PAWS celebrates World Animal Day with pet blessing

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) annual blessing of pets and Mass for the Animals will be on Oct. 6 at the Eastwood Open Park. These activities are to celebrate World Animal Day and the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the Catholic Church’s patron saint for the animals which falls on Oct. 4. 

PAWS president Nita Hontiveros-Lichauco started organizing the first animal blessings in the country as early as 1994. She wanted more people to emulate the great saint and promote kindness to animals at the same time. 

Fr. Jose Antonio “Joey” Paras, SDB has been presiding over the annual special Mass at Eastwood for the past four years for PAWS. “Being an animal lover myself (and a proud guardian of a Jack Russell Terrier and a Labrador Retriever), I see these God-given creatures as faithful companions and a source of joy,” he says. “The annual celebration is an opportunity for us to thank God for these creatures. I believe that we are duty-bound to treat all animals with respect as we have been designated by God as faithful stewards of His creation.”

He says with a laugh that the only “scary thing that ever happened at the blessing years ago was when a turtle almost bit off his finger” as he tried to “bless” its forehead.

Eastwood City announced that it will be giving out Pet Blessing certificates two weeks after the event so that pet owners have an additional souvenir of the day which most first-time goers consider their furry friend’s binyag  or first attendance of a Holy Celebration. 

Special thanks to Pet One and STAR  “Pet Life” Section for sponsoring this year’s Pet Blessing.