Making History: 2nd Philippine Herpetology Symposium

It has taken a 28 year wait for another great community event to occur, but it did not disappoint, as the 2nd Philippine Herpetology Symposium took place between 13-14 November 2025.

Courtesy of Kyle Tamayo (Wildlife Matters)

Since 1997, there had been radio silence within the community on the herpetology front. Now, there is reason to celebrate "new discoveries, build collaborations, and ignited excitement for herpetology like never before".

The chosen venue for this momentous occasion was at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in España, Manila. This institution is the oldest in Asia and boasts strengths within "education, research and cultural heritage".

University of Santo Tomas (UST) : Courtesy of Kyle Tamayo (Wildlife Matters)

On the program were a whole range of topics that centred on Philippine Reptile and Amphibian species in historic, conservational and scientific genres. Q&A discussions were frequent along with networking and snack times. There was a lot to catch up on.

Kyle Tamayo, Wildlife Matters, spoke of the event:

"I attended under the name of our organization (Wildlife Matters), listened to the speakers, reconnected with old friends, enjoyed great food, and met new friends along the way. No sleep, new friends, great food, and good times."

Let's just hope it does not take another three decades to produce another momentous occasion that glorifies the amount of diverse Philippine Herptiles surviving today.

Bibliography

HerpsPH2025 (2025). #HerpsPH2025. [online] Google.com. Available at: https://sites.google.com/ust.edu.ph/2nd-ph-herp-symposium/home [Accessed 20 Nov. 2025].