MANILA, Philippines — Not even the COVID-19 pandemic can stop Eastwood City in Quezon City from celebrating its annual blessing of pets in celebration of World Animal Day on Sunday.
However, this year’s celebration comes with a twist, as pet owners and their fur babies simply stayed inside their vehicles and drove thru Eastwood Citywalk for the blessing.
In photos provided by Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, it showed a priest giving the pet dogs, cats, and even a parrot, his blessing along with their owners who drove by the area.
For the blessing, pet owners must follow this route should they want to participate in the celebration:
Vehicles should enter from Eastwood City Main Entrance (Citibank Entrance);
Drive straight ahead to E-Commerce Road;
Turn Left to Dunkin Donuts;
Turn Right to Phoa Hoa;
Traverse the Citywalk Drive for the Pet Blessing proper;
Go straight toward TGIFridays;
Turn right to exit.
“Megaworld Lifestyle Malls continues to celebrate the presence and genuine companionship our pets give us, especially during this time of the pandemic. We may not be able to celebrate it the way we used to, but we still have lots of reasons to be grateful for the moments we get to spend with our loyal friends,” Tefel Pesigan-Valentino, Megaworld Lifestyle Malls vice president for marketing said in a statement.
“The Drive-thru Pet Blessing also encourages social and physical distancing as much as possible, which helps ensure the continued safety of everyone,” she added.
The blessing of pets —which has been a yearly tradition in Eastwood City since 2005—is celebrated every October in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, who is the patron saint of animals.
A special online contest was also launched where pet owners, along with their furry babies, are invited to dress up in futuristic costumes of their choice using recycled materials.
The five best entries will be awarded special gifts and prizes, Megaworld Lifestyle Malls said.
/MUF
