In the long distant past while consuming adult beverages with the neighbors here in my Purok, the subject of pulutan (Snack food consumed while drinking) and the subject of eating dog (Aso in Tagalog) meat had come up a few times, without my saying a word my friends knew how I felt about that, as they would look at my dog army and I’d say; “”Don’t even think about it!” So I’d take a pack of Glow-in-the-Dark Hot Dogs steeped in red dye #5, slice them up, and boil them in BBQ sauce and serve them with one spoon, and my dogs survived another day.
It’s a subject that I’ve not heard about in the last few years as except for the most rural areas it is a practice that has decreased, thanks to the new generation of Filipinos who shun this old tradition.
Since building our house on the mountain its ended up being the repository for dogs by both my friends and family who no longer had room for them at their house. But they all knew I’m a sucker for dogs and found it hard to say no. One friend lived in a small two bedroom apartment and had two elderly full sized German Sheppard’s living there; he asked if I could take them until he found a larger place? So I did, he found a larger place and never asked me to return the old girls, and they stayed with me for six more years until they died of old age. I didn’t want to give them back anyway, as I loved them both.
Coco the Flying Brown Labrador, came to my house by way of my daughter Hanna, when not at the farm in Subic they live in an apartment in Olongapo, and bought Coco when she was a puppy, they brought her up to visit and it was love at first sight between the dog and me. So I pointed out that Coco was going to grow to be a very large dog, and when the apartment became too small, she could board (Read Give) her with us. A month later Coco was here, and here she’ll stay.
I had dogs as a kid, but my life in the Navy and as a Merchant Seaman precluded my having dogs during those years, as I was always gone out to sea. And In Puerto Rico I was single and “busy”, and decided to forego pets as I could not give them the care and time that is required. Albeit I did have an African Gray (Congo) parrot, who lived in my bar full time as the Bar Mascot, and yes when the crowd swelled, she had a room in the back to herself away from the smoke and drunks.
But the Philippines, was a different story altogether, here I could assembly my dog Army, as I have the room and the means to give them the care, love and attention that all dogs deserve.
Do not spread this around my Barangay but out off all our dogs, there is not a vicious one in the lot, as they were raised with kindness and love, besides with my Grandchildren, nieces and nephews plus children of friends who visit our house on a regular basis I couldn’t allow that.
Okay, the exception to the rule. I don’t chain up any dogs of mine as I find that something I ‘m against, but I won’t be calling PETA if someone else does. The exception, was Louie, who came to me after a friend passed, his wife could not control the dog, as it had spent its life locked in a bathroom and had seldom if any human contact. He was a Tasmanian Devil by the time I got him. I put him in the front yard and gave him freedom and he took to gate duty like it was his life’s mission. No human being was allowed through the gate in either direction. He took a month before I could go near him, and in about six weeks he calmed down to where we in the house could come and go freely. But absolutely no other human being on earth could enter. So during the time of visitors I had to chain him and warn all who entered to beware of the Louie. He was with me for six more years and became a sweet loving dog, but to no one, but our family.
I’ve told the story before about after we moved into our house, I found that my wife had installed a doorbell, it’s still there but I had ripped the wires out of it the first week, as local children thought it was a source of amusement to them. Now I have dog doorbells, if you come to the gate they have a special bark that lets me know you’re there. You can’t sleep through it as the three house dog’s take up the chorus with the outsiders. Problem solved!
We have a very strange thing in our area, which as a city boy was unheard-of to me, a Veterinarian who makes house calls. He comes by every six months or so to inspect each of the dogs, and to insure their shot records are up to date. During day to day problems we take the dog to the clinic in town for emergency care, such as when Coco the Flying Labrador lept from the second floor patio and hurt her leg, but she loved riding in the car. Now here’s a question that I’ve never figured out; “Why does a dog not like it when you blow in its face, but will ride to town with their head out the window, just loving it?”
If I only had my New Ole Honda back, I’d load the entire dog army into it, drop all the windows and take them for a ride.
Proof of the unconditional love a dog has for you is verified by this simple test. Park two cars side by side, put your dog in the trunk of one and your significant other in the other trunk, sit and have a beer, then open both trunks and tell me which of the two is happy to see you? I rest my case!
When mistakes happen, and puppies appear on my horizon as it is the way of nature, I’ve never sold one (A Puppy) even though most are pure bred. I will give them to people whom I know will take the best care of them, if not they’ll stay with me. Some of the breeds are Shih Tzu, Japanese Spitz, dachshund, and of course the Chocolate Lab. My one special house dog Coolett, is a damned if I know mix and she is mine and mine alone, her decision.
