Meet Dalbong The Corgi, the first Filipino Good Boi to win at the World Dog Show

Written By Niko Del Rey

We have seen so many Filipinos test their skill against the best in the world and succeed. We all watched Manny Pacquiao grow to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, families everywhere cheered on both Catriona Gray and Pia Wurtzbach as they earned the title of Miss Universe, as a people we marveled at Hidilyn Diaz taking home the first gold medal for the Philippines at the 2020 Summer Olympics, and now our next world champion, Dalbong the Pembroke Welsh Corgi to win at the World Dog Show 2023. 

Dalbong competed in Geneva, Switzerland this past August, beating out 131 other corgies, 1,592 herding dogs, and 55 herding dog breed winners, according to his Filipino owner, Wency Villanueva, to take home his World Winner title along with winning Best of Breed. 

However, Dalbong and Villanueva are no strangers to the winners podium, winning is in their blood. After their monumental win at the World Championship in August, Villanueva and Dalbong went on to compete at the Saigon Show Dog Kennel Club in Vietnam to take home multiple wins: Best in Show, Best in Group, and New Vietnam Champion.

Although we have only recently seen the final result of their hard work (a world championship title), Villanueva and Dalbong have had years of strict movement training, precision dieting, and meticulous grooming, to get Dalbong show ready. In addition, the countless hours spent joining local and other international competitions to perfect the bond between owner and future champion. It’s not always work solely for Dalbong, Villanueva himself needs to perfect his approach to presenting Dalbong while simultaneously managing to find time to play and socialize Dalbong. 

"This win is not just for us but for all my fellow exhibitors who dream of becoming world champions one day. Never lose faith in yourself and always believe in your dog," Villanueva states on his Facebook post.

In an interview with CNN Philippines, Villanueva discusses what’s next for the dynamic duo:

“Dalbong is only four years old and we’re planning to join more because I believe ang pagiging show dog nafi-feel din po namin yan kasi ako yung nasa dulo ng lead ng aso so naa-understand ko if my dog gusto pang mag-join,” he said.

[Translation: Dalbong is only four years old and we’re planning to join more because I believe, as someone who leads the dog, I understand if my dog still wants to join.]

We can only imagine how bright Dalbong and Villanueva’s future can be given the numerous accolades they have achieved thus far. But this feat is not only a testament to what hard work can accomplish at the end of the day but more importantly, another inspirational success story  to future Filipino exhibitors who dream of becoming world champions one day. 

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Written By Niko Del Rey

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