Last July 18, 2026, sixty four (64) community cat groups gathered for CATCON 2026: The First Philippine Conference for Community Cat Advocates at the Meralco Mini Theater.
Organized by the Biyaya Animal Care Foundation and the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), the conference featured talks designed to equip cat advocates with legal knowledge, practical strategies and best practices from communities, campuses, condos workplaces and local government units.
Biyaya’s Rina Ortiz opened with a history of the rise of the animal welfare movement, paying special tribute to Nita Hontiveros Lichauco of PAWS, Charles Whartenberg who founded AKF and Nancy Cu Unjieng of CARA.
Ortiz stated that the animal welfare movement does not belong to a single group or individual but a legacy handed down to current advocates by those who paved the way “It is also something that we will hand down to those who will come after us, “ she said.
Atty. Anna Cabrera of PAWS gave legal points that advocates can use when there are threats of impounding for the community cats.
Martha Subido emphasized the importance of professional language when speaking with condo administrators, developers and property managers.
Mich Caguioa of CATropa showcased how Meralco institutionalized TNVR within their corporate culture while Carmel Puertollano of DLSU PUSA talked about how La Salle transformed their campus into a place where students, admins and professors are all community cat carers.
For those who may have doubted that LGUs could also contribute in these conversation, Las Piñas City Vet Dr Michael Basangan presented an impressive model of how cat advocates and the City Veterinary Office worked together to help implement a more humane method of cat population management in their city.
CATCON also had Interactive breakout sessions on TNVR, fundraising, conflict resolution, LGU engagement, rescue, and building cat-friendly communities. Cat groups themselves had a chance to present their proposed solutions and shared best practices onstage.
Finally, towards the end of the event, the Commitment Board where every cat group and individual posted a cat-shaped piece of paper with the name of the cat they dedicate their work to.
There was not a single dry eye in the venue when Cabrera asked participants to remember the cat who started them on this advocacy. “It is a promise to these cats and others like them that we will do better. That despite the fact that we have different ways of doing things, what must unite us is a shared purpose- to make sure that for the cat we could not save, that for all the cats we could not save – we have resolved to roll up our sleeves and get to work.
Because for every cat we’ve ever lost, we will save one hundred more – and together we will spare thousands from suffering. We will do it together.”
CATCON 2026 was made possible by the kind sponsorship of these cat-loving and pro-animal welfare companies: M Pioneer Insurance, Pet Depot, Goodest, Meow Mix, XMS and Pets in Peace.
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Official photos of the event available at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NsS7M5H9tiqGpMVb1uOM-lq0lndPCZZK?usp=sharing
Or you may grab from the PAWS Philippines social media pages and credit: PAWS for the photos
For other queries and clarifications on this release, please contact Vida at 0905-4012235 / admin@paws.org.ph or Atty. Anna Cabrera at anna.cabrera@paws.org.ph
