Synopsis of Nena and Kulit

This is a children’s short story about a young girl named “Nena “ who lives in Pulilan, Bulacan. She is the child of a hardworking family whose main source of livelihood is raising pigs and for some odd reason, she became smitten with a little pig she named “Kulit”.

As the story unfolds, we will learn about the character of Nena as well as the people who help her search for her inquisitive and mischievous Kulit. We will also nurture the bayanihan spirit of the Filipino community and the element of concern for others that people have shown to Nena in trying to search for her beloved pet, Kulit.

In a way this story teaches about love, the importance of the support from family, showing by example the virtue of responsibility to young people and also taking things not too seriously when we have problems since normally it will sort itself out or we will find a solution eventually. It teaches us humor is the spice to life. Humor also seems to be a tonic in handling our day-to-day struggles in life.

Nena and Kulit

Every May 1^st, all the villagers in the town of Pulilan, Bulacan prepare for the Feast of San Isidro, the patron saint of the farmers. In this farming town, people come to see the carabaos kneel and pray for bounty of harvest. This tradition is a famous tourist attraction in the northeastern part of Luzon Island in the Philippines.

One evening in late April, Nena, a wiry wisp of a girl all of nine years, could not sleep and walked toward the ten pigpens that her father, Mang Tacio, was feeding. She watched him and noticed an older sow making audible noises. She pointed at it and said, “Tatay, why is she too noisy?”

“Well, our Sonya is due to give birth any moment now,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.

“I can’t sleep. Could I help you? We have no school this summer and Kulit can also watch, is that OK?”

“OK,” her father remarked as “Kulit” the two-month old piglet wagged his curly white and pink tail.

Three hours later, Sonya lay on her side and heaved a heavy shrieking noise as if she was being butchered for the upcoming fiesta.

To the delight of Nena, one little oinker after another came out of Sonya as though she was like the white mouse rat, Lily, who had a litter of seven. When number seven came out, she could not believe that there were as much as twenty little oinkers, all in different colors, some in pure black, others white and black , and others pinkish white with curly pinkish black tail.

“Tatay, it is only Kulit who has a different color. He came from Sonya but her brothers and sisters does not have white nose and pinkish white tail.”

“You better help me line them up so they can all be nursed,” he prodded.

“OK”

After a few minutes, Nena was looking for Kulit.

“Tatay, I could not find Kulit, it is too dark!”

“Did you look in your room?”

“Yes, I did and even in our dog’s room, Bantay. He is not there. I am afraid. Somebody might eat him!”

“Oh, do not worry, we will find him when day light comes in.”

“You better get some sleep!”

“But, but, we need to find him now!”

“No, Nena! Tomorrow, we will. Okay, Kulit is a sneaky devil. You know that, he loves playing…”

“Martha, could you bring Nena in. Rey, could you help me here?” Tacio called his son to help him clean up.

In the morning as the cock crowed at 4 a.m., Nena stormed out and looked under the chicken coop, under the jackfruit trees, beneath the banana trees, and underneath the coconut trees.

There was no sign of Kulit.

Nena was breathing and sweating profusely and she could not imagine life without him.

She called her dog. “Bantay let us find Kulit!”

She went into the poblacion, ten blocks away, where the town fiesta is prepping up for the San Isidro feast. Two more days to go, she counted.

People are building booths, arranging tents, setting up carnival rides and other palaro games.

She could not help asking Manang Linda, the town fiesta coordinator. “Manang, Good Morning! Could you help me find Kulit? I could not sleep last night he slipped away!

Please…please ….,” she pleaded.

“Oh, is that so!” (Pause) “Could you describe Kulit?” she asked.

“Hmm…Let us try to ask help. The Mayor’s office is just around the corner, follow me.”

Manang Linda, Nena and Bantay walked four blocks to the mayor’s office.

As they enter the air-conditioned office, a heavy set portly man, named Manuel Atienza greeted them.

“How can I help you ladies?”, as his eyes drew into slits smiling at them.

“Mayor, your honor, could you help us find Kulit? He is my little pig. He is very special as he helps me do my chores. He sleeps with me and he is my best friend.” Nena blurted it out.

“Oh, OK. What is your name?”

“Nena, Sir.” Manang Linda remarked. “She approached me to seek help to find Kulit. He slipped away last night.”

“I could possibly help in placing posters of your missing pig, Kulit. We will place them in the barangay, in the town, in the school, and all over the village…”

“Oh, thank you!” she hugged him. “I hope our patron saint will help us, too!”

