and ornithology to the social sciences and cultural studies,” he said. “I tried to be practical by shaping possible research ideas around their areas of expertise.”
Among those he contacted, only one professor replied: Professor Stephen Garnett, a respected Australian ornithologist. “I later learned that the Philippine Eagle had caught his interest. He saw an opportunity to contribute to the conservation of one of the world’s rarest eagles and generously supported my application.”
Another good thing: PEF’s executive director generously supported his PhD training. “He also agreed that understanding the social and cultural dimensions of eagle conservation would greatly help strengthen our programs,” he said. “His support gave me the opportunity and confidence to pursue a field that was somewhat different from the mainly biological work I had been doing.”
It was during his PhD pursuit that he learned about the importance of people. “Natural resource management examines how people use, govern, protect, and make decisions about forests, wildlife, land, water, and other natural resources. It brings together ecology with culture, livelihoods, institutions, governance, and community participation,” he said.
Jayson further explained, “Protecting the species cannot be separated from understanding and respecting the rights, cultures, knowledge, livelihoods, and leadership of the people who have cared for these forests for generations.”
His doctoral journey ultimately contributed to the development of the PEF’s culture-based conservation initiative. “It reinforced my conviction that sustainable conservation cannot be achieved by merely protecting wildlife in isolation. It flourishes through respectful collaborations with the individuals who inhabit, manage, and care for the same environments,” he stated.
Jayson now embodies several roles: scientist, educator, and conservation practitioner. Among these titles, he prefers to identify as a conservation practitioner. “It best describes how I see my work. While science and education are integral components of my efforts, my primary duty is to translate knowledge, concepts, and experiences into tangible conservation outcomes.
“For me, practice is never separate from learning. Conservation is a continuing cycle: we act, observe the results, learn from successes and mistakes, improve the approach, and act again. I find that process both challenging and rewarding.
“Being a practitioner also means sharing what we learn. This is why I write about our work and accept opportunities to speak at meetings, conferences, schools, and through the media. Conservation moves forward when people openly share experience, including the things that did not work as expected.”
When asked about the main reasons why Philippine eagle population is declining, he replied, “The two main causes are habitat loss and human-caused mortality. Large forest areas have been cleared or degraded for agriculture, logging, mining, settlements, roads, and other infrastructure. This reduces the places where eagles can nest, hunt, and raise their young. It also forces young eagles to travel through more dangerous, human-dominated landscapes while looking for territories of their own.”
There are also other reasons. “Eagles are also lost through shooting, trapping, and other forms of persecution. Some are intentionally killed, while others are accidentally caught in traps set for different animals. They may also die from electrocution, collisions with human-made structures, or extreme weather events.”
A recent concern is disease. “Highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, and other introduced diseases could have serious effects on a population that is already small and fragmented,” he said.
Then, there’s the issue of reproduction. “Philippine eagle’s slow reproduction makes every loss more serious,” he said. “A pair normally raises only one young about every two years. Because the species replaces lost adults very slowly, the death of even a small number of breeding eagles can set back population recovery for many years.”
Despite all these setbacks, Philippine eagles are still around but their number is dwindling. “Saving the Philippine eagle is not only about protecting individual birds,” he said. “It also means addressing the human, institutional, and environmental conditions that will determine whether the species has a secure future.”
Just like other environmental advocates, Jayson has been honored with numerous citations, recognitions, and awards. However, he regards the Matalunggaring Award (in the Science and Environment category) as the most significant, as it represents the highest accolade bestowed by his hometown for exceptional accomplishments. “Locally, it is sometimes referred to as Bayambang’s equivalent of the Ramon Magsaysay Award,” he remarked.
Despite the numerous accolades he has received, he attributes his success to God and the many individuals who have supported him throughout his journey. He particularly acknowledged his loving and encouraging wife, along with their children.
“Whatever I have contributed to conservation was made possible by the patience, guidance, trust, and opportunities given by my family and by many people who believed in the cause. I also owe a great debt to my mentors and to the conservation pioneers who came before us. They built the foundations on which my generation was able to work.
“One way I try to express my gratitude is by paying it forward—sharing what I have learned, supporting younger practitioners, and doing the best I can within my limited lifetime to protect the Philippine Eagle and the natural heritage it represents,” he concluded.
