Ain't they cute?

MANILA, Philippines - Pet lovers had a howling good time at Eastwood City last Oct. 25 when The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) held its annual Halloween fund-raising event entitled “Scaredy Cats & Dogs,” which was highlighted by a pet costume competition and a dazzling show featuring TV5’s Talentadong Pinoy champions — Wanlu, Tribal Dancers, Tatarin & Yoyo Tricker.

 The show was hosted by Tina Ryan and Crystal. It was such a fun event that it attracted 104 pets and 184 kids, the biggest in the event’s six-year history.

This year’s pet competitors proved that they were just as game as their humans in their costumes. Many dogs displayed good stage presence and paraded with an air of confidence.

Top prize went to Mondex, a Chihuahua who came as Transformer Optimus Prime. A girl dressed as a three-tiered wedding cake with her Yorkie trio came as a Happy Meal and a yellow Labrador dressed as a zombie bride proved that the pet owners seemed eager to impress this year’s panel of celebrity judges composed of model and host Ariana Barouk, designer Louis Claparols and MTV VJ & Mypetchannel.tv host Andi Manzano.

Aspins (asong Pinoy) and Puspins (pusang Pinoys) also came in droves with Aspin KC, dressed as Little Orphan Annie, emerging as the winner of the      Halim-Aw-Aw award.

GMA’s Tonipet Gaba, Eastwood’s Trina Ong and stylist KC Leyco judged the kids costume category and eventually picked Angelo delos Santos and CJ Rodriguez as the top winners. 

Here’s a list of the winners:

Pumpkin patch awardees: 

• Stitch (Chihuahua) as a hotdog with human Erika Kristensen

• Julia (Shih Tzu) as a wedding cake with human Toni Lozano

• Sushi (Yorkie) as a pink fairy with human Jeselle Kempis

• Red (Chihuahua) as a green earth warrior with human Noel Banaag

• A/X (Maltese) as rabbit in wonderland with human Minnie Fernandez

Crypt Keeper’s choice (most original costume): Ling Ling (Shih Tzu) as Ms. Philippines with human Allan Umipig

Scream of the Crop (scariest pet costume): Scooter (Bichon Frise) and Sammy (Labrador) as the corpse groom and bride with human Mia Tioseco

Casper’s Choice (cutest pet in costume): Poncho (Chihuahua) as a mardi gras dancer with human Maan Ramos

Phantom’s pick (most creative pet costume): Charming, Twinx & Goober, three Yorkies, as a Happy Meal with human Rose Pinero

Halim- Aw-Aw Award (best native dog in costume): KC, an Aspin, as Little Orphan Annie with human Agatha Lopez

Best Ghoulish Partners (best pet and guardian tandem): Human Monique Santos and Aspin Oz as Princess dressed as Peach & Super Mario

Transylvanian Star (best pet in costume): Modex, a Chihuahua, as Optimus Prime with human Mark Mata

All the proceeds from the event went to the PAWS Animal Shelter, the only shelter with an active adoption and rehabilitation program for animals rescued from cruelty and neglect in Metro Manila. The PAWS Shelter is not funded by any international organization or government agency and is completely dependent on fundraisers like “Scaredy Cats and Dogs” to keep it running. 

Other sponsors of the event were Eastwood City, Alpo Chop House, McDonald’s, Heartgard Plus, Toytown, The Picture Company, Krispy Kreme, Mypetchannel.tv, Q Power Station, Nestle Koko Krunch, Nestle Chuckie, Nestle Body Partner and The Philippine STAR Pet Life Section. — KATHY MORAN