“You are welcome."

“Do not worry,” he added “I am sure you might be afraid he might be in somebody’s dinner table tonight? Are you?”

She nodded.

“Well let us offer a reward of one hundred pesos for Kulit; I will do that, OK?”

“Oh, thank you so much. “

“Mayor, I can help you in the office whenever you need me.”

“Nena, it is alright. We need to be in our fiesta, remember, we all should celebrate and be happy”

The following day, in the eve of the fiesta, posters of Kulit and the reward of 100 pesos were all over the poblacion and the whole village, in the market place, in the school, in the town hall and even in the cockfighting and boxing arenas near the fiesta stage grounds.

Nena did not sleep a wink that night since she was worried Kulit could have been pulutan in somebody’s plate last night.

“Are you fine?” Martha asked.

“Yes.”

“You are lucky; Our Mayor is helping you find Kulit. Let us pray to San Isidro!”

“OK. Nanay, I will pass by the church tomorrow to ask for a sign!”

“Do you need Rey to accompany you?”

“No... I do not need Kuya Rey. I can do it with Bantay.”

Suddenly, the kitchen door opened.

Tacio came out bringing in two pails of pig slop.

“Nena, I have a surprise for you!”

“Did you find Kulit?”

“No.”

“I have Sugo!”

“Sugo?”

“Yes, come out and see!”

Lo and Behold! She was a pink and white piglet with a red bow in a floral straw basket with jasmine flowers and rose petals.

“Oowwwnooo. He looks like Kulit”

She kissed him. Sugo is barely a day old.

“Well?”

“But Tatay, it is not the same. His tail is different.”

“Por Dios Nena! Kulit is just a little pig! You can train Sugo to be like him”

Tacio shaking his head

“Why? Who took Kulit?”

“I do not know. Who knows?”

“I did. I sold him,” Rey butted in.

“I know Kulit is special. I miss the bugger! But Sugo will be more special, you will see,

Give him time. OK?”

She nodded to Rey but could not help but cry.

“OK. May I be excused now?”

“OK. Wipe your face.” Tacio said.

Tacio carried the two pails of pig slop in the pen as he motioned Rey to help.

The following day, the weather was 100 degrees as the bands were marching in. Kids and adults dressed in colorful native customes in saya and barong danced the tinikling and people were selling food in the stalls. Kids were enjoying the Ferris wheel, octopus rides and freak shows in the stage grounds. There were some bands playing the kundiman songs as well as contemporary tunes. All kinds of food wafted in the area especially the scent of puto bumbong, sapin-sapin, turon, kalamay, barbeque chicken kebob, fish balls, chicharon bulaklak and bibingka were the standout favorites.

Humid and hot, the children waited for the palaro games to begin.

Nena was waiting in the pig races as she glanced at Mayor Atienza. He waved and she approached him.

“Mayor, are you still giving the reward of 100 pesos?”

“Why yes!”

“I thought you want to drop it. “

“I see you have a little friend there, what is his name?”

“Sugo, he is kind of special too…” Nena sighed.

“Why?”

“My father said that he almost died since all the other newborns were trampling on him.

He is pretty smaller than the rest of them yet he really looks like Kulit.”

“So are you giving up Kulit now?”

No!" Mayor! Never will, Sir!”

“OK let us go to the next game called ‘The Pigs Flying Game.’ “

Nena was with Bantay and Sugo as they approached the new palaro games. Mayor Atienza was handed a gun to start the games with a BIG BANG!

The games have four little pigs and the object is to catch the pigs in the muddy hole.

There are three contestants and the first to catch the piglet swathe in coconut oil and put him up in the pig pen wins. Time limit is 30 minutes. Contestants can only use their bare hands, no leashes, no gloves, no stun guns allowed. All three contestants are teenagers and pre-teens. One of them is Rey, Nena’s brother.

“Rey!!! Rey!!! Rey!!! Go Rey!!!” Nena shouted.

As others shouted for other two contestants,

“Dario!!! Dario!!! Lucio!!! Lucio!!!”

The four little pigs were released as chaos reality became hilarity.

Dario fell in the mud almost touching the tail of the pig wearing a superhero costume, yet his hand slipped its grip.

“Ahh!” the crowd roared.

Rey managed to hold the neck of another pig dressed as a black knight and then again it slipped.

“Ooooohhh!!!” The crowd crowed.

