Meet the Pinoy Dog Whisperer

If diamonds are a girl’s best friend, what could be a man’s best friend?

Yes, dogs. And vice-versa. They are probably the most loyal creatures on earth. We’ve heard stories about dogs lost for years and finding their way back to their owners. In foreign countries more than hereabouts, we see people walking their dogs that keep them company, mostly seniors whose relatives have virtually abandoned them, or left them on their own.

In the movie Bwakaw, the aging character played by Eddie Garcia (in one of the most poignant performances in his illustrious career) trusts his pet dog more than the humans around him, confiding in his dog more than he does in humans, with the dog sticking to him until he breathes his last.

“I count 22 dogs as my best friends,” said Lestre Zapanta, the Pinoy Dog Whisperer (a “title” conferred on him by Jessica Soho who featured him on her show, Kapuso Mo, seven years ago). “I live alone with only my pets, also including nine cats, as companions. Humans can betray you but pets cannot, do not.”

Don’t his cats and dogs clash (you know, parang aso’t-pusa) at every turn, fighting for his attention?

“No, they don’t,” said Lestre. “They live in harmony. I trained them to be like that. Sometimes, they even sleep together with me. Magkasundo sila. They are well-behaved.”

I met Lestre last week upon the invitation of Wilma Galvante who is producing WoofCam (available on YouTube, simply search D5.STUDIO; or Lestre’s www.facebook.com/lestrezapanta). The meeting was held at the third floor of a building across Timog Avenue from the GMA Studio (Wilma’s home until she retired a few years ago), occupied by Wilma’s Asian Academy of Television Arts (the company behind the talent search Artista Academy of TV5 of which Wilma is now a content provider. Upon entering the room, I saw a cute little boy (who turned out to be Wilma’s grandson Niño Rafael Galvante Sangueza) patting the head of a big dog.

“Aren’t you afraid?” I asked Niño.

“No, I’m not,” he smiled. “He’s friendly.”

The dog was among the 22 in Lestre’s “family” that has become so big that 12 have to be housed in the Zapanta residence in Ternate, Cavite, and the rest at Lestre’s condo unit.

“I discovered Lestre in a show he quested in as arbiter between two neighbors fighting over their pet dogs,” related Wilma. “He has various stories about dogs and I’m sure even those who don’t have pet dogs will be interested in.”

Lestre has more than enough material (which he himself has shot), some of which he has been uploading on his Facebook. What he and Wilma did was come up with improved versions in HD (High Definition) which are the ones you see on WoofCam which continues to attract more and more viewers/followers (starting from 50,000-plus), into its initial season with more than 12 episodes that feature dog tricks, dog trivia, tips on how to train dogs, how to “tame” dogs, and generally how to treat dogs the way you would treat a human best friend — that is, with love and affection.

A Civil Engineering graduate from UP (and Flying from Airlinks), Lestre has been a pet lover since he was seven years old, although he didn’t get his own pet dog until he was 13. Soon, he was having more and more. He used to run an electronic-marketing services business until it was taking too much of his time at the expense of his furry family.

“So I dropped my business and concentrated on my dogs kasi they were starting to show signs of stress,” recalled Lestre. “Nag-aaway-away na sila, nagpapatayan na sila. No regrets. Taking care of my dogs, and cats, is much more fulfilling than managing a business.”

It was while Lestre was walking his dogs around the neighborhood in Las Piñas seven years ago when a GMA employee saw him and brought him to Jessica Soho’s attention. Lestre soon made his TV debut on Jessica’s show. After that, he hosted a short-lived show called Luv U Pet on GMA News TV before he acted as an arbiter between the two quarelling neighbors. Then, he caught Wilma’s attention.

Meanwhile, excuse Lestre while he bathes his dogs, feeds them, administers medicines (on some that are ailing) and walks them around the neighborhood.

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