Pinoy Hachiko waits for his owner's return every day at Cebu port

Who doesn't know Hachiko, Japan's famous loyal doggo?

The late Akita dog, who was born in 1923, is known for going to Shibuya train station every day to wait for his deceased owner. The fur baby continued to do so for nine years, until his own death in 1935.

To remember his loyalty, Japan honored Hachiko with a statue that has become a popular tourist spot.

In 2023, another loyal doggo appeared in the Philippines. Just like Hachiko, an aspin named Kilay lives at at the Bogo City port in Cebu in the hopes of reuniting with his owner with the arrival of each passenger ship.

Kilay's fur parent, Glenn "Mingming" Inoc, is a crew of a passenger ship. He found Kilay when the dog suddenly boarded their vessel in Allen, Samar.

"Payat talaga 'yan pagsakay. Naaawa lang talaga ako sa kaniya. In-adopt namin dito," he said.

Mingming named the dog Chokoy and bonded with him as he worked. He tried taking the fur baby to Matnog, Sorsogon, but the other dogs there did not want him around so he took him back to Bogo City.

"Hahagisan ng lubid, tatakbuhin niya tas ibabalik. Para pampasaya lang sa kanya," he said.

When Mingming's ship was assigned to another route, however, he had no choice but to leave Kilay at the Bogo City port. He asked his friend, a porter named Clemente, to look after the dog.

"Iniwan ko na lang siya. Sakit sa [puso] dahil nasanay na kami na nandito si Chokoy sa barko," he said.

After Mingming left, Clemente and the other port staff christened Chokoy as Kilay. The porter said he took Kilay home, but the dog simply returned to the port.

Kilay would then wait every day at the dock, seemingly waiting for Mingming's return. He would grow animated when a ship arrives, helping the staff pull the ropes and then scanning the passengers for a familiar face.

Because dogs are technically not allowed at the port, Kilay was briefly taken to the dog pound.

"'Yung dog pound, nakaharap lang sa dagat. Tuwing nakikita ni Kilay yung barko na dumadaan, umaalulong po siya. Tapos maingay. Tapos umiiyak," said Jaypee Padernal, K9 handler of the Philippine Coast Guard.

Jaypee and the other staff pleaded with the port management to allow Kilay back to the docks. Their wish was granted, so they built a home for the dog, set aside a budget for his food, and had him vaccinated.

Still, there are times that Kilay misses Mingming so badly. The two have been apart for over three months.

"May time pa na hindi kumakain. Kaya nga pumayat yan. Pero buti na lang nandiyan sila 'yung mga
porters, pinapakain po talaga siya," Jaypee said.

To reunite Kilay with his beloved master, the KMJS team tracked down Mingming, who is now assigned to the Ormoc-Mandaue route. They transported him from Mandaue to Bogo so he could see his fur baby once again.

"Hindi ko ma-explain ano nararamdaman ko. Excited. Kinakabahan. Makilala pa niya kaya ako o hindi na," he said while on the way to Bogo City, located three hours away by car.

When he finally arrived and called the dog Chokoy, Kilay perked up with the familiar voice and quickly recognized him.

Mingming was glad to see that the dog was doing well. In the end, he decided to leave the dog where he is well-cared for and happy.

"Pag ilagay sa bahay 'yan, malungkot na 'yan. Wala ng mag-alaga sa kaniya. Dito na lang siya sa port. Iiwan ko na lang sa kanila dito. Kasi dito siya masaya e," he said.

Jaypee promised Mingming that the port staff will continue look after Kilay, as the dog has already wormed his way into their hearts.

"Marami din talagang nagmamahal kay Kilay dito. Huwag po kayong mag-alala," he said.

Mingming, for his part, promised to visit his beloved Chokoy again.

"Magpakabait ka dito kasi iwan kita sa nag-alaga sa'yo dito. Babalik naman kami dito sa Bogo. Bibisitahin kita ulit."

—MGP, GMA Integrated News