Lucio got the ear of the pig dressed in princess costume and then it also ran away.

“Eeeewwww!!!" The crowd interjected.

As the thirty minutes comes to an end, Dario got a hold of a pig, dressed as a knight, by its breast and clung to it as it tried to drag him for a few yards. Everyone gasped as Dario was able to pin it down and place it in its little pen.

As another game started in the east side of the fairgrounds, people trailed off to see other ongoing palaro games like tumbang preso, limbo rock, juego de anilo, to name a few.

Unnoticed by many, there was this little pig dressed as a witch that nobody dared caught.

Elusive and sneaky like a ghost, it was draped in black soot with a funny nose. Dressed like a witch, the boys could not put it back on the pen. As Nena tried to help, she called out “Kulit! Kulit! Is that you?”

The little prankster darted toward her and jumped on her chest.

“Oh, Kulit!”

“I missed you!” Nena swooned.

Kulit smothered Nena.

Manang Linda and Mayor Atienza watched Nena and Kulit.

“Nena, Kulit was here the whole day. He just wanted to have Fun!” Mayor said.

“Yes, Mayor , Thank You. And thank you San Isidro!”

Nena made the sign of the cross.

Kulit jumped on the Mayor and smothered him with his muddy claws. They all laughed.

The End

Glossary of Tagalog Terms:

(Tagalog Terms as introduced in story sequence)

Tagalog – Filipino language used in the northern part of the island of Luzon in the Philippines

Carabao – working animal in the farm which looks like a cross between a mule and a buffalo. It is the cousin of the tamaraw, another working animal used in this region.

Tatay - a term of respect for father.

Kulit – a term used to mean a personal or living creature that has a need to get noticed.

Nanay – a term of respect for mother.

Bantay - a noun which means “guard” or a person who watches over you.

Poblacion – public place where people gather and meet.

Barangay - the smallest unit of society. An area composed of people living in small hamlet working and living together.

Manang – a term of respect for older lady.

Pesos - Philippine unit of currency. The conversion rate is $1 to P49 in the International Exchange Market.

Pulutan – means side dish normally accompanying beer or other liquid refreshment.

Kuya – a term of respect for older brother.

Sugo – means guardian.

Por Dios – means “In the name of God”

Saya- Philippine skirt used by women in different colors like red, green, orange.

Barong – Embroidered Philippine garment worn by men made of hemp, jusi or light cotton worn during special occasions like fiestas, weddings, birthdays and even in funerals.

Tinikling –Philippine dance using two bamboo poles.

Kundiman- Traditional Philippine love songs

Puto bumbong –rice cakes mixed with ube or purple yams and coated with white sugar.

Sapin-Sapin – Philippine desert delicacy with coconut topping and has tricolor cakes normally purple, red and white.

Turon- Philippine snack composed of banana dipped in caramel sugar and wrapped in egg roll wrapper.

Kalamay – Philippine stick rice coated in brown sugar.

Chicharon Bulaklak – Philippine snack composed of crunchy pigskin and filling deep fried in oil.

Bibingka – Rice cake cooked in makeshift stove made of rice flour, red eggs, crème cheese and Philippine white cheese called “Kesong puti.”

Palaro – Philippine parlor games

Tumbang Preso – Philippine children game using a slipper and crooked tin cans.

Juego de anilo- Philippine game using a bicycle and the riders try to shoot the areas while riding the bike inside a small ring.

Nena and Kulit Go to the City

School is out. Nena is ready with her mother, Martha to take a vacation in the home of his uncle, Tito Nanding. He is his mother’s older brother who lives in Quiapo, Manila.

It is Nena’s first time to ride the Light Rail Transit and on their way to Quiapo after four stops in the Padre Faura exit, there was an old woman in her 60s with a black purse and 2 vegetable baskets she bought at the Pasay Market. She was about to leave as a pencil thin mustached man with a brown backpack wearing a black t-shirt with red sign “No Fear” slashed the woman’s purse.

“Magnanakaw! Saklolo!” the woman shouted as Kulit immediately scampered out. Nena and Martha followed suit.

“Kulit! Kulit!” Nena shouted, “Come back here.”

As Kulit dashed as fast as lightning and bit the man in the crotch

The man squirmed in pain and crouched and Kulit bit him in the ear.

The woman pounded on the man with her vegetable bags. As Martha leapt and tried to strangle the man.

He leapt and punched on Martha as Kulit peed on his shoes and bit on his leg.

