My name is Richard Banzon from South San Francisco, CA. USA. I started this hobby when I was still in grade school in Manila ,Philippines. It was my cousin introduced me to this hobby. I had to ask my grandma then for money to buy pigeons. My cousin and I would go to "ARRANQUE" (At that time, the only place I know where to buy pigeons). I got my first pair and placed it on my cousin's loft. After school, I go straight to the loft and check the pigeons. Then, I would ask my cousin if I could release them. Watching those pigeons flying, it really excited me especially if we have "DAGIT" (stray birds). Then, my parents and I migrated to the USA last 1986. When I got here; I noticed that we had a big backyard. So I asked my parents if they could buy me pigeons. We went to pet stores and unfortunately, they did not sell pigeons.

There was a time we went to San Francisco downtown and I saw all this pigeons… that time I was thinking of grabbing a few birds, I went closer to them and they are all street birds so I did not bother getting some. Fifteen to Seventeen years later, My buddy and I were cruising along Daly City. We saw these flocks of birds flying… I told my buddy, “Let’s wait and check where they going to land.” Half an hour later. some of them landed on this house. I was very giddy and excited, We went to the house, knocked on the door and introduced myself and my buddy, to this Mexican guy named, Ismail. We talked about pigeons. The following day I built a small loft (4x4). I called him up after a week and asked if he could sell me some birds. I got 4 young birds from him. Since then I met a lot of friends flying here in South San Francisco and Daly City. I have come a long way from that boy having his first pair of pigeons on a borrowed loft…. Now I am flying and breeding pigeons.