The title is a common derogatory term referring to Filipino natives who supposedly eat dogs instead of pork or chicken.

Later, Rio leaves Manila for the United States with her mother and only revisits her childhood home as an adult.

After winning the title of Miss Philippines, she publicly denounces the pageant and becomes involved with political leftist Santos Tirador.

After he witnesses the assassination of Senator Avila, he hides out at Uncle's shack and eventually has help from Boy-Boy to escape the law.

In an attempt of pursuing an acting career, he decides one day to end his amorous relationship with Trinidad.

Andres Alacran: the homosexual owner of CocoRico, a prestige bar that attracts many foreigners and famous people.

General Ledesma: a powerful figure who cheats on his wife with the famous movie star Lolita Luna.

Senator Domingo Avila: a politician and human rights activist labeled a leftist by the government.

Cora Camacho: the star of a popular television show; she interviews important figures such as Severo Alacran and Daisy Avila.

[4] Avila's assassination and the resultant coverup that implicates the innocent Romeo[5] demonstrates the government's oppressive nature.

These events are juxtaposed with an interview with the First Lady who rationalizes the evidence of their corruption and denies that the Filipino government is a dictatorship.

Likewise, Isabel is a social asset to her husband and her main job in life is to always appear flawless and polished.

Rio's mother, Dolores, follows a strict beauty regimen and uses various products and services in order to remain youthful.

For example, General Ledesma's wife, Leonor, exhibits a monastic lifestyle, with much fasting and prayer, and strives for sainthood.

[9] Although Rio does not directly address the role of religion in her life during the novel, in the end she states that her "belief in God remains tentative" and that she "long ago stopped going to church.

When the novel Dogeaters was first published in 1990, The New York Times said that it was written with "wit and originality"[11] Another critic argued that the novel is based on Filipino nationalism.

"[13] The San Diego Union stated, "Hagedorn transcends social strata, gender, culture, and politics in this exuberant, witty, and telling portrait of Philippine society.