Korina Sanchez-Roxas

Award-winning broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez-Roxas is known to be one of the most resilient media personalities in the country. However, she feels compassion towards mistreated or homeless animals. Korina has been an animal welfare advocate for more than a decade and spends significant time on it. She considers animals to be God's unique creations and has no regrets. 

Despite her busy schedule, Korina prioritizes family and helps stray animals. She secured a production deal with ABS-CBN for her show "Rated Korina" and online programs.

"Hindi ako naniniwala na wala silang kaluluwa. Who knows? Some say they don't. But how do you explain what you see? Yumayakap sila. I really don't know," said Korina during an interview in Quezon City recently. "Hindi ba lumalabas sa mga feed ninyo yung adoption and rescue ng mga animals. Ano ang nararamdaman ninyo? Ganun yun!"

(I don't believe they don't have souls. Who knows? Some say they don't. But how do you explain what you see? They hug...they kiss. I don't know. Don't the adoption and rescue of animals appear in your feeds? What do you feel? That's it!)

"Who says dogs don't have emotions? When she sees me she stands up to give me a hug. As if forever grateful for the safe, fun, and loving home we gave her," she also said.

Korina, the wife of former Senator Mar Roxas, reminisced about how her love for stray animals began.

"It all started when I married Mar. I told him mag-alaga muna tayo ng dogs. His cousin breeds this beautiful Schnauzer. Then it went on my lap. Ayun na," she said. (It all started when I married Mar. I told him let's take care of the dogs first. His cousin breeds this beautiful Schnauzer. Then it went on my lap. That's it.)

To the rescue

In the span of 10 years, Korina has managed to save an impressive number of approximately 3,000 dogs. She rescued some 50 dogs from a beach in Boracay, Aklan, and transported them to a shelter in Metro Manila.

"Pumunta nga ako ng Boracay at inuwi ko lahat ng dogs sa beach. I brought a team of vets. I took them to a hotel, binakunahan muna silang lahat, dinala sa isang shelter sa Aklan. Maraming ganun ha. People are into it and mostly foreigners. Kasama na ang support with food. Ang bagal magpa-adopt. So ni-RoRo ko sila by 10," she said. (I went to Boracay, rescued all the dogs, vaccinated them, and took them to a shelter. I also provided food and transportation.)

"Sometimes the endings are tragic kasi minsan hindi naasikaso and yung iba nagkasakit. Ang iba naman ang haba ng buhay. Hindi mo talaga mababantayan talaga one by one. You can only hope with the investigation you do in the beginning," she added.

(Sometimes, the endings are tragic because they are not cared for, and others get sick. Others have a long life. You can't watch them one by one. You can only hope with the investigation you do in the beginning.)

Shelters for dogs

During an interview, the 58-year-old broadcaster disclosed that she keeps dogs in her residences.

"I have five in every home. I have five in my Cubao home. I have five in my Makati home. I have three in my Merville home where I grew up. And I have about 20 in my shelter," she said.

Korina has also rented a house in Pasig City, where she cares for rescued dogs.

"I rented a house in Pasig because whenever I pick up dogs from the streets, it's more expensive to put them in a vet or clinic until they get adopted. Mahal doon P1,500 a night. So doon na lang sila sa murang bahay and I get them adopted one by one. Kapag nagpapa-adopt na ako, puwede na ako magrescue uli."

(I rented a house in Pasig because whenever I pick up dogs from the streets, it's more expensive to put them in a vet or clinic until they get adopted. It costs P1,500 a night there. So they stay in a house, and I get them adopted individually. When they get adopted, I can rescue them again.)

She made it clear that dogs were non-negotiable for her. Sometimes she laughs when he remembers she ran away because she and Mar argued about the dog.

"Kung minsan naiinis siya. Ay hindi, dito matutulog yan sa ulunan ko. Sabi niya, 'may dinala ka na namang dog galing sa kalye.' Ni-rescue ko sa isang shelter. So nandyan lang siya sa garahe. So sabi nya may bago na naman? Ang dami-dami na.

(Sometimes, he gets annoyed. Oh no, the dog will sleep here on my head. He said, 'You brought another dog from the street?' I rescued the dog from a shelter. So the dog was just there in the garage. So he said there's a new one? There are so many (dogs).

