Philstar iconPhilstarSep 29, 2026 ~2 min source read

Vogue Philippines features rescued aspin Banca on its first ‘Dogue’ cover

A Philippine forest dog rescued by photographer Shaira Luna appears on Vogue Philippines’ inaugural Dogue digital cover, prompting widespread positive reaction online and renewed attention to native dogs.

‘Ang ganda’: Aspin lands on Vogue Philippines’ first-ever Dogue cover

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Vogue Philippines released its first Dogue installment featuring Banca, an asong gubat rescued by photographer Shaira Luna.

Banca is described as a Philippine forest dog (asong gubat) and is recovering while living with Luna as part of a 10-dog household.

The cover drew strong positive response on Facebook and Reddit, with users praising Vogue for spotlighting a native aspin rather than a pedigree breed.

The useful part

According to the magazine, Banca is now on her "road to recovery" while living with Shaira as part of her 10-dog household. "Thank you, Vogue, for featuring our own dog on your cover… our very own Aspin (Asong Pinoy)," a Facebook user wrote. Lahat pinag-iisipan, 'di 'yung makabalandra lang ng sikat, cover na," another commented.

How it works

  • "Eto na ata favorite cover ko na nakita ko sa mag [magazine] na 'to," another Reddit user wrote.
  • "Yey for highlighting our aspins that deserve so much love as much as any other breeds," another commented.
  • It also reached Reddit, where a post featuring the cover was captioned, "Vogue Philippines features an Asong Gubat in its September/October issue." The Reddit post has garnered 4,900 upvotes and 60 comments.
  • Vogue Philippines features an Asong Gubat in its September/October issue by u/ladytagumpay in Philippines "Ang ganda!
  • Aspin, short for "Asong Pinoy," refers to native mixed-breed dogs in the Philippines.

What to take from it

Banca, meanwhile, is an asong gubat, the Filipino term for "witch dog," distinguished by its lean build, upright ears and brindle coat. "Dogue" is Vogue's annual feature highlighting public figures and their dogs, accompanied by a digital cover. The American edition launched the first iteration in 2024, which has since become a regular feature.

Example or evidence

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Details worth keeping

"Thank you for featuring the beautiful aspin," a different Pinoy wrote. More appreciation [for] our native dogs!" another Redditor commented. They are known as skilled hunters and loyal companions.

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