A pet dog was seen attending mass at a Catholic church in Las Piñas City.
Footage shows the brown aspin named Max following closely behind the priest, Father Jerson, in Good Shepherd Parish.
Max has been living in the parish and often accompanies people during gatherings, quietly staying near them.
The canine sat at the front in the middle of the aisle as Father Jerson began the service.
“Max is the beloved aspin of Good Shepherd Parish. He actually belongs to Father Jerson, who is a true dog lover with several more pets waiting for him at home,” Devotee Marielle Manahan said.
Manahan posted the video on TikTok, garnering 873,100, 79,400 likes, 860 comments, 7,224 shares and 3,143 saves so far.
@pinkpsycho5800 Replying to @Bulinggit ♬ original sound – Marielle Manahan
TikTok users adored Max and were hopeful that many churches would also allow furbabies during the Holy Mass.
“Ang cute naman ni Dog Max…sana sa lahat ng simbahan payagan nila isama ang mga fur baby…minsan nag punta kami sa isang simbahan binawalan kami ipasok siya furbaby namin..pero ok lang naunawaan ko naman…ang patakaran nila…pero nakakatuwa si Max ohh,” a TikTok user commented.
“He’s blessing everyone with his wagging tail,” an online user said.
“Banal na aso,” another commented with a heart emoji.
“Ang cute niya talaga,” a TikTok user wrote.
Filipinos are predominantly Catholic due to the influence of Spanish missionaries in the archipelago in the 16th century. They converted the local population to Christianity, particularly Catholicism.
—Rosette Adel, Newsflare via Reuters Connect
