The Associated Press

In this photo by Bullit Marquez, Roman Catholic priest Jacob Gomes blesses a 4-month-old Humboldt penguin before it takes its first swim at the Manila Ocean Park in the Philippines. The park launched its baby penguin attraction Wednesday and announced the winner of a contest to choose the baby’s name, Kaya, meaning competence or ability in Tagalog. Before the penguin’s first swim, it was placed in one side of a pool, separated from its penguin parents by a net. During the blessing, Gomes stressed the importance of environmental conservation and the need for people to protect all species of marine life, which are “a creation of God.” Kaya was born July 8 and is the first penguin to be born in the country. Its gender is not yet known.

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