Unconditional Love by: Raegin Manuel
by gem about my dog Ceigie Puppy(2008-10-18)
Unconditional Love By Raegin Manuel
It was back then when my family and I used to live in our old house in Singalong Manila. We had a huge garage where our pets could roam around and play. I was three years old when we moved there with our first dogs, Toyota and Buddy. But I couldn’t remember much about them. I guess they died because of old age. Then my dad went home to our province when he left his car door widely open, and when he went back in, to his surprise a handsome white puppy was inside his car. Dad held it and took it outside. He asked almost the whole neighborhood if they know the owner of the dog. Too bad no one claimed him. But it was a delight for me. Dad went back to our house here in Manila and as I hugged and kissed him, and asked for my pasalubong which were candies. He smiled and told me to get it inside our car. (pero wala talagang candies. The puppy was his surprise) When I opened the door the dog wagged his tail and licked my face. I forgot about my candies. I picked him up and ran owards my dad. He said no one claimed the dog, so he took him home. So then I was busy thinking of a name for my new puppy. After a few minutes there it is..finally a name for him. And Hansel it was. You see he is very handsome and he smelled like my favorite snack Hansel crackers. It was the best pasalubong dad ever gave me. I loved Hansel so much. He comes with us whenever we go to our province. He didn’t care if it was a long drive or a short walk at the park. He loves being with us. Then one night I was awakened by an alarming noise. My grandfather Tolits and my dad were outside looking for Hansel. I didn’t know what to do. I cried and cried and cried..they said he was caught in the city pound and that we had to bale him out. Dad left our yaya money so we can take our beloved Hansel home. We went to our province the next day and after the third day I was very excited to be reunited with my Hansel. I excitedly opened the door of our house. Expecting that he would rush to see me and lick my face again. But sadly he wasn’t there. Yaya didn’t use the money for Hansel instead he bought stuff I don’t know what. I screamed, and ran all over our house looking for him. Hoping that what yaya told us wasn’t true. But it was. To this day I never forgot Hansel… my beloved furry friend.
After two years we moved here to our new house. It’s actually a condo so no garage, no neighbors… no nothing. Our cat miming and her kittens were left to my lola chacha who loved cats though she has asthma. Our other dogs, princess the daughter of Hansel and nognog his boyfriend were left to my lolo tolits who love dogs as much as anything in the world. My pet sisiws who grew very big and healthy hens were sent to our province in tarlac. It was quite sad here. All I could see are walls. I don’t get to go out everyday coz there were nothing left to do. As I was locked inside the walls and pillars of this condo I grew this phobia with animals. And yes it was weird. I used to be so inlove with them. Hold them even though they’re dirty, play with them even though they’re noisy. Hen whenever I’d walk outside our house I would often stay away from the streets that has stray dogs, stray cats..and any animals even hens. I guess it was real coz I cry whenever I come across a dog or a cat. Sometimes I just close my eyes and stand very still though the dog wasn’t even thinking of attacking me. My phobia for dogs and cats lasted for six years. Can you imagine? Second year college came and I am studying at the school near our condo. It was my night class when my classmate Mia was selling her dogs’ puppies to my friends Nikki, Mitch and Ken. My friend Nikki adopted two pups and told me that I should too. Right that moment I wanted a puppy not thinking it will grow big. But I wanted one. No matter what it take. I forgot about my fear of dogs so I told my classmate that I would get one male pup. After one and a half month my puppy was delivered to our condo in a half opened box. Since I was at school my puppy was left to our very mabait na kuya guard. I texted my mom right away. Everyone was excited. Mom called the direct phone to the guard’s station and asked how was the puppy, and who is cuter kuya guard or the puppy. It was funny coz huard said, “hindi maam mas cute itong aso.” The moment we got the puppy the whole family along with carlwin and our driver chong went straight to cartimar. We were shopping for his things. Parang baby. We bought him bowl for his food and drink, and a half kilo of pedigree, tapos puppy milk, diaper, shampoo, and soap. When we got home we ate his food mixed with his milk. Took a lot of pictures and gave him a name. I named him Ceigie Puppy… I named him after the leading man in my favorite anime..midori days. After a few days he doesn’t eat his food na… so I tried all the dog food I can see in the grocery but still he don’t eat them. I was worried. Until finally mom brought home a kilo of pet one dog food that was given away after a show in tiendesitas. To our surprise he loved it. And now he’s not very thin nor very fat. He’s very healthy and has a shiny white coat. Super shiny that even if he don’t wanna take a bath he still looks clean but smells bad!
Now Ceigie is two years old and have won some awards in dog contests. I taught him tricks. I taught him how to fetch. Now I can’t stop him from playing fetch. Because of Ceigie my fear of dogs vanished. Because of him I remembered how sweet life is to be given an unconditional love from a dog. When Ceigie turned one last year we celebrated his birthday at tiendesitas and decided to get a new puppy. We bought a toy poodle that was 4 months old by then I named her Lizzie Noodle Poodle. Coz her coat looks like a noodle. For me they are my babies. My beloved babies. I bring them everywhere I go. One time I brought Lizzie to school inside her dog bag. The school guards hardly noticed. But then because of them I learned that no matter what I do a dogs’ love is ever unconditional. I may have left them when I go to school they get sad and stuck their nose on the door and stay there until I get back. Wag their tails when they’re happy, play with me with their fetch toys. For them an hour is long and a day is much longer. They seem to miss me so much even though I just went out to throw our trash. They love to be walked in the morning, afternoon, and night, they love to play, fight, and sleep by my side. If not for them things would not be the same. They brought happiness and a lot of love to share here in the place we they call home, here with us their family.
Unconditional Love By Raegin Manuel
*photo was taken during the blessing of the pets at greenhills shopping mall*