Nena came to the rescue and another burly man pinned him down.

“Thank you! I could not catch him without all of you!" the woman cried.

Martha took out the wallet from the man’s backpack and handed it to the woman.

A throng of students dressed in uniform approached them and security police came over.

“Sorry about this. We came in late!” remarked the security police.

“It is Ok. Without this pig, I lost my money and my wallet.” the woman remarked. “I had five thousand pesos here (150 dollars ) since I got money from my tenant and decided to go marketing at Pasay Market.”

“Iha, you can have five hundred pesos (20 dollars).” She handed her the money.

“Oh, I cannot accept it” Nena shakes her head.

“Please, if you would not accept, it will hurt my feelings. This is for your pig”

“Well, Ok.” Nena gave it to her mother.

“You can buy him treats. He is wonder!” the woman is petting Kulit.

“Her name is Kulit. She likes to help.”

“I am sure. I know she is heaven-sent.”

“Thank you.”

“Where are you all going?” the woman asked.

“We are going to Quiapo.” Martha said.

“It is easy just take a jeepney here and you will not miss it.”

As Martha, Nena and Kulit took the jeepney to Quiapo. Martha could not imagine being late for lunch.

“Nanay, could we eat here first? We are getting hungry.” Kulit wagged his tail.

“OK. There is a Jollibee there,” Martha said

“Let us go.” Nena said with Kulit in tow.

After eating Jollibee McChicken and Jollibee Spaghetti, Martha asked Nena

“What do you want to buy with the five hundred pesos?”

“I will get Kulit a nice pink flower blouse and some treats.”

“Oh yes. We can do that tomorrow.”

As they left and walked two streets down, they turned into Quinta Market with vendors bustling with coconut carts and vegetable and fruit stalls lining the streets.

After turning a few corners, they saw the Quiapo Church where its patron saint, The Black Nazarene, is famous for miracles.

“Nena, this is where the Black Nazarene has performed a lot of miracles.”

“Wow, Nanay, let us buy a sampaguita lei for Kulit, she likes flowers!”

“OK.”

As they were walking in the church square, they saw the “hired weepers” in the church square soliciting their services.

One woman hired three weepers to weep for the wake of her son and when she gave a down payment of five hundred pesos (20 dollars) , all three weepers run away from this woman.

“Peke!" Pulis! Saklolo!” she shouted.

Kulit leapt at one of the weepers, a fat lady in her 40s who stumbled immediately and

Nena kicked her in her buttocks.

Martha hurried to the scene with the woman.

Luckily, the lady kept the money and slid it in her bra and Nena grabbed it from her.

“Here you go.”

“Wow! Thank you. May God be with you!” the lady remarked

Nena shrugged her shoulders and Kulit wagged his tail.

“You know my son died in a freak accident and we do not know who killed him. He is only 17 and I am really feeling lost and empty.” The lady cried in the shoulder of Martha.

“Owww let us help you with that. I have a brother who is an espiritista (clairvoyant). His name is Nanding Como. He has an office near here.” Martha pointed out.

“In fact, we are going there!” Nena added.

“Would you like to come with us?”

The lady nodded.

Martha, the lady, Nena and Kulit got to a dingy old office building in Figueroa street and went up three flights of stairs.

As they checked the rooms in that floor, they stopped at number 310.

“We are here”, Martha motioned.

A pretty receptionist greeted them.

“Kamusta, how can I help you ladies?”

“We need to see Nanding. Is he available?” Martha asked.

“He will be back in a few minutes, he just led a client out.” she smiled.

“Could we wait here?” Martha asked.

“Yes. May I know if you have an appointment today?” The receptionist asked.

“Not really but he is expecting us. I am his sister, Martha, from Bulacan and we will be staying at his home for the summer.”

“Oh, are you the sister with a piggery business?”

“Yes.”

“Welcome to Manila. How do you like Quiapo?”

Kulit leapt and kissed the receptionist.

“Sorry about that, she is hyperactive.” Martha said

“I don’t mind, she is so lovable. What is her name?”

“Kulit, the champion against thieves.” Nena said jokingly.

“Really, that is impressive…”

A bald headed man with heavy set eyes came in the door.

“Nanding, Kuya how are you?” Martha said.

“Kamusta. Martha!” (Pause) Is that you? “

“Yes, Tito.”

“Who is this?" pointing to Kulit

“Kulit, the wonder pig.” Nena said.

