PAWS AND PEPPERMINTS

Lina Torres was only 15 years old but was already a local legend in her tiny coastal town of Guanzo.

- Zaida Marie A. Tambis

While most kids her age were busy with video games and social media or endless TikTok scrolling, she had a different kind of obsession: trash diving.

But not just any trash - she loved collecting colorful paper bags, candy wrappers, shiny foil from milk boxes, crinkly chip bags, and anything bright and crumpled.

To others, it was just garbage but for her, it was fashion waiting to happen - clothes and accessories for cats and dogs.

She was reading a book under the shade of their mango tree one summer afternoon, when her neighbor's scruffy aspin (asong Pinoy), Romeo, walked past. He was strutting awkwardly in an oversized onesie meant for a three-year-old toddler.