Davao, Pi being encounter — May 20, 1979

A contemporary UPI story, reprinted in MUFON UFO Journal 139, reports that American researcher Ron Kruppa, 36, told Davao officials he and approximately 600 villagers had seen an unusual object near Mount Apo. The story appeared in newspapers on May 22, 1979, following his Sunday report. Hatch assigns May 20 at 8 a.m.; the reprinted article does not independently establish every element of that precise timestamp. Kruppa said unusual eagle calls prompted him to look upward. He saw a bright, round object resembling a large balloon, producing flashes like a camera strobe. Through binoculars he reportedly noticed objects moving within it and interpreted the movement as possible picture-taking. The article does not describe clear faces, bodies, suits or a reliable number of occupants. According to Kruppa, it came down behind trees near huts at upper Baracatan, prompting frightened villagers to go indoors, and departed about twenty minutes later. The claim of 600 observers is his reported estimate; the short article does not present 600 separate statements or a survey of independent witnesses. Nor does its headline establish a surveyed landing site or recovered evidence. The plate therefore depicts the researcher, representative villagers and the round flashing object, keeping its interior indistinct rather than turning ambiguous motion into identifiable aliens.