“I knew it. There is a different vibe I get from Kulit." Nanding said.

“We are here also to help this lady…” Martha unable to finish her words…

“What is your name?”

“Felicidad Osorio”

“Are you going to ask me about your son?”

“How do you know?”

“I could read your mind. I know that something not ordinary happened to him…”

“Could you help me?”

“That is what I am here for…”

“Oh, thank you. Mang Nanding!”

“By the way, how much do you charge?” she asked.

“I will give you my fee later on after we solve your case.”

“When can we start?”

“Tomorrow, come back the same time.”

She thanked him and left.

“Now ladies have you both had lunch?”

“We already ate at Jollibee!” Nena said.

“Now is Kulit enjoying the city?” Nanding asked as if talking to a human being.

Kulit wags his tail.

“Let us go home so you can all rest. It is a long trip.”

“Thank you Tito.” Nena answered.

“By the way, hold all my calls. All my appointments are done for now. I will work tomorrow.” Nanding told his receptionist.

“Ok. Sir.” the receptionist, Lisa said.

Nanding, Martha, Nena and Kulit left the office.

An hour later, they arrive at an old Spanish house in Las Pinas.

“Nanding, you never change the house. It is still the same way as before!” Martha exclaimed.

“Of course, I need to preserve its antiquity. This is the house of our great grandmother and we need to keep living a simple life.”

“Nanding, where is your wife and two kids?”

“Leroy! Mariela! Susan! Come down here! We have guests!”

A 13-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl raced downstairs and then a woman in her 40s walked slowly with a fan in her left hand and cigarette on her right.

“Martha? How are you?” Susan, wife of Nanding asked.

“We are Ok. We had so many adventures already before we got here.”

“You all look tired. “

“Meet your cousin, Nena” Nanding told his kids.

“I am Leroy, “the 13-year-old boy with braces said.

“Kamusta na pinsan, you are pretty tall now!” Mariela ribbed.

Kulit kissed the kids…and Susan.

“Oh my God!" Why did you bring a pig with you?” Susan shrieked.

“Don’t worry, he is house trained” Nena said.

“We need him.” Nanding answered.

“Are we cooking him tonight?” Susan asked.

“No. No. Susan. He is special. It is hard to explain right now.”

“There you go again.”

“Welcome, make yourselves at home.” Susan greeted.

“Your house looks like a temple!” Nena gushed.

“You know your uncle, he likes all the protection he can find.” Susan said sarcastically.

Kulit stared at the icon of Santo Nino or Baby Jesus.

“Hey Kulit, what is wrong?” Leroy asked.

Kulit was still and suddenly froze and fainted.

“Is he dead?” Mariela asked.

“No way!” Nena carried her into the bedroom upstairs.

Nanding felt a chill on his bones.

“Wait a minute. I think Kulit is not himself”

“What?”

“The lady whose name is Felicidad had a son who died. He died in a freak accident. Let

me see if I can use Kulit to reach thru her son.” Nanding send bluntly.

He carried Kulit in his room and made the room dark with votive candles

“Makapanyarihan bigyan mo ako nang daan! ”He shouted. (“Powerful One grant me the power to seek the way!”)

Suddenly the votive candles dimmed and Kulit came to lif.

“Go to the field in Tagaytay. I was riding with my girlfriend and she was breaking up with me. She flung acid on my face which caused me to lose control of my car. I could not imagine losing Sonia. I am sorry.”

Then the votive candles came to life.

Kulit came into consciousness and licked Nanding. Nanding was sweating profusely.

He opened the door and immediately called Felicidad and explained how Nanding died.

Nena and Martha were crying as they hugged Kulit.

The End

Nena and Kulit Go to the Falls

Nena came home excited, Nanay! Tatay! Our class was chosen to have a field trip!”

Martha was washing the dishes and Tacio was feeding the chickens as Rey was washing himself in the open shower behind the pig pen.

“Hey, can I go to!” Rey, her 12-year-old brother exclaimed.

“No. It is only for first graders. We will have a five day trip to Pagsanjan Falls!”

“Is that true?” Martha piped in.

“Yes Nanay. We are going! Free Trip. You have to sign this’ as she handed the paper with parental consent.

Martha reads the paper.

Tacio grabbed it from her.

“No” shakes his head. “It is too dangerous. The falls could drown you. “

“Mrs. Ignacio and Mr. Perez will be there. There are only seven kids plus two adults, Tatay”

“So what is this camping all about?”

