In the bustling streets of Quezon City, Mang Rene was a familiar figure. Some called him “the old man with the dog,” others simply nodded respectfully when they saw him. He didn’t beg. He didn’t talk much. But he always had company — a thin, loyal dog named Bantay, who followed him everywhere, like a shadow with a heartbeat.

Mang Rene had no home. He slept on flattened cardboard under a bridge. His clothes were torn, and his slippers barely held together. But every morning, he was seen feeding Bantay even before eating anything himself. Sometimes, he’d skip his own meal just to make sure his best friend had something in his belly.

“He’s all I have,” Mang Rene once said to a barangay tanod. “In my whole life, he’s the only one who never left me.”

Then came that fateful day.

Around noon, Mang Rene was seen walking slowly along the sidewalk, visibly weak. Moments later, he collapsed near a waiting shed. Bystanders rushed to help, called an ambulance — but as medics arrived, it was too late. Cardiac arrest.

But the most unforgettable part wasn’t Mang Rene’s death. It was what Bantay did next.

The dog lay beside him, nose touching his hand. He didn’t bark. He didn’t move. He stayed… as if guarding his master’s soul. When strangers tried to pull him away, he resisted. He whined quietly, like he knew something was wrong — like he was mourning.

Someone captured a photo of that moment: a lifeless old man on the sidewalk, and beside him, a dog who refused to say goodbye. That image quickly went viral online, igniting thousands of reactions. Netizens offered to adopt Bantay. Animal welfare groups came looking. But many believe Bantay was waiting — for one last sign.

A city veterinarian came to check on him. He was malnourished but healthy. For two days, he refused food and stayed near the hospital gate where Mang Rene was taken. It was as if he thought his master would walk out any moment.

Eventually, a kind-hearted woman who had followed their story brought Bantay home. She named the corner of her garden “Mang Rene’s spot” — where Bantay now likes to sleep, facing the street.

Many who knew Mang Rene believe this story speaks louder than any sermon or quote about love. Because love, in its purest form, is loyalty. And sometimes, it takes a dog on the street to remind us of that.