What does "Hiraya" mean?
The word Hiraya comes from an ancient Filipino phrase Hiraya Manawari, which translates to
“May your dreams and wishes come true.” We chose this name to reflect hope—for animals
who are often overlooked, particularly in rural communities where animal welfare is not always prioritized.
Hiraya represents our commitment to education, access to care, and compassionate protection
for animals who can no longer survive life on the streets due to age, illness, or injury. Through community awareness and proactive support, we strive to give every animal the dignity, safety,
and care they deserve.
How did Hiraya Start?
Hiraya’s roots are grounded in a long-standing commitment to compassion and service. Beginning
in 2008, Prima and her daughter, Anjelica, volunteered regularly at the Humane Society -
an experience that helped shape their shared dedication to animal welfare and caring for the
most vulnerable.
Years later, those early values resurfaced at a pivotal moment. In 2023, Anjelica decided to pursue a different career path - veterinary medicine, rekindling the family’s collective focus on animal advocacy. Around the same time, Prima had been thoughtfully considering the idea of opening an animal shelter of her own. When Prima shared this vision with her husband and asked whether the time was right, his response was simple and decisive: Why wait? Let’s do it now. That moment transformed a long-held idea into action.
With strong family support and a shared belief in building something meaningful for animals
and the surrounding community, Hiraya moved from vision to reality and officially broke ground
in 2025.
Who designed our beautiful logo?
Angela Taguiang
Children's Book Illustrator & Graphic Designer
Angela Taguiang is a children's book illustrator and graphic designer. She tries to capture quiet and wonder through her illustration work, some of which have been recognized locally and internationally.
In 2023, she made Silong, a wordless picture book about a stray dog finding a home, which earned the 2023 Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) Wordless Book Grand Prize. She loves animals, but has an extra soft spot for Aspins. Through art and design, she strives to advocate for art & culture appreciation, and compassion, respect, & responsibility.