Jas, a rescued dog, then and now

"Ipapadala ko yan sa bundok. Akala ko nagbibiro. Sabi niya, hindi bukas ng umaga, ipapadala ko na talaga. That night naglayas ako. First time ko maglayas kasama yung dog. Umuwi ako sa bahay namin. Sabi ng mommy ko, oh, this is a first. Overnight lang naman pinauwi rin niya ako. No compromise talaga ang dogs ko," Korina said.

(I will send it to the mountain. I thought he was joking. He said, tomorrow morning, I will send it. That night I ran away. It was the first time I ran away with the dog. I went home to our house. My mommy said, oh, this is a first. But he also only sent me home overnight. My dogs are no compromise.)

Another unforgettable incident that exemplified her compassionate nature towards animals occurred when she and her companions successfully captured a rat that had entered their home.

"Minsan nakahuli sila ng daga. Tinanong ko sila, 'ano'ng ginagawa ninyo sa daga na hinuhuli ninyo? Nilulunod daw nila. Sabi ko hindi na puwede yan! Pakawalan n'yo na lang yan sa kalawakan! Ayoko ng pain and cruelty. Nakakatawa ba? I know I'm weird. Of course, I don't allow rats at home. Pero siguro invent something that does not inflict pain That, to me, is my thing. Slow and painful death ang paglunod eh," she said.

(Once they caught a rat. I asked them, 'What do you do with the rat you catch? They say they drown it. I said that's not possible! Release it! I don't want pain and cruelty. Is it funny? I know I'm weird. Of course, I don't allow rats at home. But maybe invent something that does not inflict pain That, to me, is my thing. Slow and painful death is drowning.)

Korina delighted her followers by sharing a heartwarming social media post featuring her son caring for one of their beloved dogs. "My little boy Pepe loves dogs. I wouldn't mind him being a veterinarian one day." Her other child is Pilar.

Pepe Roxas, son of Korina and Mar, loves dogs

Korina and a furry friend (Images courtesy of Instagram)

Adopt-a-Pet-from-K

Korina has recently launched an incredible campaign known as Adopt-a-Pet-from-K. This initiative is tirelessly driven by a dedicated team of three individuals who are passionately advocating for animal welfare.

"I investigate the adopters. Never tie, never cage, sleep in the house, hindi puwedeng guard dog, hindi puwedeng nakabukas ang gate or nasa veranda. May experience na kasi ako na tumatalon sila. Lahat dapat may bantay. May pera ba kayo para ipa-vet yan? Mahal. Huwag ninyong pakainin yan dahil magkakagalis. And they have to be cooperative when we ask for photos and visits. Minsan maabutan ko sa visit yung dog wala ng buhok. Bawi yun," she said.

(I investigate potential adopters and require that the dog never be tied up or caged. They must sleep indoors and cannot have a guard dog or leave the gate open. I have experience with dogs jumping fences, so everyone must have a secure fence. Do you have the funds to get the dog vetted? Please do not feed the dog any food without our approval as it may cause itching. Adopters must be willing to provide photos and allow visits. During visits, if I notice the dog has hair loss, we will take it back.)

The most recent rescue made by Korina was a stray dog that was severely undernourished and had mere skin and bones.

"We saw this dog curled up maybe in pain and hunger on a piece of cloth along J.Abad Santos where our studio is. Skin and bones. Most of her fur was gone because of malnutrition and disease. She couldn't eat well from the garbage pile because she had a nerve problem from the dreaded parvo disease that many dogs die from. She could not keep her head from twitching.

"Less than a year after we took care of Jas (acronym of Jose Abad Santos Ave), she attended her very first dog birthday party. Her fur is now perfect. Her body is rounded, healthy, spayed, and vaccinated. Shed a tear of joy finding out her head doesn't shake anymore! The condition is usually permanent.

"Jas is home. She is now a resident family member in our studio. This is her revenge life now. And we all love her. She loves us back. Bring more love into your life by adopting one of our rescues. Email us at [email protected]," she wrote.

Karen Davila, a fellow broadcaster, commended Korina for her efforts in rescuing abandoned animals. "Oh, my Korina. Heart of gold! This is so touching. Beautiful."