Adobo? Adobo! Delicious!
Yes. It's adobo, a savoury Filipino dish but I'm talking about a different adobo. Adobo is the pet dog of residents semesters in and out at the International House (IH) of the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, Laguna. Just like you, when I first learned of his name, I was amused. Later, I asked why and how did he ever got his name. It was a long and funny story however.
No one knows exactly how old the dog is but basing on the story how and when he arrived at the residence hall, I am certain that he is more than 10 years old now.
During my first days of stay in IH I have seen how Adobo was taken cared of by several of the residents. Anything that a dog can eat was always available on his plate. One of the residents Kuya Rene, was his constant company going out for an early morning jog. During my later weeks during my first semester in the hall, I also became fond of Adobo. I usually played with him running and jumping during the late afternoons at the parking lot infront of the hall if not going for an early morning or late afternoon jog. And whenever I came back from the province, he would usually meet me under the mango tree wagging his tail and rolling on the ground happy to welcome me home.
I will never forget our Kuya Cons though as he is fondly called, who had been so caring of the dog when Kuya Rene was out from our hall for weeks or months. I learned great lessons from him through his taking care of dogs and cats. He understands the language of his pets. Whatever his “ulam” is would be also the “ulam” of Adobo and some cats that would stay in the IH kitchen for certain months and slip away for reasons cats would behave. He would always see to it that the dog is fed before he leaves for school. Sometimes I would entertain myself by watching Kuya Cons bathe Adobo and the cat even if they hesitate. While watching him he would lecture me on how to live with cats and dogs, their behaviours and how to handle some of their ill manners.
I would just smile to myself watching him shampoo the dog 2 to 3 times then putting some kind of aromatic gel to finish him off. Then I would laugh aloud sopped up when all of a sudden a clean Adobo with his sweet smell would immediately loose himself away from Kuya Cons and run shaking around then would roll on the grassy ground under the coconut trees infront of the hall or down the parking lot putting himself back to dirt again!
After 2 or 3 of my semesters in the hall, another guy also became so fond of Adobo adding him as one of the masters in the dog’s life. As one of Adobo’s masters, he also became one of my friends for all seasons hahahahaha…. His name is Jaime. He calls himself a guy who lives just on the next door of his neighbor !!!haha.. And...just like Adobo who becomes naughty many times, Jaime becomes one too especially in the YM....
I left IH in November last year after four long years of stay. I left Adobo behind including those people who touched my life. They’ve made my stay in the hall a very memorable one. I still have that nostalgic feeling. And as I see these three names that made Adobo a mascot dog in IH --- they seem to share a common denominator… hahahahahah……Jaime, Peace ha!
