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.

“Papunta ako ng bus station noon, nakasalubong ko yung bata. Nag-aaral daw siya sa Baliwag. Ngayon, binigay daw sa kanya yan, para alagaan. Ngayon, ang problema lang, noong pasakay siya [sinita] siya ng kundoktor na bawal daw isakay ang tuta o aso. Kung gusto, mag diaper o kulungan. Eh wala na siyang pera, nakasalubong ko. Dala-dala ko itong [kariton]. Binigay sa akin.”

("I was headed to a bus station when I met a student in Baliwag who was prohibited to bring the dog without a cage or diaper on board. However, the student does not have any money to buy that, and I encountered him while I was working with my cart. He gave it to me instead.”) 

Disconnected

Rolando, a native of Nueva Ecija, first moved to Manila after finishing grade school. Through a referral from his older brother, he pursued the “Manila dream” to study. However, as his father’s health declined and their financial struggles worsened, he was forced to stop schooling.

“Talagang mahirap kami noon,” he recalled.

("We were really poor then.")

“Inikot-ikot ko itong buong Kamaynilaan. Dito na ako nag-stay. Nanggaling na akong Maynila. Sa Kalentong, sa Divisoria…,” he added.

(“I’ve roamed Metro Manila already, but I stayed here [in Quezon City]. I have lived in Kalentong, Divisoria, and other places in Manila.”)

A year ago, Rolando separated from his wife. While he earns a living by collecting scraps, his two children remain in Nueva Ecija under the care of his sibling. Before Whitey came into his life, he was in a dark place — alone.

Both of his children are in high school, one is a freshman and the other preparing to graduate, under a Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) program. After secondary education, he shared that his eldest daughter plans to work as a saleslady in a mall in Cubao, as they cannot afford to send her to college.

Before freelancing as a bin man, Rolando previously worked as a construction worker. However, he notes that while his former job paid more, his current work provides a more consistent income, as one of the biggest challenges in construction is the delay in salary payments.

“Dati akong karpintero. Ngayon, noong wala akong trabaho noon, mas maganda naman yung kalakal, mas maganda ang hanapbuhay. Mas malaki ang pagkakarpintero, yun nga lang minsan nadedelay, minsan hindi.”

(“I was a carpenter. Then I got unemployed. My work is better now since my earnings are constant.”)

Now, he earns P600 for collecting plastic bottles over two days, most of which he sends to his children. He emphasizes that the only real capital in his line of work is hard work.

“Sipag lang ang kailangan dito. Puhunan, sipag.”

(“I just need perseverance. That’s the only capital here.”)

Rolando doesn’t have an easy way to stay in touch with his family. He shares that his phone was stolen while he was working. However, to bridge the longing for connection, he is fortunate enough to borrow a phone from a security guard at a remittance center every once in a while.

Life with Whitey

"Halos palagi kaming magkasama (We are almost together most of the time)," is what Rolando quipped and emphasized when asked how life is with Whitey. He added that he treats Whitey as a family member, a friend, and even a child of his own.

Whitey eats what Rolando takes. If someone provides him food, he shares it with the puppy. 

“Si Whitey, dahil nga sa aso na yan lagi akong binibigyan ng mga tao. Sabi ko nga, okay naman kahit papaano ang buhay. (People provide me food every now and then because of that dog. As I’ve said, life is good after all.)" 

Just like other less fortunate, when the two have extra food to spare, they share it with others. Rolando believes that it would be hard to just help a person since there are a lot of people facing hardships. 

“Mahirap naman kung isang tao lang ang tutulungan. Maraming mahihirap  (It's hard to just help someone. There are a lot of less fortunate people)," he emphasized. 

Whitey, on the other hand, is a marvel, according to his owner. The dog attracts a lot of attention, especially from students passing by their cart.

For Rolando, his own health is manageable, as he keeps records of his previous COVID vaccine shots. However, he sometimes worries when Whitey gets sick, as he lacks the means to afford veterinary care. Still, he hopes that one day he will be able to provide for Whitey’s needs, including booster shots and other pet essentials.

Whitey also makes security easier. Alongside a neighboring dog, Brownie, he helps guard their cart while Rolando sleeps. The only challenge, Rolando shared, is that Whitey’s playful side often emerges at night — sometimes waking him up when he least expects it.

'I am not alone'

When asked if he ever feels lonely, Rolando quickly dismissed the idea. "Hindi. Dahil sa kanya (No. Because of her)," he said, then pointed to his dog.

He added, "Kasama ko ‘yan. Kapag natutulog kami, nakahiga ako… maharot ‘yan sa gabi, nilalambing-lambing ako niyan (She’s always with me. When we sleep, I lie down… she gets playful at night and cuddles me)."

Looking back, Rolando recalled a time when he often found himself lost in thought, staring into the unknown. But everything changed when Whitey arrived — bringing light into his life and becoming his source of emotional support.

"Ang sabi ko nga, kung mawala ‘yan, malulungkot na naman ako. Malulungkot lang talaga ako pag mawala siya (If she ever leaves, I know I’ll be sad again. I’d truly be heartbroken without her), Rolando admitted.