Meet the Team
Our Team consists of 5 Board Members and 19 Full-time paid staff
- 1 shelter manger
- 2 office staff
- 4 caretakers
- 1 facilities manager
- 11 trained veterinary assistants
Christine Askew
founder & PRESIDENT
Christine is originally from the UK but has lived in Asia since 1995, primarily in HK and Thailand. She moved to Dumaguete with her husband Robie in August 2015. She has had a life long love of animals and a life long dream of opening an animal sanctuary - finally that dream has come true.
When she first arrived in Dumaguete, she was distressed at the amount of suffering she saw on the streets – dogs especially - emaciated, starving and riddled with mange.
She initially started volunteering at an existing rescue organization but realized that without effective systems in place and without a large donor base, a Shelter would not be able to sustain itself long term. She set up DAS with the aim of building a reputable, internationally known organization that would be capable of addressing the problem at its source.
Christine is also a trained therapist working with attachment, addiction and trauma and still works full-time alongside her work with DAS.
Ruben (Robie) Bernado III
Board Member and Co-Founder
Robie is an addictions counsellor originally from Manila, but after meeting Christine while they were working together as counsellors in Thailand, he moved to Dumaguete. Robie set up the Sanctuary with Christine and in the early days, oversaw all the major construction of the and the utilities systems. He continues to ensure that everything runs smoothly.
Estella Trujillo Petersen
Board member / treasurer
Estella is from the US and retired to Dumaguete in 2019 with her husband Paul. She is the board treasurer and is also our adoptions manager. Although she is ‘retired’ she pretty much spends 7 days a week answering the huge volume of messages that come into our social media inbox.
Estella and Paul have adopted 7 dogs from DAS – two being special needs.
Ever since she was a child, Estella has had a deep love and passion for animals, especially cats and dogs and is committed to her volunteer work and advocating for importance of a stray-free Dumaguete.
Estella
Jean Marie M. Tinio
Board Member
Jean is from Dumaguete and has always had a love for dogs – she has 8 of her own!
She is Senior Accounting Manager at CMT Accounting and Booking services and is also a Juris Doctor, a graduate of Law and Jurisprudence.
Jean takes care of all our legal issues and accounting.
Jean ensures that all permits are in place, all registrations are up to date and that our financial records are up to date and submits them to BIR for annual review.
Despite her own busy work schedule, she is always available to help DAS with whatever legal and financial questions we have.
Rina Ausejo
Shelter Manager /
Corporate Secretary
Rina oversees the day-to-day running of the Shelter.
She manages all the staff at the Shelter, co-ordinates and carries out rescues, purchases stocks and liaises with the vets to implement treatment protocols.
Rina was one of the first people to start working at DAS in May 2020.
Rina frequently spends days and nights at the shelter when a dog is in a critical condition, not leaving his/her side until recovered.
Rina has been working within Animal Welfare in Dumaguete long before DAS. She used to work with DAWG – Dumaguete Animal Welfare Group – an organization that sadly no longer operates here.
She has a Veterinary Assistant Diploma, Canine First Aid Diploma and Canine Holistic Health Diploma. She has adopted six dogs and a one eyed cat called Fred from DAS.
Dr Erica Gane Reyes Pattalitan
Veterinarian
Doc Erica owns ‘Pet Monarch Small Animal Clinic’, in Isabela, an area very far from Dumaguete.
She first came to DAS in May 2023 as she and her co-owner Dr Myla Aliangan offered to volunteer their services for free for a whole month. They were instrumental in starting off our Free Spay and Neuter events and also the Mighty Shaun Memorial Free Clinic.
When not here in person, Erica and Myla have been directing treatment of all our rescues daily for free! They also take it in turns to come to DAS for a month, bringing two other vets with them.
Dexter Tulabing
Dexter Tulabing
Facilities Manager
Dex manages all the caretakers and ensures that the cleanliness of the Shelter stays at a high standard. He oversees the maintenance of all the buildings and also the vehicles. Dex also works as our driver - often coming out late at night to pick up rescues. He can turn his hand to anything! Plumbing, construction, welding – you name it, he can do it.
Domingo (Ding) Bolda
Domingo (Ding) Bolda
Caretaker Manager
Ding was the very first employee at the Sanctuary. He came from Manila in 2019 when the Shelter was first being built.
He lives on site and all the dogs absolutely adore him.
When a dog was really sick, he would sleep all night in the clinic with them. He loves them all, but here he is with his favourite dog Charlie – who sleeps in his bed with him!
In the early days, Ding gave out all the medications for the dogs and did pretty much all of the cleaning, feeding and walking on his own. Thankfully we now have 19 full-time shelter staff so he can rest more!
Rudylyn Cadayona
Rudylyn Cadayona
Head Veterinary Assistant
Rudylyn started in DAS in Sept 2020 and has studied intensively to achieve her 3 diplomas: Veterinary Assistant Diploma, Canine First Aid Diploma and Canine Holistic Health Diploma. We call her the "dog whisperer" as she can gain the trust of even the most aggressive or fearful dog. She works closely with our vets and oversees the medication and treatment of the dogs and cats. She manages a team of 10 trained veterinary assistants.
Rudylyn has 10 dogs, four adopted from DAS
Angel Mary Castro
Angel Mary Castro
Senior Veterinary Assistant
Angel started working at the shelter in January 2021, originally as our receptionist. She decided that she wanted to work hands on with the dogs and studied for and passed her Veterinary Assistant Diploma and then Canine First Aid and Canine Holistic Health diplomas.
Angel is fearless and will go to great lengths to rescue an animal in distress. She once crawled all the way up inside a rat infested sewer to rescue a dog that was injured from a hit and run. She has adopted 4 dogs from DAS