EAAFP Youth Task Force Book Launch and Story Telling Session at EAAFP MOP12, Cebu, Philippines ⓒ EAAFP Youth Task Force

Author: Matthew Vincent Tabilog

Report: Link

Cebu, Philippines – Ahead of the 12th Meeting of Partners (MOP12) of the East Asian–Australasian

Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) in Cebu, Philippines, the EAAFP Youth Task Force, the youth stakeholder of the partnership, organized the Flyway Friends: A Long Journey Home Book Launch at Shangri-La Mactan on 8 November 2025 as a way to tell the journey between two migratory waterbird sisters, Ruby and Stork, in searching for their ‘missing’ father. During their adventure, they got to meet the other migratory waterbird species across the flyway and explore the realities of the habitats these birds are facing. This book was written and illustrated by Mary Queen Agdalipe of the Youth Task Force and this event featured key activities including a storytelling session, panel discussion, and youth pledge. It gathered 121 participants from local schools, governments, youth organizations, and country and non-country Partners of the EAAFP.

The event started with the Welcome Remarks from Mr. Eddie E. Llamedo, CESO IV of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 7 where he highlighted the importance of youth integration in MOP12 and how the storytelling book can be a source of inspiration and drive for local youth to take part in conservation and environmental protection. In addition, Jennifer George, the Chief Executive of EAAFP, emphasized the vital role of the youth in safeguarding nature, migratory birds, and natural ecosystems during her Opening Message of the event. Agdalipe, on the other hand, expressed her gratitude to the EAAFP Secretariat, CEPA Working Group, and Youth Task Force for being instrumental in the success of the development of the storybook she wrote and illustrated.

The storytelling session was an interactive activity that gathered the youth participants to sit on the weaving mats in front of the stage while listening to Jennifer George as she narrated the story with the support of Kevin Johns Edis of the Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu in translating and asking follow-up questions to the local youth from Cebu. The youth members truly enjoyed the storytelling session, and this sparked their interest in learning more about the migratory waterbirds across the flyway region.

ⓒ EAAFP

After the storytelling session, the Panel Discussion was then held with diverse panelists, namely Dr. Ting Wang of the EAAFP Youth Task Force, Kevin Johns Edis, Czarina Morandarte-Enabe of the Department of Tourism (DOT) Region VII, and Tina Redshaw of Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust. The Panel Discussion revolved around the story of Ruby and Stork and how storytelling can be a compelling tool in driving positive and behavioural change towards the youth. According to Redshaw, storytelling enables us to take in, highlighting that stories read can be remembered and it is a powerful connection when young people get to actually hear them.

As for the last segments of the event, the EAAFP Youth Task Force turned over 40 copies of books to the regional offices of DENR and DOT and a Youth Pledge took place, featuring the genuine commitments of the local youth members to take part in the mission of the EAAFP in protecting the migratory waterbirds and their habitats across the flyway region. Likewise, Matthew Tabilog, Chair of the EAAFP Youth Task Force, formally closed the event and thanked everyone who prepared and participated in the event despite the challenges from the weather disturbances that struck Cebu and he mentioned that the event was successful with everyone’s support.

ⓒ EAAFP Youth Task Force