Experiencing the Pawssion Project firsthand with the Mazda BT-50

As we get out of our convoy of Mazda BT-50s at our destination, we’re greeted by gates to an unassuming, unmarked property (which was done for a reason). We were told to watch out for “land mines” as we make our way to the main facility. A single bark is heard in the distance, followed by a dozen more. All of a sudden, around 20-30 dogs scramble to our feet, with a couple of volunteers taming a couple of dogs from the herd.

While this drive up to Bulacan may seem relatively simple, especially with how capable these trucks are, this media drive has a little twist, a rather furry one.

This is one of the two shelters of Pawssion Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing and rehoming abused and neglected animals. Founded by Malou Perez in 2018, it started when she visited a dog pound and saw a pit where dogs that were to be killed were buried. And said dogs meant for this pit weren’t even going to be humanely euthanized, some were even set to be shot.

This is what led to Malou saving fifty dogs. But then she knew that her job wasn’t over yet— because there would be more every single day. Hence, the birth of her objective that grew into a fully-fledged organization, now with two shelters, one in Bacolod and one in Bulacan, currently with over 640 rescues. She and her team have saved over 2,500 animals, with over 1,100 of them rehomed, and over 3,800 spayed and neutered.

So, what does the Mazda BT-50 have to do with all of this? If you remember, this isn’t the first time Mazda Philippines has been involved with animal conservation. The company has been involved with the Katala Foundation since 2020 in conserving the Philippine Pangolin. Now, it has partnered with Pawssion Project in two ways.

First, with every purchase of a Mazda BT-50 (any variant) from August 2025 onwards, Mazda Philippines will be donating Php 1,500 to sponsor a rescue on the buyer’s behalf. Buyers can also adopt, donate, or continue the sponsorship of a rescue through a certificate.

Second, Mazda Philippines is lending a specially built BT-50 (based on the AT 4×2) to Pawssion Project, to help assist the day-to-day operations of the organization.

With a stand-out livery designed by Jaykee Evangelista, it not only differentiates itself from being a “rescue vehicle” but also broadcasts Pawssion Project’s advocacy in an approachable, eye-catching manner.

Other modifications were also made in collaboration with Malou. These include waterproof vinyl seat covers with taped stitching for the seats to complement the standard all-weather deep dish floor mats—important for easily keeping the interior clean with all the rescues they get. Storage compartments under the seats also allow for easy access to emergency food, water, and medicine.

Then, the cargo area now has an aluminum canopy that helps protect cargo such as food, medicine, and other supplies from the elements, with a sliding tray making it easy to access and load/unload cargo without having to enter the bed.

Of course, the BT-50’s tried-and-true features, such as the 3.0-liter turbodiesel engine, one-ton payload capacity, and 800mm water wading capacity, alongside a 360-degree camera and parking sensors, will make it easy for this car to reach almost any destination.

Going back to the shelter, while colleagues walk and feed various dogs around, I take a quick walk around the facility and observe the animals.

Some animals still exhibit signs of trauma as we get close to them, but the majority of the rehabilitated animals were very, very affectionate and confident, showing how much a little love and care can go a long way.

There are so many dogs with interesting backstories, like how some were saved from being roadkill, something that’s easily avoidable by braking for animals, and others were abandoned, whether indirectly or on purpose—people would leave animals on their doorstep like Silver the Husky, hence them having to remove any form of identification on the facilities. Some even lost a couple of appendages or even their eyes due to disease or injuries, but they were given a second chance at this sanctuary.

If you want to find out how to adopt, sponsor, donate, or even volunteer or advocate for Pawssion Project’s cause, you can visit their website at www.pawssionproject.org.ph and check out their social media pages via @pawssionproject on Instagram, X, YouTube, and TikTok.

Photos by Sam Surla