Let’s PAWS for Nita Lichauco
In my lifetime, there are only a few people who I have come to truly admire. And I dream that one day, I, too, may be as devoted, caring and loving as they are.
When it comes to animal-love, there is only one woman who has been at the forefront of fighting for what she believes in, with a passion that cannot be surpassed by anyone I have known. She is Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) president Nita Lichauco, or Tata, as she is fondly called by those who know and work with her.
It must have been in the mid ’90s that I first met Nita. It was an assignment given to me by a former editor in another paper that I worked for at the time.
I recall that we wanted to feature something about animals, and at every turn I made, the name Nita Lichauco came up.
“I love all animals,” Nita said to me during that interview. “Many people think it is strange, but I know that it is true.”
It was admiration at first meeting.
Nita continues to serve as an inspiration for me as I cover events in the Petlife section for The Philippine STAR. It is always a joy meeting her at pet events because she is so full of love, not just for the people who work with her for the same cause, but more so for every animal she meets at these events.
When our Lifestyle editor Millet Mananquil told us that we would start a Petlife section a few years back, it was one very happy occasion. It meant that I could do something that I truly loved — write about pets.
The Petlife section years have been very rewarding for those of us in the Lifestyle section who love pets, and I have been one happy pet lover.
The best part of my job at Petlife is meeting pets and humans who love, and are in love with, their pet companions. Moreso, the time I get to spend with Nita and PAWS has been more than rewarding.
Nita recently celebrated her birthday and PAWS made sure that it would be one for the books. Believe me, there is no animal advocate in this country who deserves it more.
At the recent “Dine With PAWS” charity dinner, a tribute was held in Nita’s honor. Rich Ilustre, the ever-creative TV director and PAWS volunteer, and Anna Cabrera, PAWS program director, put together a video-tribute for Nita.
Here’s an excerpt from the tribute:
Ma. Teresita Pardo Lichauco was born in Capiz and is the eighth of 10 children. At a very young age, Nita already displayed a strong affection for animals.
“We always had animals around the house,” she recalls. “My parents taught us to be kind and to respect animals even at a tender age.” She proved the most affectionate among the children, always bringing home stray animals to care for. “My mom kept saying, ‘Not again,’” she laughs.
After her pre-law course, Nita broached intentions of studying medicine, a doctor asked her if she could dissect anything for which she gave a big NO. So much for medicine. Nita studied music instead, and married Alejandro Lichauco in 1957.
The couple, however, has no children. “When people ask me about that, I answer, “Oh, about 800 because I consider all the animals we have taken cared of as my children.”
Nita joined the Philippine Animal Welfare Society in 1964, one of only six Filipinos at the time.
“I was in charge of making stuffed toys, which we sold in bazaars,” she remembers. “I needed to have something official because I was doing rescues on my own.” When the founder, Muriel Jay, died in 1968, the group faded away. In 1986, she formed a group of her own, choosing to revive the organization she first joined. Thanks to Nita, PAWS was back on its, uh, paws.
Starting with a small group, Nita persevered through the years, saving a virtual Noah’s
Beyond the familiar cats and dogs, Nita adds that PAWS has also helped care for tigers and protested against the putting up of dolphin shows, elephant shows and oceanariums in the country. So, aside from being a Rescue 911 for K-9s and felines, PAWS has become a watchdog group for our other fine, furry friends.
She explains that PAWS is here because there is a pressing need for it right now. “It’s better to do something now than to wait until we have a nice office. You can’t wait.”
That’s also why her members have to sacrifice to be able to do this kind of work.
“We are 100 percent voluntary. We use our own vehicles, our own wallets. Never mind that we don’t have money. We don’t care. It is necessary. That is why we do this.”
Nita is thankful and excited that many young people are now signing up for their cause, helping change the mindset of Filipinos when in comes to animals.
Nita says that Philippine society really isn’t humane when it comes to animals. “As Asians, we tend to look at animals more as property, more as utility rather than pets. But slowly, we are changing.” Primarily, Nita says people treat animals badly out of ignorance.
“Filipinos are not deliberately cruel. The cruelty stems from ignorance of the fact that animals have the right to humane treatment.”
Despite being 80 years old, Nita is not about to slow down in her dogged devotion to PAWS. In fact, she does nothing else now except work for the animals — from confronting dog meat traders, lobbying the new Anti-Rabies Act, to presiding as vice chairman on the Committee on Animal Welfare.
“I am what you would call driven. It’s beyond me. It just pushes me. And I know that there are more people like me just like all the volunteers of PAWS. We get together and do everything we can in order to help because the animals need us so badly. Someone wrote, “True passion forgets fear, overcomes fatigue and winds over all difficulties. That’s the kind of passion I wish everyone would have.”
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Each night before I sleep, I thank God for Nita. I know that all animals in the
