Since Sunday PINASaya director has not yet removed the “Yaya Dog” photos from his Twitter account, it is definitely not going to be easy to do this task: to subvert the prevailing definition of ALDOG. What does this word mean? Those who coined this term define it as “mga retarded fans ng ALDUB na walang modo at pakalat-kalat sa page ng ibang network. Mga bastos at asal-kalye. Matitindi ang sakit sa pag-iisip.” By the way it sounds, the term ALDOG is obviously meant to hurt and demean ALDUB and most especially those who support the phenomenal love team. Even if Rich Ilustre is associated with a TV program whose popularity is often attributed to both the presence of Alden Richards and the overwhelming support of the ALDUB fans, the Yaya Dog photo would still sadly signify the arbitrarily degrading label “ALDOG” and he will probably seem like he is one of those who unabashedly (or discreetly) mock and bastardize the ALDUB brand, phenomenon, and icon.
When the term “ALDOG” initially became so notorious on social media, there had been an attempt to subvert not its meaning but its emotional effect on the receiver (reader/listener), at the very least. This attempt comes from the popular Twitter page @katolikongpinoy. They came up with this meme, retweeted by at least a couple of ALDUB-affiliated accounts:
The meme shows photos of Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza with their respective pet dogs. Both stars are known for being dog lovers. It also includes the text “#ALDOG: We get high in good vibes everytime they call us that.” Twitter user @katolikongpinoy should be commended for taking the initiative. This picture was retweeted by @ImTidora on 27 September 2015.
The Yaya Dog photo, on the other hand, was posted on 30 October 2015. It was said that the dog was dressed to look like Yaya Dub (the female protagonist in Eat Bulaga’s KalyeSerye), in time for the Halloween event and pet costume competition organized by PAWS. Though Sunday PINASaya director Rich Ilustre most probably did not have any malicious intent when he published the photos in his Twitter page, didn’t he have foresight? As someone who works in a visually oriented, myth-making industry, he should have foreseen how such photo, such depiction of Yaya Dub can be perceived and interpreted by fans, both pro and anti-ALDUB.
The PR horror Rich Ilustre created definitely begs some questions now: How can we lessen the damaging impact of the term ALDOG on the wholesome image of ALDUB and the ALDUB Nation? By simply ignoring the issue and waiting for it to die down? Or should we take the higher road and try to subvert its meaning? So how do we–the fans, the masses–further and effectively subvert the ALDOG image and its meaning? If the internet is an archaeological site, how do we want the future generation to understand and define ALDOG?
To be continued…
The Filipino Spectator 
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