March 20, 2008
Regalia Towers

Before shooting for Wholly Trek Day, someone's little cute dog caught my attention

We got her around eight years ago. During a visit to Quezon, me and my grandmother spotted her among a litter of three - my cousin's dog's puppies. She had gray fur and the cutest tail ever with its silly white tip. When we went back to Manila, we asked our household help to bring her when she returns from her trip to the same provice. She did.

At the time, we had already gotten another aspin puppy named Ericson. Keeping with the theme of cellphone-named dogs, we dubbed her Nokia and she was bigger than Ericson. One time, we had to pull her away from their common dinner plate because she wouldn't let Ericson eat. Her first night at our house, she gave out this long and loud howl - she was looking for her mom and siblings.

A few months after her arrival, the older dog Lahar passed away. Sometime later, Ericson got poisoned accidentally. That left Nokia as the only dog of the house. Sometimes, when all of us would go out especially to go to the other house in Kamuning for some occasion, she would follow, like she didn't want to be left behind. Regretfully, we had to. But we always made it up to her by bringing her food from the engagement.

Soon, she discovered she can get out the gate and meet other dogs as well. For years, that had been my greatest worry. Getting run over, taken by the city pound (despite her tell-tale collar) and getting impregnated by the neighborhood dogs - strays or otherwise.

Thankfully, she's a smart girl who knows when to cross the street. There was one time she got out and I immediately attempted a chase. But then came the cab - it was on a course that would hit Nokia and I was too far to do anything. The crazy dog crouched and got in between the cab's wheels. The cab just drove past her and she went on her way like nothing happened.

Sometime last year, she narrowly missed getting taken by the pound. She was just too quick for their nets and ran back to the house.

Of course, those are nothing compared to her ability to charm the neighborhood dogs and her maternal instincts. She has had six litters of puppies - the first of which was actually born in my room. Unfortunately, only three of the four pups survived.

They're my only dogs now. Snowy was from a few litters afterwards.

One time, before her first pups were born, she brought another dog into the yard. At some point, she had brought another one inside the house!

Despite her slutty reputation, she actually gave birth to some of the cutest, most adorable puppies that it's not that hard to find people to give them away to. Giving her puppies away is never easy, though.

She had become a mom so many times that sometimes, she's still playing the role of a mom - even to furry dolls, other puppies, kittens, a rabbit and most recently, guinea pigs. She becomes protective of them like they were her own puppies. So adorable!

Having been the only dog in the house for quite sometime, she had become very spoiled. She lets out a loud wailing cry if she doesn't get what she wants. She scratches at my bedroom door if she wants to go in. Me and my sister let her sleep beside us on our beds. One time, I woke up and the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was her black wet nose.

My sister also likes dressing her up on whatever is available - like a piece of ribbon from a gift basket. When we feed the dogs some snacks, she just waits her turn, letting us hand the food to her, instead of grabbing it from us like her daughters do.

She will always be that sweet dog. I miss her badly. I tried to go through the past week in a world that is no longer as optimistic or as happy as when she was around. Part of me still cries everytime I think of her. Sometime I forget she's no longer with me that I still call "Nokey" during the dogs' roll call for whatever treat I'm giving them. The remaining 3 dogs, Nokia's daughters, aren't as bonded to me but I'm glad she left me some part of herself.

She will always be my crazy mommy dog. She would have turned eight in March. The night she passed away, and until now, I kept hoping that I would go to sleep and dream of her. What I would give just to see her white-tipped tail wagging again, hear her sharp cry for attention, feel her hair in my hands - even just in my dreams. No avail.

That's okay, she's probably busy playing in the Rainbow Bridge with Snowy and the other dogs to come visit me in my dreams. I hope she's still as hot to the other dogs up there. When I come and join her up there, I'm probably gonna chase after her like old times.

In the meantime, I'll do my best in this new world.

Goodbye, Nokey. You know how much you mean to me. See you when I do. Til then, you can take care of the puppies that are sent your way like you did when you were still here with me.

My white aspin (asong Pinoy) Snowy had gone to that place where they say all dogs go and where the good humans go as well.

She had been sick for quite some time now and, according to my mom, she passed quitely at around noon yesterday.

The last she ever saw of me was when I said goodbye on my way to work that morning. I didn't even get to give her one last kiss, stroke her fur, scratch her ears or call her "crazy white dog" like I was always do when I play with her (why? because she is). The last picture I took of her was when she was hiding under a chair last New Year's Eve. I did manage to give her a belly rub a couple of nights ago though - she always loved that.

I will not remember the sickly, disheveled dog I said goodbye to yesterday. Instead, I will remember the little fluffy furball born to the oldest dog in our house (who outlived her) among a litter of three (we had to give the other two away). That was around 2002 or 2003. She had her own litter in 2005 but we had to give them away.

When she was small, one of the dogs bit her 'coz she got too close. When she was older, another dog bit her 'coz she got too close to her food. Had to take her to the vet.

I scolded her when she rolled or played on the pavement after I give her a bath - she had a shiny white coat. Sometimes I'd let her dry in my room.

Yet for all that I do get cross sometimes, she's always happy to see me. She's one of the first to greet me when I get home with her own brand of tounge lashing.  I'll never forget that tongue - she'd lick me wherever, whenever she can!

She also had a loud and distinct bark - kinda like a cross between a howl and a purr. Used to wake me up in the middle of a peaceful sleep and drive me crazy.

So I guess that's it. Goodbye for now, my crazy white dog. I'm sorry if you didn't see that unconditional love that I see in your eyes reflected through mine. We humans weren't designed for such things. But know that you mean a lot to me - otherwise it wouldn't be difficult to write this.

So, thank your for making it difficult to write this.

For now, go play in the clouds and wait for me. When it's my time to walk up the pearly gates, I know you won't be hard to find amidst the alabaster clouds because I'll know your bark and I know you'll run to me - tongue and tail and all.

'Til we meet again,
Your human, your master, your friend