APRIL 9, 2026 — The Easter Sunday ritual in Kalookan that went viral — where a live pigeon was tied to balloons, wings bound, and killed — has ignited a storm that refuses to die down. The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) has now drawn a hard line: if this happens again, they will file a case under the Animal Welfare Act.

The Diocese of Kalookan quickly apologized, claiming they believed the pigeon would be released after the unveiling. Bishop Pablo Virgilio David even called the incident “regrettable,” stressing he would not have approved it had he known the details. He promised to discontinue the balloon practice and instead “release the dove immediately after the unveiling.”

But PAWS is even more upset. For them, the issue isn’t just about balloons or timing — it’s about the principle. 

“If we cannot be guided by the basic precept that animals are capable of suffering, and therefore we have a moral duty to prevent suffering whenever we can, we can perhaps be convinced that there is the law that can make violators accountable,” said PAWS Executive Director Atty. Anna Cabrera. 

She added bluntly, “The next time this happens, we will file a case.”

That statement hits hard. It reminds us that cruelty cloaked in tradition is still cruelty. And in a country where fiestas, rituals, and religious practices often involve animals, this warning should serve as a wake-up call. PAWS is urging the public to be vigilant, even to submit affidavits if similar acts occur again.

Bishop David, meanwhile, took the conversation further. While lamenting the pigeon’s fate, he pointed out the selective outrage of society. 

“Our compassion should not be selective. If we are capable of being deeply disturbed by harm done to animals and to nature, then all the more should we be moved — consistently and passionately — by the suffering and destruction of human lives,” he said.

It’s a provocative reminder. Yes, we must defend animals from needless suffering. But we must also confront the violence that continues to claim human lives — whether in the drug war or in conflicts that leave civilians dead.

This incident forces us to ask what kind of compassion we practice as a nation. Do we only care when it’s convenient, or when it goes viral? Or are we ready to defend life — animal or human — with the same urgency and consistency?

(Image: Animal Kingdom Foundation | Facebook)