And for the record, we have one 17 year old cat, which plans on out living both me and Mayang. The cat and I tolerate each other as we signed a treaty 15 years ago.
I’ve read that dogs have a calming effect on the human spirit, and that having dog’s around will help to prevent depression and heart disease, with my car in the shop for well over a month, and I’ve chilled the entire time might prove this to be true, as there was a time eons ago when I would have quickly hit my Popeye Factor, and broke out that can of whoopass and shouted; “”That’s all that I cans stands, ands I can’ts stands no more.”
But life is like beer, they’re both better when properly chilled.
Shucks Bob, another long winded article, but once I get started about my dogs…
I got a small miniature pincher in the Philippines. They have a club for owners of full blood dog’s and even have dog shows. Most of the dog’s we just called Filipino dog which is a mutt.
Lance;
There is an American who lives close to me who breeds them, last time I was there he had over 20. My daughter had one, and my granddaughter loved it. There are no bad dogs!
There are no bad dogs, unfortunately there are a lot of bad owners who turn dogs bad (nasty).
Marjorie;
I could not agree with you more, love and kindness begets a sweet dog.
wanted to name our dog here in the states after the filipino word for dog…..was just afraid of the backlash when I go out and start yelling, “Here Aso, come here Aso.”
That would have confused one of my Expat neighbors tremendously since he would have thought I was calling him!
Keith;
The picture above of Coolett my special dog, she started life with the Tagalog name “Makulit” (Crazy) as a puppy, but as she aged she turned into a well behaved sweet dog, so we just called her Kulit with morphed into Coolett. I refuse to call anyone of them ASO’s I reserve that for people.
There was an old farmer near where I grew up. When he wanted to go rabbit hunting, he would stand on his porch and holler “DAWG! dawg! dawg! dawg!”. Four or five hounds would come running out of the woods, and he’d collect “em up and head out.
Take care,
Pete
Pete;
He never confused their names, smart man, as I sometimes do with mine, but “Good-ole-what’s-its-name” works just as well for me.
I’ve worked with a horse or two that I really wanted to name Alpo. A living history museum I once worked for got some new chickens. The staff wanted to name them. I didn’t understand why they’d do that. I suggested Chicken Soup, Chicken Sandwich, Chicken Dumplings, and for the rooster, Chicken a la King. They didn’t like it. I think they eventually named them after Charlies Angels or something.
Take care,
Pete
Pete;
All good names indeed, when I was stationed on Diego Garcia British Indian Ocean Territory, the Brit Governor declared the wild chickens to be an endangered species, which cracked up we Yanks. I could not explain the rule to the 80 Filipino workers under my command, as it made no sense to them I received permission for my workers to build chicken coops and raise them. The coops were for show only, and now my guys could eat any chicken they could catch. Thank the gods we could catch and eat the lobster we found on the reef.
@Keith:…Funny!!!
I,m with you Paul,
There is no friend like a dog! the very day I moved into my House A mixed breed Puppy was delivered to me via neighbors who Had a litter and swore I needed a dog for “protection”. It was barley weened when I got it but a little care and it was son under foot every where I went. Unfortunately I had to go to Immigration in Cebu about two weeks after i got the pup and my neighbor said He would Take care of it and make sure it had food and water while I was Gone. I returned a few days later to find a new Pup but the other pup gone. I asked about the first pup and was told that it followed someone down the road and they never found it so they got me another puppy for protection. I have in the last year received 3 more “Protection” puppies for a total of 4 now. I guess that you can never have too much protection!
Joe;
Or you had fattened up that first puppy and he wandered into the cooking pot while you were gone. Just saying…
yeah, wife shot my idea down very quickly once she heard me call it outloud one time.
Keith;
Why is it that the Ladies are so quick to decide for us? I use the Okay fine method of response to my wife and it’s worked well for over 20 years.
about half the people in the province will tell you filipinos do not eat dog and about half will tell you they know someone who does, lol
Ron;
Also after every election they’ll tell you that they had voted for the winner, of course. But you are so right (and funny) with that comment..
There’s a black, mixed breed lab in the barangay, down in the valley below our ranch. It’s usually a year or more between our visits, but that dog finds us every time. Then he follows us up the mountain to the ranch and stays with us. Last time, we were camping there. When we weren’t hiking around, the dog took up a guard post on a hill where he could see all the approaches. I have a suspicion that when we move, that dog will become ours by default.
