MANILA -- The sidewalks near the Manila City Hall have served as the stage of 15-year-old Eddie Aquino and his mongrel, Blackjack.

The tandem started when the Aquino family found a puppy underneath their tricycle in 2013.

"We took him in and trained him to do tricks," Eddie told ABS-CBN News in Filipino.

They named him 'Blackjack' because of his coat's color.

Since then, the pair has been entertaining passers-by with dance numbers, card tricks, and Blackjack's uncanny ability to solve basic math problems.

Eddie, the youngest of nine siblings, said he and his dog go to their spot on weekdays from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. to earn some money for their family.

"The earnings we get from our street performances are used to buy Jack's food, and for my allowance for school," Eddie said

"Blackjack practically sends me to school," the boy added.

The boy said he does not mind holding street performances after his classes because his father is too old to hold a regular job while his mother has left them.

"I have eight siblings, but only an elder brother and an elder sister is staying with me and my dad in Tondo," Eddie said in the vernacular.

Eddie said his elder brother is a college student who also drives a tricycle for a living, while his elder sister has a slight impairment.

"I'm still happy with what we (him and Blackjack) do because it is purposeful and helps the family," he said.

The young dog trainer dreams of being a veterinarian years from now.

He said he would want to be the first responder should Blackjack fall ill.

"I don't want to be helpless when something goes wrong with my pet... Blackjack is like a sibling to me. He is family," he said.