Always in pursuit of something, that’s my state of mind.

Tala will be my first puppy/dog as an adult. Our family used to have a lot of dogs in the household mostly the regular Philippine breed.

I remember Achu, our big furry brown Pinoy dog, which scared the hell out of all our neighbors. It’s very sweet actually but very protective that’s why it is usually tied to the terrace. Once you let it go, it usually runs to the beach for a bath. My brother, kuya Leihson, is usually the one who catches him. Achu died of old age.

I think one of the pets my parents really loved was Acha, the white slender bitch who used to sleep in my parent’s bedroom and mostly stayed indoors. (I think it was Acha who gave birth to several pups at one time and I had the childish idea of buying balloons and celebrating their birth.) Acha, however, was so sedentary that one time it got out of the house, ate something funny, got its stomach upset and died soon after.

We briefly had a German Shepherd and a Japanese Spitz. The German Shepherd (I forgot it’s name), which kuya Leihson also tended to, had Polio at a very young age, as much as it’s a pride dog it mostly stayed at the back of the house – I guess cause it felt less proud of it’s weak hind legs. The Spitz didn’t last very long, as well, but I remember carrying it around in a basket with a feeding bottle when it was just a pup.

The very last and most cherished dog our family had, which my Dad loved so much, was Bencio. It was a short-legged brown fluffy little baby. It was loyal to most of us, but it’s master was my Dad. It used to go with my Dad to the fields to run around and possibly shag the ugly bitch that lived with the fish. Whenever it’s left at home, it usually just stays beside whoever was left with it. I used to make him my footstool while I watch TV. He’s sweet that way, however, if he hears the sound of my Dad’s battered jeepney approaching, it will bark like crazy, wag it’s tail like mad and jump till you open the door to welcome my Dad’s arrival. I guess it wasn’t good that we moved to another house by the highway. One day, while Bencio was in such frenzy over my Dad’s arrival, he became just another road kill. Bencio’s death got my Dad so depressed that we never had another one after him.  I was away in College when that happened…

I used to prod my parent’s to get another dog. But my mom would shut me out by saying “kukuha na naman tayo ng aso, eh sino naman ba mahihirapan sa pag-aalaga, eh di ako, tsaka may mga bata tayo ditto sa bahay” (“We’ll get another dog, well, who do you think would be left to take care of it? It’ll be me again. Plus, we have children [referring to my nephews Polo and Nathan] in the house now) What my mom said was partly true, I think the bigger reason, though, is that after Bencio, they just couldn’t bear the pain of losing a loved one.

On a happy note…

More than 2 months ago, I met Sonia, a German mom who owned a dive shop on the island. I met her through Jing-jing while we were walking her two dogs – Shao hey and Poknat. Sonia was with Alex, her little boy, and Ebith – Poknat’s mom. That time Ebith was already pregnant and Sonia where looking for parents that would like to adopt Ebith’s pups which were due November. I hastily volunteered. I really wanted a constant companion which I shall shower with all my love to give.

About 3 weeks ago, Ebith gave birth to 5 tiny babies. Sonia wasn’t there when I first visited the pups so I wasn’t sure if I am still a candidate to be a mom to one of them. One of them little babes got me so attracted to it from the onset. It’s mostly brown with a white spot in the back. I couldn’t go near it yet, as Ebith was being very protective. I was hoping it would be male because I prefer my dog to be male as female dogs tend to loose their beauty when they give birth (sagging breasts and all). When I was asked to come by and pick, Sonia wasn’t at her house again so I just pointed the one I wanted – the one with the spot on the nape.

A few days after I passed by again, and luckily Sonia was home and could check the babies… She called my choice — Diamond girl. So it’s a bitch!!! But I have fallen in love with it. Who the hell cares if it looses its figure when it gives birth…

I still have about a month more before I could bring my baby home – once it starts feeding by itself.

As an expecting parent, I had to think of names. Josua and I was going for a walk one afternoon. I wanted a name that would remind me of Boracay, but I didn’t want it to be named blatantly Boracay. I didn’t like Diamond because it was very English. Plus, the spot on its nape isn’t perfectly shaped like a diamond it was more like a star glowing on a clear night with no clear lines. Star - thus, the name Tala, perfect!

P.S.

When Josua gets a cat, he’ll name it Sinag. Our babies will be Sinag and Tala. — Starlight.