Kapamilya actress Jodi Sta. Maria recently gave a touching glimpse into the bond she shares with her dog Zandro, whom she fondly calls Z, after attempting a fainting prank that quickly turned into an emotional reminder of how deeply animals care for their loved ones.
In a Facebook post on January 16, the actress uploaded a video showing how she pretended to faint on the floor, curious to see how Z would react. Jodi lay still for a few seconds, unsure of what her dog would do. Z rushed to her side immediately, tapping her back as if trying to wake her up.
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Caught off guard by his reaction, Jodi could not keep up the act. Z even shook her head, prompting the actress to laugh and end the prank.
“Man’s best friend talaga sila. It’s a blessing to be loved and chosen by them,” Jodi wrote in the video.
As soon as she revealed that she was fine, Z barked at her, appearing to check her condition. Jodi responded by caressing her dog to reassure him, saying, “I love you. Joke lang ‘yun. Mommy is fine.”
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In the caption, Jodi shared what the moment meant to her and how it changed her perspective.
“Sinubukan kong i-prank si Z. Ang eksena kunwari nahimatay ako. I didn’t expect na ganito ang reaction nya coz most of the time nakatabi lang sa akin at nagpapalambing. Pero sa ganitong pagkakataon, siya pala ang magiging first responder ko,” she shared.
Reflecting on the experience, the actress highlighted the depth of a pet’s love. “Yung pagmamahal ng pets for us is unconditional. Blessing na magkaroon tayo ng bestfriend na tulad nila sa lifetime natin.”
Netizens were quick to react to the video, praising Z’s instincts and affection.
“Ang galing! he made sure na gising and lucid ang pasyente.. very good, Z!,” one commenter wrote.
“Apaka cutie, ng reaction ni kuya Z kung kaya lang nya buhatin si ate Jods for sure ginawa nya na!🤍🥹,” another maintained.
READ: Jodi Sta. Maria on her 3 fur babies: ‘So blessed to have them in my life’
Zandro has held a special place in Jodi’s life for years now. In 2024, the actress shared how she adopted him after spotting two abandoned puppies while taping for the series Lavender Fields. At the time, she noticed movement from afar but brushed it off as director Emmanuel “Manny” Quindo Palo was busy blocking a scene. When the team later changed positions, Jodi saw two puppies, barely over a month old, settled on a concrete barrier of a bridge, frightened and on their own.
Direk Manny took in the brown puppy and named it Lav. Jodi adopted the white puppy and named him Zandro. She named him after the character played by co-star Albert Martinez, who portrays Zandro Fernandez in the series she was doing when she found him.
“You are safe now little Z. Mommy will love and protect you,” she wrote at the time.
Apart from Z, Jodi has built a growing fur family through adoption. In 2023, she welcomed Naia, a stray cat named after the Ninoy Aquino International Airport where the animal was found. In 2024, she adopted Lily, a black aspin, followed by Putol, whom she took in last December.
Jodi previously shared how she often saw Putol on CCTV, playing with other dogs in the morning and sleeping alone at night after scavenging for food. Though she initially hesitated, worried about how her other pets might react, she said she knew she had to keep him when Putol ran after her as she was leaving.
Jodi has long been vocal about animal adoption and welfare. In a People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) advertisement, she shared that she grew up in a pet-loving household.
“When I was young, I remember growing up in a household with animals. My mom naman, would pick up stray dogs,” she said.
In the same campaign, the actress pointed out the country’s “animal homelessness crisis.”
“Hindi lahat aware na mayroon tayong animal homelessness crisis dito sa Philippines. But I feel with proper education and also if we raise awareness, then the animal homelessness crisis will be addressed,” she explained.
While acknowledging that not everyone can foster animals, she emphasized that there are still ways to help. “You can do something.”
“Help support organizations na naghe-help sa mga animals. You can always give your time and your effort by volunteering and using your social media platforms to get the word out there,” Jodi added.