Take care,
Pete
Pete;
It sounds like the dog has chosen you, not vice versa, I think you’re right, you’re his human now.(Try the car trunk test to be sure. Or not! lol)
If I locked Marlyn in a car trunk, I’d be afraid to open it again!!! I’ll just watch to see if the dog wags his tail.
Take care,
Pete
Pete;
There are times when knowing the answer is not worth the risk involved. I’ll chalk it up to wisdom on your part.
Tail wagging, yup, that’s good.
I used to have a neighbor who would grill up a dog just about 4 or 5 times every week. I never went over to partake.
Bob;
The vendors would sell dog meat to drunk sailors in Olongapo years ago, their trick was to call it monkey meat and for some odd reason that made it okay? Like monkey meat sounds good!
I love monkeys, Paul. They are especially good fried with crispy fingers! ha ha…. 😉
Bob;
From you I didn’t expect that, but glad you said that. Beware the street vendor.
Just a joke, Paul! 😉
Bob;
Joke from both of us. But you were funnier!
Hey Keith – You could call your dog “Iro” that is the Bisaya word for dog.
Great post. I am also a dog lover. I have a Great Dane. She is the best dog I have ever had.
Jason;
Great Dane, lab or Heinz 57, they are all great dogs, but your dog will always be the best one, and rightly so.
Foolish me, never learned Bisaya. Read the nation language was tagalog, so spent time and energy learning that only to find out my wifes family speaks Ilongo and Bisaya.
Tagalog is the national language, but there are more people who speak Bisaya as their first language! 😉
I never knew that. Why did Tagalog win over as the national language then?
Brenton
Politics pure and simple, plus the people who made the rule spoke Tagalog.
Because the laws are made in Manila. That is not a Bisaya area, it is a Tagalog area.
Bob;
Did I say that too??? (LOL)
I found that out too late. Should have known better with a wife from Sarangani, but at the time I knew little of the Philippines.
Most Cebuanos hate Tagalog. 😉
It is both ways, Ron. Cebuanos don’t like the fact that Tagalog has been forced down their throat. That’s why they enjoy confusing the Tagalogs! 😉 I speak Cebuano, and I know this…
Bob;
I do the same thing when I’m in New York, I speak Boston English to mess them up, regular English is hard enough for them. It’s their Baseball team and they still pronounce it The “Jankees” to further mess them up we spell it The Red Sox, they’ll never figure out what I mean.
Hi Paul,
I thought I was in love with Coco, but now I’m not sure. Maybe it’s Golldie now, or Bruno!
They’re all so cute and look like such characters.
Do they have a special diet? Most local house dogs live off rice and leftovers, but these seem more like little people.
My nephew who spends most of his time away studying in Manila, has two huskies that he keeps at his mother’s house next door. One, Rogue, is quite sweet, but the white one, Milky is quite grouchy and snappy. I chalk it up to if I was a husky I’d wonder what I was doing in such a hot place, and not pulling a sled in a cold place somewhere..
Queenie;
Leftovers, rice, dry dog food with beef bouillon and canned dog food mixed, then they play and socialize, and take a nap, act as living door bells, nap play with me, and if I’ve had a cocktail or three they will knock me down and give me a variable tongue bath, until my wife saves me.
Living on the tundra pulling a heavy sled or in the tropics sleeping under a mango tree? Tell Milky to take a chill pill. (lol)
Sure dogs are wonderfull friends, but at times they can also be a pain in the a.. – but i guess all friends can be that, at times.
When we moved here we brought our dog with us from Denmark, a big black Hovawart. It was very expensive to do that, it costs us more that our own tickets, and a lot of paperwork, vet visits and so on. Also find a transport cage in the right size. The biggest possible. 26 hours in a transportbox, but it went well in the end. Our concern was the heat here, coz he have a long black fur, and is used to the Nordic climate. After 1½ year here it seems like he has adjusted fairly, still gasping a lot, but dogs don’t have the same temperature control like we have, so that’s a way to keep body temperature down. He have a place, where there is a fan running all the time, to keep him cool. Spoiled dog? Sure. 🙂 A Hovawart is by nature a guardian dog, and here he can really live out hes nature, specially when other dogs walks by, then hell breaks loose – both of our dogs.
We got another dog from some family, as they said: He will be much butter with you guys – well i guess so, since we do treat dogs different.
