Rest in peace, Madam President

People Power\'s Philippine Saint: Corazon Aquino, 1933-2009

The day my dolly died

I was too focused on grooming you. I didn't realize I was already ripping you apart. Nor did I realize that later that day you would be buried in the big black garbage bin. Farewell Dolly, you will always be my favorite toy.

Love,

Charlie

Evil eyes

A dark creature has taken over the house and my postion as top...ummm...dog is threatened.

I call him "Evil eyes" because he always stares at me with those dark peircing eyes. I think Evil eyes is bad news. However, my mom is unable to see what I am seeing. To her, this creature is my new brother - a cute kitten, looking for a place to stay.

For now, I am confined to certain places in the house because mom said I am being bad for trying to shoo Evil eyes away. But, I am just protecting her from this creature who has made my mom's lap his favorite place to take a nap. I can see through his nasty tricks and I will be watching him.

Charlie

Resort dogs

My mom went away this weekend and left me with my grandparents for a trip to the beach. She would have preferred to bring me along but cannot do so since she took public transport.

The beach in Zambales was about 6 hours away. Early Saturday morning, she took a walk along the shores and found these resort dogs lounging on the sand and enjoying the soft morning breeze. Afterwards, the dogs played on the sand and chased the waves. When they got tired they slept on the sand again.

About a dog

Once a upon a time, my mom had a big dog called Bruce. Brucey was a mixed-breed dog. His mother was a Dalmatian and his father was an Aspin (Asong Pinoy).

Her relationship with this dog had an ominous start. The first time she met him, he was hiding under the table. My mom greeted him and held out her hand. He growled at her. She later found out that he was brought there inside a bag so it was easy to understand why he was stressed and wary of strangers.

When he was a puppy, Brucey chewed everything - slippers, books, table legs, chairs, and even the washing machine hose! He had boundless energy and zipped through the house, breaking anything that came in contact with his wagging tail or his huge paws. My grandma was so exasperated that she decided that they should just give him up. But, my mom pleaded and, in the end, they decided to give him another chance.

Brucey had so many behavioral problems; he was very hyper, had separation anxiety and even aggressive at times. Mom really struggled in socializing him and in teaching him proper manners. He was also a leash puller which was a big problem since he weighed almost the same as my mom. One time he pulled so hard, my mom tripped and was left with scrapes of varying sizes and colors on her knees.

Despite his flaws, Brucey was loved and accepted as part of the family. He turned out to be one intelligent and loving dog. He just needed an outlet to release pent-up energy. My mom enjoyed running with him and taking long walks at night. My mom took him to different places to run and play. He was a good companion, playmate and friend. That is why she was so worried when Brucey became very sick. Despite trying very hard to save him, his condition worsened. He passed away on January 30, 2007. He was only 6 years old.

My mom was devastated. She knew no other dog could be like Bruce. She was cautious to get a new one immediately after his death because she did not want to get a dog just to replace him. She said it would not be fair to Bruce or to the new dog. Months later, she was still not very excited when her family suggested a new dog – a two-month-old japanese spitz.

After she met me, all her apprehensions disappeared. Yes, she still missed Brucey but she figured that one can never really forget the loss of a beloved pet. Getting a new dog does not mean she would have to divide the love she have for Brucey. She learned early on that I have a different personality and was never a replacement dog. I guess the timing was just perfect. She was ready to move on and take care of another dog. I was looking for someone who would spoil and love me.