A home is more than just a roof over one’s head. It is a place where the heart resides, providing security and tranquility. This sentiment holds true even for a makeshift wagon parked on a dark sidewalk along EDSA, which has become a humble abode for 54-year-old plastic bottle carter Rolando Marquez and his loyal dog, Whitey.

Hidden in plain sight beneath the noise of traffic, a towering flyover, passing trains, and the dust that sweeps through the busiest avenue in the metro, stands a humble cart — the makeshift home of garbage collector Rolando and his puppy, Whitey. As Whitey plays, her owner carefully segregates the bottles he has collected, which he will later sell at a nearby junk shop.

The start of friendship

There are 12 million stray dogs in the Philippines, according to the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS).

A study published in January 2025 by the Journal of Animal Behaviour and Biometeorology (JABB) explores the continuous rise in the stray dog population, suggesting a strong connection to the human-dog relationship. The research hypothesizes that "most of the dogs wandering the streets were once pets abandoned by their owners," citing behavioral and financial issues as the primary reasons for abandonment.

Whitey’s story is just one of many like it.

Rolando met Whitey at a bus station near Cubao while collecting used plastic bottles. A person approached him, explaining that the puppy was not allowed to board the bus without a cage or diaper. The original owner, a student, could not afford to buy the required items and had no choice but to give the puppy to the scrap collector.

In return, Whitey became Rolando’s instant companion in his daily activities.