Jonathan Frederic De Santos

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<p>MANILA — A parish in Malabon City apologized Wednesday for tying a live dove to a bunch of balloons during its Easter Sunday celebrations, an act that animal rights groups condemned as cruel, with reports suggesting it may have led to the bird&#x27;s death.</p><p>“I wish to convey my sincere apology regarding the reported balloon-flying incident during the Salubong ritual this past Easter Sunday,” the unnamed rector and parish priest of the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of the Immaculate Conception said in a statement posted on Facebook.</p><p>&quot;We likewise apologize to our Bishop, Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, who was indeed present at the event but witnessed only the unveiling from below the pagoda,&quot; it added.</p><p>Echoing an earlier statement from David, the bishop of the Diocese of Kalookan, the parish said he was unaware that the dove had been tied to a cluster of balloons.</p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FICPmalabon1907%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0XnMCY1RVGcGo136axpry8tPM27YX1zCMgT9u961wqtDhLmdrp5o3Bv552nR9mM1vl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="250" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div><p>In his statement, David said he would have objected to it had he known about it &quot;because this is not only cruel to the animal, but also harmful to the environment.&quot;</p><p>He said the practice will be discontinued. </p><p>In separate posts, the Philippine Animal Welfare Society and Animal Kingdom Foundation called out the practice.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/people-culture-events/2026/4/7/animal-welfare-groups-call-out-malabon-parish-for-tying-dove-to-balloons-during-salubong-rights-1836"><strong>READ: Malabon parish draws flak for tying dove to balloons<br/></strong></a></div><p>PAWS also claimed the bird was killed.</p><p>Apart from the cruelty to the dove, environmental groups discourage releasing balloons since these contribute to pollution and pose a threat to wildlife that could choke on or get entangled on them.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>ENVIRONMENTALIST PRIEST</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, environmentalist priest from Laudato Si Convergence Fr. Warren Puno expressed alarm over the incident.</p><p>He said it was unacceptable for a dove to be tied for the sole purpose of removing the Virgin Mary&#x27;s veil.</p><p>&quot;Suggestion ko pwede namang may batang kukuha ng belo tas pagkakuha ng belo, magpalipad ng kalapati,&quot; Puno said.</p><p>Puno is the convenor of Quezon for Environment, a member of Tanggol Kalikasan, a Regional Coordinator of Laudato Si Covergence South Luzon under Caritas Philippines, and the Director of the Ministry of Ecology of the Diocese of Lucena.</p><p>&quot;May mga pamamaraan naman na talagang pwede pa rin maging meaningful, at the same time ligtas at rumerespeto sa karapatan ng lahat,&quot; he said. -- <strong>with a report from Jervis Manahan, ABS-CBN News</strong></p><div><strong><br/></strong></div>

<p>A parish in Malabon apologized Wednesday after tying a live dove to a bunch of balloons during its Easter Sunday celebrations, an act condemned by animal rights groups as cruel, with reports suggesting it may have led to the bird's death.</p>

A parish in Malabon apologized Wednesday after tying a live dove to a bunch of balloons during its Easter Sunday celebrations, an act condemned by animal rights groups as cruel, with reports suggesting it may have led to the bird's death.

Malabon parish sorry for tying dove to balloons during Easter rites

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Malabon parish sorry for tying dove to balloons during Easter rites

ABS-CBN News

Published April 08, 2026 04:47 PM PHT

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Updated April 08, 2026 05:52 PM PHT

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Diocesan Shrine and Parish of the Immaculate Conception

Malabon

Pablo Virgilio David

dove

Easter

Easter Sunday

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