SPOOKY PAW-RADE: The region’s biggest Dog Halloween Event at IBP

More than 150 dogs and dog owners participated in SPOOKY PAW-RADE, the first ever Dog Halloween Costume Parade and Fun Match held in front of Richmonde Tower at Iloilo Business Park last October 24, 2:30PM to 7PM. The event started off with a Dog Parade from Richmonde Tower going to McDonald’s IBP. The first-ever Dog Blessing was officiated by Rev. Father Dennis Galon. It was followed by a formal opening program with IBP Marketing Head, Jennifer Ann Palmares-Fong who willingly shared her excitement through a short welcome message.

Rev. Father Dennis Galon officiated the Dog Blessing

Head Dog Trainer, Joseph Jiro Gabasa, event hosts Nancy Enicola and Nanette Bajador

IBP Marketing Head, Jennifer Ann Palmares-Fong shared her words of welcome to all the participants

Mr. Bong Ledesma, an expert dog trainer entertained the crowd with his dog tricks

Dr. Harold Demaisip, judged the fun match and dog conformation 

Expert dog trainer, Bong Ledesma showcased various dog tricks that entrainment the crowd as an intermission performance. Around 5:30PM, the Dog Fun Match and Conformation started off by introducing seasoned veterinarian, Dr. Harold Demaisip as competition judge. The Fun Match and Conformation was divided into four categories such as Puppy, Small Breed, Medium Breed and Large Breed. Pack Leader K9 Dog Training Head, Joseph Jiro Gabasa demonstrated with his dog Connan, a Belgian Malinois on how to train your pets in protecting you against aggression. The highlight of the event is the Dog Halloween Costume Contest and Mini-fashion where dog owners and their pets paraded onstage with creatively scary and colorful attires. Jennifer Ann Palmares-Fong, IBP’s Marketing Head is the sole judge of the Dog Halloween Costume Contest.

IBP Marketing Head, Jennifer Ann Palmares-Fong received her certificate as the sole judge of the Dog Halloween Costume Contest from Joseph Jiro Gabasa

 The event emphasizes Iloilo Business Park as a dog-friendly destination and a township where dog lovers can find a serene place to enjoy a healthy and active lifestyle. The event is co-organized by Megaworld- Iloilo Business Park in partnership with Pack Leader K9 Dog Training and Jaro Dog Lovers. The event was made possible through the following sponsors: Rebadulla Animal Hospital, AsVet, Pomelo T-shirts, Wood Fashion, Gab’s Pizza, Spa Riviera, Dog Full, Lori pet care products, Uratex Foam, Pet Palace and Fil Sonza Photography Studio.

Spooky Paw-Rade Contests Result:

 Dog Conformation and Fun Match

Best in Puppy Category: Maxine, 5-month-old female Belgian Malinois dog, handler: Wewen (dog trainer, Iloilo)

 

Best in Small Dog Category: Yuki, 6-year-old-female mini-pinscher; owner: Irish P. Jeongco

 Best in Medium Dog Category: Shane, 7-month-old female Beagle dog; Handler: Wewen (Dog Tainer, Iloilo)

Best in Large Dog Category: Scotch, 4-year-old-male Bull Mastiff dog; Owner: Am-Am Lorca

Best in Show: Yuki 6 year old female mini-pinscher; owner: Irish P. Jeongco

Best Dog Halloween Costume Contest

Special Award (Spookiest Costume):  Gracie, 7-year-old female mini-pinscher dog; owner: Virgie Tarrigue, costume concept: Cerberus (3-headed dog)

3rd Place:  Yuki, 6-year-old female mini-pinscher dog; owner: Irish P. Jeongco, costume concept: Egyptian God with golden wings

2nd Place: Atticus, 1-year-and-5-month old male Belgian Malinois dog; owner: Santiago Sudaria, costume concept: horse-like dog with 'tiyanak' riding on top

1st Place (Best in Costume): Sasshi, 1-year-and-7-month female Chihuahua; owner: Jel Rose Casiano, costume concept: enchanted dog in a dark and scary prom theme

Peter Solis Nery, the Storyteller

Ilonggo writer Peter Solis Nery, a native of Dumangas, Iloilo, Philippines has transformed himself into an icon of the literature and the arts for his countless awards and honors for two decades. He is a multi-awarded Ilonggo writer whose passion is overflowing, and put the Ilonggo literature in the limelight by achieving multiple Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards in Literature. In 2012, he was inducted in the Palanca Hall of Fame. This year, he received another gold medal from Palanca when he won the first prize for Poetry for children. Also, in 2012, he had a stint as a filmmaker when he was awarded for a film grant from the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and turned his script into a full-length movie entitled “Gugma sa Panahon sang Bakunawa,” (Love in the time of the Bacunawa) which became an official entry in the first Sineng Pambansa Film Festival 2012. Nery together with his friends and family established the Peter Solis Nery for Literature and the Arts. Formerly, he is a feature editor and columnist of major newspapers in Iloilo, and worked as a nurse in America for a few years before he decided to retire.

Shedding his softer side as a storyteller and a true brilliant artist, Nery who is now enjoying a vacation in Iloilo, decided to bring his stories to various schools in his hometown Dumangas by conducting a storytelling campaign of his own writings. Having achieved enormous awards in his life as a living Ilonggo literary icon, Nery believes in his stories, his writings and his passion to send out a message from heart. It is a very humbling gesture and manifestation of his passion to reach out to the younger generation through his life’s works. He goes back to the grassroots of pure storytelling for young children in various schools, so that they would know one passionate Ilonggo writer whose calling is to preserve the Ilonggo literature. This gesture of artistic pursuit and noble cause is a reflection of his calling – to write and tell his stories with sincere and significant purpose.  

As a writer myself, I learned a lot from him and his brilliant ways to turn his thoughts into heartfelt writings. Having seen his rise and struggles, I firmly believe that Nery is a writer with pure intention of sharing his talents and inspire young writers and artists to find themselves in the name of pure passion. It is time for me to say that no other Ilonggo writer exists like him – fearless, brilliantly-creative and someone who knows how to infuse immortality in his writings.