During the rise of pet-friendly places and pet ownership in the Philippines, the Asong Pinoy (Aspin) has been known to get excluded from many activities. The Filipino dog stays at home as bantay ng bahay (house guard) while purebred and pedigreed dogs got to enjoy dog walks, dog shows and, later on, agility events.

It was this discrimination that led the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) to want to change that.

So, it began with the term askal to Aspin in 2007. And then to push the animal welfare advocacy further, PAWS created a national holiday for the Aspins in 2021. 18 August became the National Aspin Day (NAD).

To celebrate the NAD, a Palarong Pang-Aspin was held last Sunday at Ayala Malls Vertis North.

Anna Cabrera, PAWS executive director, was impressed with the games this year.

“I can say that Vertis really outdid itself with the whole set-up of the Palarong Pang-Aspin. There were banderitas and a fiesta-like atmosphere for the event venue and an impressive set-up for the games,” she said. “My favorite was the Vinta for ‘The Aspin Odyssey’ challenge. Inspired by the traditional vinta of Mindanao, the miniature boat for Aspins to ride in featured a vibrant multi-colored sail and Filipino-inspired details. It provided such a great photo opportunity for the participants on top of being one of main props for one of the games.”

And much like the past year, it was like your traditional fiesta palaro, but for Aspins and their fur-parents.

About 50 Aspins competed in the fun Filipino-themed games. There was the “piko” or Filipino hopscotch and sandok-palayok — where most of the effort actually came from the pet owner doing the hopping and fast-walking with their Aspins on a leash.

Then there were games that mostly depended on the performance of the dogs themselves. In the paw-bitin (a spin of the traditional “pabitin” game for kids), a canine contestant gets a full five points if he/she manages to get even just one hanging tasty treat. The tumbang-preso rules specifically mentions that it should be the dog, not the owner, nor any part of the leash, that should topple the cans. The most ingenious strategy employed was an owner who put a treat on top of the cans. But there was a 45-second time limit for every game, and some Aspins gingerly avoided the cans or successfully got treats from the top of the cans without toppling them.

Winners received bags of dog food from Maxime, dog beds from Dogs & More and first placers also got a gift certificate for a free overnight stay for two at Seda Vertis North.

The pampering was not just for the winners though. The buffet prepared by the trio Rona Lyn Albarillo, Angela Colet of Swell Sweets and Giannina Gonzales of Whole Pet Kitchen featured handcrafted goodies for the Aspins. Some of the mouth-watering items were Liver and Vegetable Patê on baguette slices, Pork Pawt Pies, Blueberry Pupcakes and Beef Paella with Itlog ng Pugo.

Aspins also got their own private screening of the animated short film Runo with their own bag of treats -- the counterpart of popcorn – which was given to their human companions as they entered Ayala Malls Cinema 1. More on the screening in next week’s feature.

The most photographed Aspin was a DWD or Dog with Disability named Taylor whose owners made an improvised “wheelchair” out of PVC pipes. Like many of the participating dogs, Taylor was rescued from the streets.

The event showcased that Aspins are really great dogs to have. They are, after all, our very own Philippine dogs. And just like us Filipinos, despite all the difficulties they have gone through, they shine with their own unique talents and skills. They just need people to care enough about them to give them a chance.