Actor and model Joseph Marco chose to celebrate his 38th birthday in the company of hundreds of rescued animals.
Joseph spent his special day at Red Cubs Pet Patrol, a nonprofit animal rescue and welfare organization, where he was surrounded by almost 600 rescued animals.
In photos shared on Instagram, Joseph posed with several of the animals at the shelter, including some that had been rescued after suffering injuries.
"Celebrated my birthday today surrounded by almost 600 beautiful souls. My heart is so full," he wrote.
Joseph also brought along his supporters, who helped donate pet food and other supplies needed by the shelter. Reflecting on the celebration, he said the experience reminded him that even simple acts of kindness can make a difference.
“The greatest gift is being able to give love, even in the smallest ways. Truly a birthday I’ll never forget. 🫶🏽,” he said.
His birthday celebration came after he and his fans also visited the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) a day earlier to spend time with animals and donate supplies.
Joseph expressed his gratitude to his supporters for helping make the pre-birthday visit possible and for contributing to the animals' needs.
“THANK YOU SO MUCH for making today possible and for generously donating supplies for the animals. Your love, kindness, and generosity mean more to me than you know. 🫶🏽,” he said.
He also thanked PAWS for welcoming their group and allowing them to spend time with the rescued animals.
“It was truly heartwarming to see so many people come together simply because they care deeply about animals. 🙏🏼,” he continued.
"As I celebrate my birthday tomorrow, I couldn’t have asked for a more meaningful way to welcome another year of life. Spending it with these beautiful souls, and with people who share the same love and compassion for animals, is something I’ll always cherish. My heart is full. Thank you, everyone, for making my pre-birthday celebration so special. 🙏🏼🫶🏽”
Joseph's gesture drew praise from netizens, who commended him for using his birthday celebrations to support animal welfare.
"This is why i support you!! 🙌👏 Happy Birthday dong!” one fan wrote.
"Inspiring na makita kang masaya sa mga ginagawa mo, thank you for inspiring us kuya @josephcmarco , sobrang buti ng puso mo!! 🫶🏻🥹 Happy birthday, mahal ka namin! ❤️ Grateful for your life,” another commented.
Celebrating with rescued animals has become something Joseph has done in previous birthdays as well.
Last year, he visited a cat shelter in Cavite, where he brought boxes of pet food and cleaning supplies, toured the facility, and spent time with the rescued cats.
Apart from the animal shelters, Joseph also celebrated his birthday with his family.