Paws up to a virtual pet blessing
It was a lovely Sunday yesterday, Oct. 3, as I attended the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) pet blessing, which was streamed live on its FB page. Oct. 3 is the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, lover of animals and World Animal Day is today, Oct.4
The event is nothing new to me for I have been attending these events for as a long as I have had pet companions in my life. It was with PAWS that I attended my first pet-blessing event at one of the churches in Quezon City over 20 years ago.
Yesterday was a first — a virtual pet blessing — as Boris, my newest fur baby, had not yet been blessed, and just a few days ago we lost our 16-year-old poodle, who is waiting for us at the rainbow bridge, we believe.
The PAWS event was no less solemn than all the pet-blessing events they have had in the past, One of the highlights was the release of the official World Animal Day Philippines theme song performed by Asia’s Songbird, Regine Velasquez, during the World Animal Day virtual celebration.
With music by Ryan Cayabyab and lyrics by Jose Javier Reyes, “A World of Friends” delivers a timely message about how our lives are enriched by the animals whom we share this earth with. “It calls on humankind to build back a better world where kindness reigns supreme,” said Reyes.
World Animal Day is an annual celebration that aims to raise the status of animals and improve welfare standards around the globe. PAWS executive director Anna Cabrera is the World Animal Day ambassador for the Philippines. “The pandemic has prompted us to switch to a virtual celebration of this important day to keep everyone safe,” Cabrera said.
“The COVID-19 situation has also highlighted our interconnectedness — that what happens to one human being affects another in very much the same way that our treatment of animals and the environment affects all lives on this earth.”
Such is the recurring theme of the World Animal Day program hosted by Issa Litton and the special Mass for the animals, which had pet parents Carla Abellana, Tom Rodriguez, Heart Evangelista, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Vic Sotto, Pauleen Luna, John Arcilla, Kuya Kim Atienza, Karylle, Jona, Joey Mead, Eugene Domingo, Amy Perez, Janice de Belen, Jerald Napoles, Kim Domingo, Marc Nelson, Chico Garcia and more.
In line with tradition, during the celebration of the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi on Oct. 4, pets will also be blessed, but this time virtually by Fr. Jose Antonio Paras after the Holy Mass.
The WAD celebration is a fundraising event mounted annually by PAWS in cooperation with Pet Express to benefit more than 200 animals rescued from cruelty at the PAWS Shelter and to fund PAWS’ ongoing spay-neuter program for indigent pet owners.
As I attended the virtual event I was moved by the solemnity of the celebration, perhaps because I live alone with only fur babies, cats and dogs as my daily companions.
Boris, my youngest, was not easy to get seated in front of my cell phone, but he did sit when he saw water being splashed his way. Surely he is a naughty doggo — but a blessed one.
