Filipinos attend evening masses or dawn masses as part of their Christmas tradition. There are nine dawn masses in total, and they begin on the 16th of December. It is said that the wishes of anyone who attends all nine dawn masses will be granted.
These masses are not exclusive to humans, of course. Some let their pups tag along so they can take part in the celebration. There are also homeless dogs who wake themselves early in the morning to attend these dawn masses. Such is the case of Bukoy, a stray pooch from Ormoc, Leyte.
Nine mornings
When people in the community gathered to attend the first dawn mass, the pup went along with them. He made sure he was on his best behavior while listening to the priest. He would sit at his usual spot in the middle of the aisle so he wouldn’t disturb other people.
Those who have seen him commented on how he would always listen intently to the priest. From where they were standing, it seemed like the pup was taking mental notes of everything that the priest was saying. What impressed them even more was the pup’s effort to complete all dawn masses.
On the ninth dawn mass, the priest congratulated Bukoy for his perfect attendance. He also declared that the pooch will be showered with blessings and that God will grant what the furball’s heart desires.
Going viral
Maria Day Laude was among those present when the priest told everyone about Bukoy. As it turns out, she had been taking pictures of him since day one. She uploaded a compilation of all his photos to prove that he didn’t miss a single dawn mass. Her post reached different parts of the world in less than a week.
Bukoy earned praises from almost everyone online. They applauded him for making an effort to keep the Filipino Christmas tradition alive. Some even commended him for being well-behaved while listening to God’s word.
Credits to Inquirer
