The Story Behind This Heroic Aspin's Statue in Zamboanga City
There's nothing like a good hero story to remind us of the good that's still left in the world. This enterprise of good, of course, doesn't just apply to humans, but to our beloved pets, as well. Enter the humble dog, who is as fierce and loyal as a companion as the next guy. Whether it's the Hachiko memorial in Japan or Balto statue in New York, dogs are celebrated for their presence in our lives, as well as the acts of heroism they've displayed when they're needed the most.
In the Philippines, we have our own hero dog memorial dedicated to a certain Aspin who once made international headlines for sacrificing her snout for her owners' sake. Meet Kabang, whose statue stands proudly in Zamboanga City today. She remains one of the most beloved canines in modern Philippine history, too.
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Born on February 29, 2008, Kabang was said to have been found in a litter of five inside a sack at the dumpster of the Zamboanga City Government. Dina Dianchi says that it was her stepfather Rudy Bunggal who made the discovery and subsequently adopted her. Kabang, the name, means "multi-color" in Cebuano, a reference to the black, yellow, and white patterns seen on Kabang's fur.
Her life would take a remarkable turn soon enough.
How Kabang Became a Hero
In 2011, then-nine-year-old Dianchi and her three-year-old cousin, Princess Diansing, had been trying to cross the street when suddenly a local motorcycle was fast approaching. The girls were said to have been oblivious to the vehicle coming their way. Sensing the cousins were in danger, Kabang would lunge at the motorcycle, eventually knocking it over. Both the rider and the kids only sustained minor bruises.
Kabang, effectively, bore the brunt of the pain. "The bones holding her upper snout were crushed, and we could not do anything to save it", said Bunggal at the time. "We just pulled her off the wheel." She would run off and reunite with the family a few weeks later. Suffice it to say, the injuries were grueling, and the dog was up to be euthanized. The family opted to take care of her instead.
There were several attempts to do surgery on the pupper. Kabang would have difficulty eating but would nevertheless have a normal life, even becoming a mother to some pups of her own. In 2012, for instance, New York-based nurse Karen Kenngott was so touched by Kabang's story that she offered to help. The nurse would start the grassroots fundraiser called "Care for Kabang."
The hero dog would make her way to the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at UC Davis in the United States for specialized treatment. Unfortunately, evaluations concluded that Kabang had heartworms and even a tumor. Chemotherapy would follow and surgery would be delayed until March 2013. It proved to be the boost she needed. When she returned to Zamboanga City on June 8, 2013, she would get a proper welcome in her hometown.
She would pass away on May 17, 2021 after living a relatively healthy and happy life. Kabang would be buried near a statue of Francis of Assisi in Zamboanga City in July 2021.
Later on, artist Kublai Milan would create the 400-kilogram aluminum statue of her in Pasonanca, Zamboanga City. It would officially be erected in her honor on August 13, 2021. Kabang's story was among the numerous notable canines in Ian Alfonso's book Dogs in Philippine History, as well.
Kabang's Hero Dog Memorial, which was funded mostly by donations from patrons in the United States, is currently under the care of Dr. Zamboanga City-based veterinary doctor and philanthropist Dr. Anton Mari H. Lim. The doctor was said to have been inspired by the Statue of Balto located in Central Park, Manhattan.
