FCI (Spain) appoints AKCUPI as head of its Asian branch; receives stud book from local club

After getting its accreditation from the Federacion Canina Internacional, considered to be the most prestigious, credible and biggest purebred registering body based in Spain, the Asian Kennel Club Union of the Philippines, Inc. (AKCUPI) has been appointed by FCI as head of its Asian branch during the 1st Asian Plenary Session held last November 30, 2009 at the EDSA Shangri-La Plaza Hotel in Mandaluyong City.

AKCUPI’s appointment as FCI’s Asian branch head is unprecedented in the history of the local purebred registering industry, which was erstwhile controlled by its four-decades old rival. FCI (Spain) Founder and President Dr. Jose Alberto Fernandez Felix personally came over to make the appointment after adjudicating, together with Maria Eugenia Ribelles, chairman of FCI’s International Affairs, FCI’s 1st All-Breed Dog Shows last November 28-29, 2009 at Tiendesitas. During the session, delegates from the other Asian countries expressed their interest to be affiliated with FCI (Spain). They were: Ryan Liao, president, Myanmar Kennel Club; Sang Lim Lee, director for International Corporate Affairs, Korean Kennel Club; Mark Ma, president, Pet Industry Association (PIA, Guandong), Chiina; Dominic Wong, Overseas Committee, PIA, China; and Chihiro Oshima, president, Kennel Club of Japan.

Dr. Felix, a doctor by profession and one of the top organizers of World Dog Shows for the kennel club based in Belgium, said he welcomed the application of these Asian clubs with FCI Spain. At the same time, Dr. Fernandez briefed the participants about the profile of FCI (Spain) which he founded right after leaving the club in Belgium. The plenary session coincided with the induction of the new set of officers of AKCUPI with Dr. Felix as inducting officer. AKCUPI’s new management team which took office on effective January 1, 2010, is composed of: Henry G. Babiera, chairman/president; Bernie Jalandoni Repalbor, chief operations officer; Edgardo C. Cruz, vice president; Rogelio de Guzman, treasurer; Don Caperal, assistant treasurer; and John Irvin Uy, corporate secretary.

In his acceptance speech, Babiera, who until recently was the club’s Chairman for International Affairs, pledged to make a milestone within the canine world in Asia. He also envisioned the club to grow by leaps and bounds.

Meanwhile, during the Nov. 28-29 2009 dog shows, the club led by outgoing president Repalbor turned over the stud book to Dr. Fernandez. The stud book contains a registry of 15,000 purebred dogs since the launching of the club last March 30, 2008.