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The Ateneo Wild, Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights, Quezon City (2026)

06/08/2026

There's a spectacular hidden floral extravaganza at the bottom of the slope at the edge of the Lower East Carpark!

Hidden under the shadow of the bamboo grove, these inflorences can be up to a foot long! They belong to the Beehive Gingers (𝘡𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘦) which we observed to flower at the onset of the rainy season, blooming for several months towards the last half of the year. Cultivated in the tropics worldwide for its ornamental value, this plant is native to Thailand, Malaysia, and the Greater Sundas, but is considered naturalized in the Philippines. This means that the species was originally brought here, but now has stable, reproducing populations that do not require human care or intervantion.

The "beehive" appearance is obvious, structurally these golden yellow structures are bracts or modified leaves that sit below flowers. If you look closely you may see a few of the true flowers emerging between the bracts - deep maroon with yellow spots! These flowers are more delicate while the bracts are more hardy, often harvested and displayed in floral arrangements. Locally, it has a more earthy name, Tumbong Aso. Fortunately, it is more often called by its English common name! Like other members of the Ginger family, this species traditional medicinal value and its rhizomes can be used as flavoring.

Plants like the Beehive Ginger may be enjoying all of this moisture at the moment, but we hope everyone is staying safe and dry!

05/08/2026

Here's a little spot of lepidopteran sunshine to warm us up on this cold and wet day!

Daniel Ratilla shared his encounter with a Lemon Emigrant (𝘊𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢 𝘱𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘢) in the second floor corridor of the Manila Observatory last week. Native to Asia and some parts of Australia, this medium sized butterfly is identified by its lemon-colored wings with a dark margin and the species have many morphs in various shades of yellow. In males, the border on the upperside of their wings is narrower compared to females.

We've observed many Lemon Emigrants and other butterflies nectaring in the many flowering Molave trees (𝘝𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘹 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘢) around campus these past few weeks. Hopefully, we can still see them once the sunshine returns after this spate of bad weather! Stay warm and dry, everyone!

Thank you Daniel for sharing your Lemon Emigrant photo!

04/08/2026

We like to think of this fruit as nature's Nerds® candy!

Maybe it's because this Binayuyu tree (𝘈𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘮𝘢 𝘨𝘩𝘢𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢) is hidden away at the back of the Manila Observatory field and it flowers during the rainy season, we've somehow missed its fruiting the past couple of years! So we were pleasantly surprised to see the clusters of unripe, small green fruit a couple of weeks ago. It seemed like a forever wait for them to ripen, but this week, they are finally a dark purple and ready to eat!

Also known as Inyam locally and Black Currant Tree in English, this compact tree which can grow up to 20 meters in height is native to places from South Asia all the way east and south to tropical Australia. It has densely clustered yellow-green flowers which are pollinated by a variety of insects, and develop into small sperical fruit. They have a pleasant tangy, sweet-sour flavor, but it may take a lot of these tiny fruit to satisfy humans. Each fruit contains a single small seed. The ripe fruit also attracts a variety of frugivorous birds which happily partake of the bounty. We've desperately looked out for wildlings below this tree but have yet to find any! Many sources say it can be propagated by seed - we will surely be trying that out with this season's fruit!

Have you ever tasted Binayuyu fruit?

03/08/2026

Look at this contortionist!

We were amazed by the flexibility of this Yellow-vented Bulbul (𝘗𝘺𝘤𝘯𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘶𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘳) as it preened its feathers on a tree in between Escaler Hall and SECB a few weeks ago. This pose gives a good view of how it got its English common name - zoom in for a closer look at the patch of yellow feathers under its tail! You can also make out the dark loral spot that extends from its eyes to its beak, and the dark strip on its head that it can ruffle up like a short crest.

Locally called Luklak or Kulkul after their gurgling kul-kul-kul call, it is one of the most common birds spotted on campus and elsewhere in the city. Have you seen any of this ubiquitous urban bird lately?

02/08/2026

Do you see what Jea and co. saw? Swipe left for a closer view!

Stopping right where sunlight hits its face, this Common Sun Skink (𝘌𝘶𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘢) can be pretty hard to spot if it keeps still, especially since its olive green and gold coloration matches the bare ground or dried leaves! Jea Elissa Campos and her friends were walking to the Blue Eagle Gym when they came across this little guy near the International Residence Hall. Fast scurrying movement over rustling leaves are the best bet to give away the presence of this lizard. Though like many cold-blooded creatures it will often be seen sunbathing in open spots, it is very shy and will quickly run for cover when threatened. The pattern of its scales on its back resemble parallel striations, so it is also called Many-lined Sun Skink. It has a myriad of common names across many local languages, including Bubuli, Basakay, Bangkalang, Tabili, Tambalyan, Tarebalak, Timbabalak, and many others! Common in varied habitats across Asia, it is primarily carnivorous and forages for small invertebrates, but will also consume small vertebrates it may catch.

