Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan acknowledged concerns over animal cruelty and environmental harm and ordered an end to a controversial Easter practice in Malabon following public criticism.
The move came after the Philippine Animal Welfare Society criticized the use of a live dove during an Easter presentation at the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of the Immaculate Conception in Malabon, where the bird was allegedly subjected to distress and later killed.
“I checked with the parish priest regarding the reported balloon-flying during the Salubong ritual,” David said in a message to LiCAS News.
The cardinal said the practice of tying a dove to balloons during the Salubong will be discontinued, with parish organizers instructed to release the bird immediately after the unveiling of the Marian image.
“Please assure everyone that this practice will be discontinued. There will be no more balloon-flying in future celebrations, and the dove will be released immediately after the unveiling,” he said.
The prelate said he was unaware of the balloon release during the ritual and would have opposed it had he known.
“I was not aware that there was a subsequent practice of tying the pigeon to balloons, with its wings restrained. Had I known, I would have objected, because this is not only cruel to the animal, but also harmful to the environment, especially to marine life that may ingest deflated balloons,” David told LiCAS News.
He said he witnessed only the unveiling portion of the ritual and did not see what followed.
The cardinal explained that the use of a dove in the Salubong is a long-standing parish practice, adopted decades ago as an alternative to suspending a child dressed as an angel.
“Apparently, the parish has long practiced the use of a dove—rather than a child dressed as an angel—for several decades now, even since after the Second World War, because people felt it was safer and less distressing than suspending a child mid-air,” he said.
“I had honestly presumed that the dove was released immediately after the unveiling,” he added.