We plan to build a house in Cebu in the hills near Dalaguete, in the future (my wifes birth place), when that day come i am sure we will have more than 2 dogs, just like you, i have a soft spot for dogs. I look forward to that day, coz even the place we live in is nice, clean and peacefull i do prefere to live in a more rural place, with a view over hills and valleys and the ocean couple of km. away.
Axel;
Hovawart. Is a German dog breed. The name of the breed means “an estate guard dog,” Okay yes I had to Google it, as it was my first encounter with that breed. But what a handsome animal they are, I see your point as to why you brought him with you. It the dog is born here they seem to adjust no matter what the breed is, but bring one in from a cold climate to a tropical one and I can see that that would take some adjustment. But if you’re a dog person you won’t mind. I wonder why cat people don’t seem to do that?
I like your plan about moving to a rural area on a hill overlooking everyone else. I did the same years ago and still love it up on my mountain. I guess I’m a Hillbilly from Boston, oh, and I’ve been to Danmark many times when I worked on ships.
When I was living in Kansas I bred Doberman’s. Great dog! My big male would jump up on my lap and watch TV with me. He was a good deer hunting dog too. Just turn him loose and he would go get one!!! 🙂
Yes I have eaten dog, makes a good BBQ. That was in Kansas too. 😛
Time to get a NEW car Paul!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gary;
So how did those Dobermans taste? And I’ll get a new car right after I start eating my dogs. (lol) The New Ole Honda is here to stay!
Wild dogs only Paul… That is a neat trick you taught your new old Honda… STAY. I had a pet rock that did the same trick. Bring it home and plant flowers around. 😀
Gary;
I was wondering who bought those pet rocks! (lol) It might be a week, it could be another month, but know for a fact, the mighty New Ole Honda will ride again, if I have to push the damn thing!!!
There are studies I am sure you are aware of that show human abuse linked to cruelty to animals. Dr. Albert Schweitzer (humanitarian) wrote, “Anyone who has accustomed himself to regard the life of any living creature as worthless is in danger of arriving also at the idea of worthless human lives.” I prefer to be around people that are animal lovers than those that are not. Gandhi wrote, “The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” I hope someday that the Philippines can rise to that level of greatness! Cute pictures and nice article, Paul.
Edwin;
I just learned something new today from you, and I thank you.
Lizards abound in my house and I’ve taught my family that as a cold blooded creature they have no use for us warm blooded ones, but they eat the crap out of the bugs that bother us. Live and let live, and the bats that roost in my window overhangs are welcome too.
Thanks Paul, FYI or another reader if the bats get to bothering you there are bat houses that you can build that will provide a roosting spot and shelter for them. The bat houses can be attached to trees or buildings. It works for the smaller type bats that we have in the states and I would imagine that it would work for the larger variety of bats in the Philippines.
Edwin;
I like to stand on my roof deck patio at dusk and watch them fly out by the hundreds, for they also roost in the trees bordering both sides of my house.
make comment with you Bob about cebuanos hate tagalog, they talk more visayan it’s bcause they are from Island.
Never thought about the loving the wind in the face but not being blowed upon. Learn something everyday on this site.
Loren;
Next time you’re at home in Colorado give it a try with your dog and you’ll see what I mean.
Paul,
I heard many of stories of navy lads returning to the states with stories of dogs and monkeys being eaten during stops to the Philippines, I always thought they were stories until my wife became pregnant and the night the cousins brought over there watch dog as gift to the family for good luck on the future birth. They roasted it like letchon pig and they all sat there and ate it while drinking. I freaked out and then my wife said, you are not in America and we we have no food people will eat a dog. She did not understand buy concern until she came to the states and saw how we loved our dogs. Then she saw some deer and I explained to her that people hunt and eat them. Her response was, like we do in the Philippines with the dogs. I could not argue with her and decided to just let it go. She knows that I will never eat it a dog and don’t offer it to me. As far as the monkey’s go, maybe you can share your wisdom….
Dirk;
So they had to go out in the woods and stalk those elusive dogs, or were they tied up in a pen? That would be akin to hunting in a baited field. As for monkey, meat, it was dog meat and they were tricking the over served sailors. So far I’ve made it to be 65 without ever trying dog meat, and hope I never do. But if it’s their tradition I understand, but they must understand how I feel also. We’ll agree to disagree on that subject. I guess you do to!
