Last February 15, 2009, our family went to a pet show at the Sinulog Hall of Cebu Public Library in Osmena Blvd., Cebu City. The said show is entitled “PET SHOW 2009” and is presented by Cebu Avian Society, The Cebu City Government, L. Caminade-Tan Marketing and Wendell Quisido. The said show features Jun Lazarte, the trainer of Saver, The Wonder Dog. Apple Abarquez of Pinoy Dream Academy 2 is the special guest.

We arrived there at around 3:30PM just in time for the second show. The first show was still ongoing and doing the final part. We got the chance to sit in front after the first batch went home. It was a very long wait but we watched something though. Jun Lazarte’s life (and Saver’s too) was featured in GMA 7′s Magpakailanman so that’s what’s rolling before the show proper. I found out the Jun Lazarte really fought for keeping Saver even in the midst of filial turmoil. The effort eventually paid off when Saver got stints in local shows and commercials because of his tricks and his being “askal” (not pure bred) at the same time. I also learned that it is because of Saver that the Republic Act No. 8485 Animal Welfare Act (1998) was being created. This RA 8485 fights against all types of animal cruelty. Sadly, Saver, The Wonder Dog, has recently passed away last February 4, 2009. I could imagine Mr. Lazarte’s grief.

Saver, The Wonder Dog, on a past show (Photo Credit)
And so the show started. It was kicked off by Apple Abarquez’s welcoming everybody and her singing of “A Very Special Love”. Click on photo to enlarge.

PDA Season 2′s Apple Abarquez

Apple singing for Jun and Babes, the monkey
After the performance, the show proper started. Props and the animals were now taken on stage. By the way, here’s the cast: Gensan, the hamster, Pamela, the chicken, Babes, the monkey, and Angela, the dog, Saver’s niece. Minda, the black bird, did not perform in the second show but I saw it perform in the first one.

Angela being told to shut up
Here is the video of clips that I compiled. I am sorry of the poor quality. I had to compress the video so I could upload it to Youtube with ease. The original one is very clear though.

I am quite amazed at what these animals can do. Even the chicken (which is thought to be dumb) can dance Tinikling (not shown in the video). However, the pain that Mr. Lazarte’s experiencing is very visible. One time he called Angela by Saver’s name and that instant moment it really became obvious that he misses Saver a lot more than we probably know. But still, the show must go on as said by him. He said his will to continue shows and advocacy is driven by the people and by Saver’s memory.

It was a short show but the message is clearly relayed — that animals are just like humans and we shouldn’t be cruel to them. I just hope more pet shows like this are to be presented in our country for both entertainment and public awareness.

Topmost photo credit: ucumari