Fifty beautiful dogs of different breeds and more than 100 human attendees came together in one fashionable garden event in Davao City, the first of its kind. Of course, the spotlight is on our canine friends.
Dubbed “Pawprints in the Garden”, this first event in Davao was organized by Baby Moon Pawprints in the spacious garden of the Big House, A Heritage Home — a perfect setting for a Victorian Garden theme show.
Baby Moon Pawprints started in 2009, a year after Baby Moon Lifestyle, a fantasy-Victorian accessories brand for costume and millinery. Baby Moon Pawprints provides millinery for dogs and cats, from made-to-order fashion hats to doggy wedding clothes and debut outfits which used to be available in local bazaars and dog events. In 2011, Baby Moon Pawprints became available year round at Hobbes & Landes in Bonifacio High Street. This fashion shop is owned by Maita Robillo Lu, whose roots are from Davao.
The Big House, A Heritage Home is the ancestral house of the Robillo clan who hails from Davao. Conveniently located in Juna Avenue, Matina, one of the pioneer villages in the city, the old ancestral home was built in the early 1950’s and still retains most of its posh vintage furnishings still in good condition.
Now transformed into a homey bed and breakfast, it has 11 upgraded rooms, a manicured garden, a patio area, a lanai café, a spacious living room and a formal dining room which houses a traditional drinking bar and an antique piano. While the rooms now have their own toilet and bath, cable TV, and air conditioning, the beds still retain the antique headboards and vintage paintings that the Robillo children grew up with.
The tea party event for our four legged friends started promptly early afternoon soon as visitors came pouring in. Each were given a loot bag from Hill’s Science Diet, dog food from Vitality, and a free photo wall portrait pictorial from me, using the Fuji Instax camera and prints and the Fuji X-T1 camera.
There were raffle prizes, fun games (dog pabitin, hunt for the golden bone, bring me, etc.) and an all-you-can eat gourmet doggy buffet spread for the chic pooches. Water stations were placed all over the garden for dogs to have a drink after running around socializing with others. While preparing for the fashion walk, “parents” were practicing petiquette as they looked after their dear pets’ toilet habits. Birds of paradise flowers were neatly arranged in the center of the garden along with a red carpet rolled out as the runway.
Judging the fashion show together with my co-judges Migen Krisette Catog of Davao Dog Lover’s Group (DDLC) and Darrel Blatchley, owner and curator of D’ Bone Collector’s Museum, we came up with the winners who got consistent high scores.
1st Prize went to John Amante in a tuxedo with Shih Tzu and Chihuahua mix Katya in a white Flores de Mayo inspired gown. 2nd Prize went to Lourdes Pretty Meggy (Pug) in a pink dress while Mom was in a black Victorian gown. 3rd Prize was won by Kimberly Baylon and Yoko (Lhasa Apso-Poodle) in garden picnic attire and pink dress.
Runners up were: Ramon de Leon with Truffles (mini dachshund) in a red gown; Biena Lou Concada and Luke (Shih Tzu) in flowers and floral vest; and Doogy Levy and Kisses (miniature schnauzer) in a lovely gown with pearl necklaces.
In the same online contest sponsored by Pet Fashion and Trends Philippines, a blog run by Baby Moon Pawprints, the winners were Jan Paola Lagrimas, Ramon Angel De Leon and Reya Sazon.
Baby Moon Pawprints prides itself in pet-friendly and climate-friendly fashion. You can special order your pet’s outfit at facebook.com/babymoonpawprints or email [email protected].
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