Dr. Jose Alberto Fernandez Felix (seated, third from left), president of FCI Spain formally announces the appointment of the Philippines as head of FCI’s Asian branch. Witnessing the announcement are the delegates and guests during the 1st Asian Plenary Session: (Seated from left) -Ryan Liao, Myanmar; Sang Lim Lee, Korea; Mark Ma, China; Dominic Wong,China; Maria Eugenia Ribelles, Spain; and Chihiro Oshima, Japan. (Standing from left): Don Caperal, AKCUPI asst. treasurer; Joseph Ongchuan; Mike Buenaflor; Penny Cham; Albert C. Lim; Bernie Jalandoni Repalbor, COO, AKCUPI; Jester Jo Ongchuan; Henry G. Babiera, chairman/president, AKCUPI; Primo Co; Edgardo C. Cruz, VP, AKCUPI; and John Irvin Uy, corp. secretary, AKCUPI.

The Federacion Canina Internacional (FCI), considered the most prestigious, credible and biggest international purebred dog registering body in the European community, which is based in Spain and recognized by its government, has named the Philippines, represented by the Asian Kennel Club Union of the Philippines, Inc. (AKCUPI) to head its Asian section or branch.

This was officially announced by FCI President Dr. Jose Alberto Fernandez Felix who presided over FCI’s1st Asian Plenary Session attended by various Asian Kennel Clubs last November 30 at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City. In the same event, AKCUPI was unanimously elected by the Asian delegates to lead the Asian branch of FCI.

The Philippines’ designation as head of FCI’s Asian Section, bolstered by the overwhelming support of the session’s Asian delegates, is a first in the local canine industry and an indication of a local club’s gaining international status – thus reflecting the kind of recognition and acceptance of the world canine body of AKCUPI, which is barely two years old and the fastest growing local canine registering club with over 15,000 registrants.

Aside from Dr. Felix, whose first visit to an Asian country is unprecedented, the other delegates to the session were: Maria Eugenia Ribelles, chairman of FCI’s International Affairs; Chihiro Oshima, president of the Kennel Club of Japan; Sang Lim Lee, director for International, Corporate Affairs, Korean Kennel Club; Ryan Liao, president of the Myanmar Kennel Club; Mark Ma, president of the Pet Industry Association (PIA Guandong), China; Dominic Wong of the Overseas Committee of PIA; and Henry G. Babiera, chairman, International Affairs of AKCUPI.
The first Asian Plenary Session is in preparation for the Global Conference of the World Kennel Federation under FCI Spain to be held in Warsaw, Poland with all Asian-affiliate clubs pledging to attend in January 2010 and the Asian Kennel Federation’s Asian Summit in South Korea in May 2010.

The event coincided with the oath-taking rites for the club’s new management team bared by outgoing club president Bernie Jalandoni Repalbor. The new management team which will assume office effective January 1, 2010 is led by Henry G. Babiera as chairman/president; Repalbor, chief operating officer; Edgardo C. Cruz, vice-president; Roger de Guzman, treasurer; Don Caperal, assistant treasurer; and John Irvin Uy, corporate secretary. In his acceptance speech, Babiera aired his vision for the club: “It’s so hard to promise the world, but under my leadership, I’ll try to make a milestone within the canine world in Asia. With the blessing and guidance of FCI Spain, I strongly believe that the Asian Section of FCI would definitely grow by leaps and bounds.”