This year, the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) opted to have their blessings outside the church. They held one at the Baywalk on Roxas Boulevard and another in Eastwood City. Sometimes the church can get a bit cramped, I guess. But the solemn feel of being inside the church adds to the blessing. I was touched no end by the wonderful photos that I saw of the events. Although we at Pet Life were not able to attend all the blessings, we were able to catch the one at Malate Church on Sunday.
This event was sponsored by the Compassion and Responsibility for Animals-Philippines (CARA-Phil) and the ever-friendly Albie Sia was there to make sure that pets and their humans were happy.
Gorby, my little Toy Poodle, attended his first pet blessing.
"So, when does the blessing happen?" Gorby yapped to me as we made our way to the Malate Church.
"When the pets are ready. And the priest calls them," I answered him.
"Will it take a long time? Is the holy water that the priest sprinkles on us painful?" Gorby yapped louder.
"Of course not. It’s just like taking a bath or getting hit by a few drops of rain," I said.
"OK. And then after that will I have to be a good doggie all the time? Can I still chase the cats?" Gorby asked further.
"You can chase the cats, just don’t catch them or harm them. And as far as I am concerned, you are a good doggie."
Gorby and I made it to the Malate Church. It was a hot Sunday morning and there were quite a few native dogs and cats there for the Proudly Pinoy dog show of CARA-Phil.
The show was a good way to pass the time as we waited for the blessing which was scheduled at 12:45 p.m.
Our wonderful photographers Jun Mendoza and Manny Marcelo shot the pets and their humans – here’s what they caught.