A four-year-old Pembroke Welsh corgi named Eastern Promise of Hangaram, commonly known as Dalbong, made history as the first Philippine dog to earn the “World Winner” title at the prestigious World Dog Show 2023.
Competing against 131 other corgis, 1,592 herding dogs, and 55 herding dog breed winners, Dalbong also clinched the Best of Breed award. His owner and handler, Wency Villanueva, confirmed that this achievement took place at the recently concluded event in Geneva, Switzerland.
“The World Dog Show is the biggest conformation show in the dog show industry,” Villanueva said to ABS-CBN News.
In a heartfelt Facebook post, Villanueva expressed gratitude to everyone who supported them in their journey. “This win is not just for us, but for all my fellow exhibitors who dream of becoming world champions one day,” he wrote. “Never lose faith in yourself and always believe in your dog.”
Dalbong was named after a character from the 2014 television series “What Happens to my Family” and has been competing since he was just six months old. Despite originating from Korea, he was raised in the Philippines, which influenced his unique name.
The accolades add to Dalbong’s already impressive resume. He was previously recognized as the No. 1 Pembroke Welsh Corgi in the Philippines by the Philippine Canine Club Inc. and has received Best in Show awards in dog shows across Asia, including events in Thailand and Vietnam.
