by Khrysta Imperial Rara
Vera Files
Every day at 6:30 a.m., Pacman goes to his training area for a 30-minute run. Egged on by his trainer, he goes through his morning routine with the focus and determination of a top-seeded athlete. But this Pacman doesn’t spar with his coach. This Pacman chases his trainer around instead.
Pacman the puppy is bound for stardom, just like world-renowned boxer Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao. And Pacman the puppy may never know it, but in the future, human lives will depend on him.
Pacman the puppy is one of five aspins or asong pinoy (native Filipino dog) at present undergoing puppy training so that, in a year’s time, he could sniff bombs and narcotics in passenger ships and ports. He is one of 90 dogs in the kennel of the Philippine Coast Guard: Forty of them are under training, while the rest will undergo screening before starting doggie school next month.
The PCG, an armed and uniformed service attached to the Department of Transportation and Communications, is tasked with securing sea-going public transport vehicles like ships and ferry boats. Part of its job is detecting explosives and narcotics for which it used to procure foreign breeds like the German Shepherd, Labrador, Belgian Malinois and Golden Retriever.
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Hay native filipino dog! naku po hindi bombing ang hahanapin yan kundi kakainin sa public place… duwag din yan parang mga puiis at hindi pa tested si doggy.
I hope these dogs can also sniff out rotten/ corrupt government officials. 😛
Destroyer, native dogs are sometimes more intelligent than most pure bred imported dogs. They can be depended on too when it comes to guarding property. I should know, we have one before but unfortunately died a couple of years ago due to old age. 🙁
haha, kala ko kung ano yung aspins…
kung guard dog lang naman sa bahay… maaasahan yang si bantay…masipag kumahol… subukan mo naman itali.. siguradong masipag ding mangagat…
hindi lang kasi sila ginagamit sa establishment dahil syempre sanay na mga pinoy sa aspins… at maliit… hindi nakakatakot tignan…
pero kung to sniff bombs and narcotics… i believe may potential ang mga ‘aspins’! good luck! 🙂
That’s a very clever acronym for our native dogs, Aspin….lol….
A third party should make an inventory of the “aspins” nightly…to ensure they’re not on someone’s plate on any given night. Baka sabihin, nakatakas.
Whats the difference between aspins and askals?
Whats the difference between aspins and askals? – Jake
Askals require more vetsin, bawang and dahong laurel than the domesticated aspins. Suka and Toyo – the same.
Lasang kalye kasi, di pa laging naliligo.