Why the singing of humpback whales can be heard in the Philippines

In the latest episode of Stand for Truth's Generation Restoration, we learn that the Philippines is a breeding ground of humpback whales, and this is why their distinct, out-of-this-world singing can be heard in Philippine seas.

"Yung singing behavior, ginagawa lang yan sa breeding grounds," marine mammal expert Dr. Jo Marie Acebes tells Generation Restoration.

"Oo, may tunog silang ginagawa sa feeding grounds, pero hindi yun tinatawag na pagkanta."

Breeding grounds are the spaces where humpback whales, or the balyena, raise their young until they're strong enough to travel to their feeding grounds.

Heading out to Babuyan Islands for research, Acebes said one of the things they looked for was a mother and child pair because you really can't spot one without the other if it wasn't a breeding ground. 

The Philippines proved to be one of a few breeding grounds in the world for the critically endangered species. "Kakaunti lang sila," Acebes continues, saying there is "approximately 1000 whales" found in the Philippines and Japan.

Acebes, a marine mammal expert, recalled hearing the singing balyenas for the very first time in 2004.

They were about 200 meters away from the shores of Camiguin Norte, when the captain of the boat who graciously took her out to sea, switched off the engine. The supreme quiet lasted barely 10 minutes. And then they heard it.

"Para siyang tunog ng baka na parang multo na hindi mo maintindihan, nanggagaling sa ilalim ng dagat," Acebes tries to describe the wonderfully and intriguingly majestic audio experience.

According to Acebes, the whales found in the Philippines sing a somewhat similar song with those found in Japan, Hawaii and Mexico.

"Halos pare-pareho ang kinakanta ng mga balyena, lahat ng balyena sa Western North Pacific na population," she said. "Nagsisimula sa ibang kanta [at] habang nagpo-progress yung season, unti-unti naging pare-pareho. So merong similarities o pagkaka-pareho yung kanta ng mga balyena sa Pilipinas, Japan, Hawaai at Mexico."

Interesting isn't it? — LA, GMA News