Hi Paul,
I agree I do not plan on ever eating dog, but I disagree with people who say they would starve to death before eating one. My wife said she made the mistake of becoming overl fond of the family pig when she was a little girl in Bohol. One day the pig was gone and lechon was over the fire. She said she cried and cried, but confessed that her pig tasted good.
She also does not understand why we treat dogs and cats so well while people go hungry.
Jay;
Porto-Prince Haiti in the days off Baby Papa Doc Duvalier, Barry (My Shipmate) and I were having lunch, we were joking that the mystery meat was cat, but the waiter explained that cat was expensive. It was pay the bill and go back to the ship to eat time.
Paul,
Great article, really love dogs. Where I live now is a beagle who has a special personality. We will miss each other a lot when I move there. We plan on getting 2 dogs when we get our house there. Anne is leaning towards a yorkie and Japanese spitz. Really does not matter to me. Like you said, there are no bad dogs.
PapaDuck.
They are both great dogs, I have 5 Spitz now and I’ve had a Yorkie in the distant past. But like you said they’re all good dogs!
So just where does the Askal rate on the menu, or as a pet, guard-dog, etc?
Bill;
At P 100.00 each, they cost to much to eat!, mostly as a pet their a nice dog.
Visayans can fret all they want…if they only lead the revolution against Spain and the Americans then Cebuano will be the national language…aside from Lapu-Lapu, do you know of another Visayan hero? LOL …that’s right, that’s why Tagalog is the national language…
Now back to the subject, what do YOU call a Filipino walking his dog?
A vegeterian… 🙂
Wow Atong, you’ve just broadly painted Visayans as inept and no leadership. You should read some of the Visayan history, frankly Visayas had a prominent history in the creation of the Philippines dating back to the landing of the Datus in Aklan from the repression of the ruler of the Sri-Visayan Empire.
I made comment on the other article by Sugar “Arrogance in the Philippines” about how mostly Tagalog or people acts towards Visayan people as superior (you should read the discussion in this article). They still act as carpetbaggers profiting from their Southern neighbors, look at what’s happening in Boracay.
We have a lot of Visayan heroes during the Spanish time so Tagalog cannot monopolized the claim on heroism and struggle against the Spaniards. Visayas and Mindanao played important roles in these struggles, even Jose Rizal was exiled in Dapitan which is in Zamboanga Del Norte in Mindanao
So Atong, while you are pondering whose dog you are going to butcher next, read and learn a little history as we did in Grade and High School:
http://ilonggonation.blogspot.com/2012/03/circulo-ilongo-association-of-british.html
http://euroheritage.net/spanishphilippines2.shtml
http://litera1no4.tripod.com/aklanon_frame.html
http://epvirtualassistant.wordpress.com/author/epvirtualassistant/page/
Mars
Atong;
A good joke and a history lesson in one comment, you’ve made my day! Thanks
There is a very expensive fertilizer in the states that I can not recall the name of but what ever the name it is just bat shit. Maybe we can build some roosts and harvest the bat droppings and trade them for SMB’s. And no Dan didn’t send this to me–it is the straight scoop.
Loren;
Bat quano is what I colleck from the awnings over the window, “Holy shit, Batman!” Mayang would use it before she’d let me trade it. Chicken on the roof of the Loren Arms today, I’ll be there.
Thanks for the intro to your Army of Dogs Paul. I have heard you mention them from time to time but did not realize you had so many of them. I had dogs years ago but gave up after the last one passed away. Had my back yard fenced in so I would not have to tie a dog up ( I don’t like to do that either ) and the dog could have about a quarter acre to himself. That worked fine for a few years until a new dog moved into the neighborhood and taught mine how to dig out under the fence. I still keep a supply of Dog Biscuits that I hand out to the neighborhood dogs when they go by.
Hi Bob;
It (The Dog Army) was never something I planned on, it just came to pass. The fence digging has never happened as we have a cinder block wall with two foot footer. But my male Japanese Spitz Moto-san can open the gate to the carport and the backyard but not to the street. I bought a local dog from my neighbor as I couldn’t stand to see her tied on a four foot chain her entire life. He went out and got another dog so I stopped doing that quickly.
Paul’s To Do List: Go to You Tube and watch the “HOW TO” videos by Red Green. Buy lots of duct tape, at least 12 rolls of the 200 mph kind. Tape all your dogs to the broken Honda. Mush Coco!!!! 😛
Gary;
If my dogs bark at someone at the gate, they must instantaneously lay down and take a nap. Pulling a car? Forget about it!