We bet this critter, like many of us, is missing the sun these past few days - here's hoping for a sunnier week ahead! Thank you Jea for sharing your observation with us!

01/08/2026

Muni-muni pag may time!

We came across this Common Emerald Dove (𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢) perched on a bamboo pole near the JM Lucas Renewal Center last week. Doesn't it look like it was in deep contemplation? This one female, lacking the light gray crown and white shoulder patches on males. It is also still quite young, its beak has not yet turned bright red and the feathers on its wings have not developed the vibrant color from which its common name is from.

Locally called Manatad or Bato-batong Sili, it is usually very shy, easily spooked, and will fly away at the slightest disturbance. This one didn't seem to be bothered by our presence and we worry that it might not have the ingrained threat level detection that others of its kind have. We hope it was just a fluke and that this little one will have enough survival instinct to live a long life!

31/07/2026

Go, set the world on fire. 🔥

A couple of months ago, the campus canopy was ablaze with the brilliant oranges and yellows of the Flamboyant Flame Trees (𝘋𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘹 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘢). We stood quietly in the field behind St. Ignatius of Loyola, contemplating his offering up his life to God's service and giving up his sword, with the dramatic backdrop in front of him.

As we celebrate today, may we be inspired by his desire to see that God is in all things, and become kinder to each other and to all other creatures who live on this earth. May we all, as St. Ignatius wanted, be set afire with passion and faith, spreading hope and action for a better world.

Happy Feast Day of St. Ignatius!

30/07/2026

Need a dose of floral freshness to brighten up the day?

Here are some flowers from the Kamuning (𝘔𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘢) growing at the parking of the office of the Philippine Jesuit Aid. Also known as Orange Jasmine or Mock Orange, the Kamuning is native to the Philippines and other areas in South and Southeast Asia. It is a familiar sight in many gardens, with its small, glossy leaves and white flowers which attract many pollinators. These lovely blooms are accompanied by a sweet fragrance, reminiscent of citrus flowers!

After successful pollination, the flowers develop into small, lemon-shaped fruit that turn red when ripe - a favorite snack of many frugivorous birds.

Kamuning in Quezon City is named after this plant which they say used to grow abundantly in the area. Do you know of other places that are named after our native plants?

29/07/2026

No vacancy!

We wish we could put up these signs for this Rose-ringed Parakeet (𝘗𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢 𝘬𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪) pair spotted by Aristotle Manalo at Bellarmine Field! Recognizable even from a distance by their bright green color and long tails, these birds are often heard squawking loudly as the fly overhead, or when they are perched on the tree tops. The species is originally from South Asia and Africa, but feral populations have been established all over Metro Manila, likely founded by escaped pet birds. We've been observing more of them on campus and the neighboring residential areas and schools, with anecdotes of them nesting in tree cavities, much like our own endemic parrot species. This pair seems to be inspecting a possible nesting site on one of the Rain Trees (𝘚𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘢 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘯) on the north side of Bel field, as reported by Aristotle. Rose-ringed Parakeets are considered one of the most successful invasive species, though locally their impact on local wildlife has yet to be specifically studied. One concern is that they compete with native species that use similar nesting sites, valuable real estate for wildlife which is already quite limited in urban landscapes! Other impacts could be food resource competition and more directly affecting humans is significant damage to crops should populations continue to grow.

Thank you Aristotle for providing this valuable documentation - we'll keep an eye out to collect information on nesting for this species. Help us keep track of both native and introduced species for possible management solutions!

28/07/2026

This mushroom looks ready to walk down the aisle!

Last week, Pam Gatchalian shared that she spotted a fresh Netted Stinkhorn (𝘗𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘴 𝘴𝘱) at the JGSOM Forest and we immediately went for a look. Here it is in all its glory! Isn’t that white veil so whimsical?

The fruiting body of these mushrooms start out as an egg-shaped mass underground which rapidly expands into a cap topping a thick white stalk. From the cap hangs this dainty, veil-like net called the indusium. The cap is coated by gleba, a slimy spore mass that exudes a stinky smell that attracts insects that help spread its spores. Zoom in and try to count how many fruit flies are hanging out on that cap and indusium!

Truly, fungi are fascinating organisms and we have so many species on campus! The rainy season is the perfect time to go mushroom hunting - keep your eyes peeled for these wonderful and important lifeforms! Thank you Pam for the heads up!

The Ateneo Wild

06/08/2026

05/08/2026

04/08/2026

03/08/2026

02/08/2026

01/08/2026

31/07/2026

30/07/2026

29/07/2026

28/07/2026

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