MANILA, Philippines - For adopting a heart-friendly vegetarian diet, former United States President Bill Clinton gets to be welcomed in the country's capital on Wednesday by persons dressed as happy farm animals.

The dancing "cow" and "chicken" will wait outside the Manila Hotel on November 10, where Clinton will deliver a keynote speech. They will hold signs that read "Be Like Bill: Grill Veggies, Not Meat" and "Chicks Love Slim Vegan Bill!," recognizing the former US President's efforts to stay healthy for his future grandchildren, according to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

Clinton, who had undergone 2 operations because of heart disease, shed 11 unwanted kilos after he went on a vegetarian, no dairy diet last August in time for daughter Chelsea's wedding.

Since then, PETA said the former president "felt so energized that he decided to make the diet permanent."

"People who have tried, essentially, a plant-based diet...have seen their bodies start to heal themselves; break up the arterial blockage, break up the calcium deposits around the heart," Clinton said in a statement released by PETA.

He continued, "Eighty-two percent of people who have done this have had the result, so I want to see if I can be one of them."

For his part, PETA director Jason Baker said, "Bill Clinton is promoting healthy living, and we commend him for leading by example...Going vegetarian is the best thing you can do for your health, animals and the earth."

Citing studies, PETA said meat consumption has been conclusively linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity and cancer.

This, the group said, can be prevented by eating fruits and vegetables.

Dr. William Castelli, director of the Framingham Heart Study, the longest-running epidemiological study in medical history, earlier reported, "Vegetarians have the best diet. They have the lowest rates of coronary disease of any group in the country...They have a fraction of our heart attack rate, and they have only 40% of our cancer rate."