“It teaches us how to survive there. We will put up tents and also learn about plants in the area.”

“Oh really, is it like biology?” We have a lot of fruit trees and plants here?”

“Tatay? Please?” she pleaded.

“Well ask your Nanay first”

She faces Martha.

“Ok. You promise to behave there. OK”

“Nena and Kulit Goes to the fall”

“Yes, Nanay and guess what? (Pause) I can bring Kulit”

“Are you sure?”

She nodded. “They loved Kulit after the Boracay incident. They think Kulit is our guardian angel”

“Alright” Martha signs the paper and gives it to Nena. “Just remember do not stray. Stay with your classmates and your teachers!”

“Thank you Nanay. Salamat uli” she gushed.

The next morning at the Manuel L. Quezon Elementary School, she gave Mrs. Ignacio the paper.

“OK class m we will have a Nature Project at Pagsanjan Falls. We will go on a field trip this Friday and we will camp there. Are you all excited?”

“Yes, ma'am!” the kids exclaimed.

Jojo, a skinny six-year-old who chews ball point pens raised his hand.

“Yes?”

Ma’m, Could we bring the plants back here so we can plant them and learn more about them.”

“Precisely! We will study the habitat. The weather, the behavior and the nature of each plan and animal we find there. “

“Not only bugs, and butterflies but grasshoppers, caterpillars, gumamela, ylang-ylang, and even orchids!”

“Wow!” Nena squealed.

She raised her hand. “Could I bring Kulit?”

“We have to ask our principal, Mr. Perez, remember he is coming with us.”

“Ok. Ma'm. Please”

“We will see.”

The following day, Wednesday, Nena was inside the principal’s office after school. It was at 4 pm.

“Yes, Nena. What can I do for you?”

“Sir, could I ask you a question?”

“Go ahead, do not be shy…”

“Sir, could we bring my pig, Kulit, in our nature camping trip?”

“Oh, Mrs. Ignacio requested that. Yes, there should be no problem since I heard a lot of things about Kulit,” he said smiling.

“Thank you, sir!” She shakes his hand.

She runs out and goes walking with one of her classmates.

“I am happy since we can prepare and all go to camp with Kulit.”

“I wish I had an intelligent pig like that,” Veronica chimed.

“Oh, you never will.” Jojo teased.

“I told my Tatay to buy one of the piglets that Mang Tacio has,” Veronica said.

“Do you have the money?”

“I have fifty pesos in my piggy bank.” Veronica reasoned.

“That is not enough.” Jojo said.

“You can ask Tatay. You never know. You might be able to pay it monthly.” Nena answered.

“Well, I’ll ask my Tatay to ask Mang Tacio.”

“OK. I will tell my Tatay.”

Nena came rushing in to tell her family Kulit can come.

Friday came and it was the day they went took a bus to Pagsanjan Falls. It was an hour away.

Arriving at their destination near the sitio. Kulit felt a need to go.

“Could we go to the bushes; I had to accompany Kulit he needed to pee” Nena told Mrs. Ignacio.

“You better hurry we will set camp here.” Pointing to a flat formation with trees and plants overlooking the falls.

“Ok, we will hurry” Nena promised.

While Kulit peed, Nena saw some bangkeros plying tourists in boats. There were vendors in the area near the bus depot nearby selling kakanin to the tourists and travelers. She could here somebody yell. “Buko Pie!” “Espasol!” “Puto!”

Going back. Nena saw her classmates pitching up three tents and Jojo was trying to put a peg down. Nena came over and helped him. Kulit followed.

The children pitched the tents and set up their food area. They all rested for thirty minutes before they start exploring the area.

She brought a binocular and wore some gloves with a pail to put some plants to study. A cry for help screamed.

“Diyos ko. Mamatay na ata ako!” A lady was flailing near the falls. Kulit rushed to the scene about a mile away.

Nena followed in pursuit.

The bankero was trying to save this overweight lady to shore yet he disappeared. Another bankero dived in she was near the deep cesspool of water where the falls were gushing healthily downstream. It pulled the other bankero down.

Kulit caught the rope that was tied in the boat while another bankero dived in as Kulit gave the rope to the bankero he jumped into the boat and people were yelling for help.

The boat almost tipped over due to the current as a Caucasian man jumped in and pulled the boat into the shore. The bankero and the lady were able to swim in the surface and got away from the current.

Paramedics arrived and the lady was taken to the hospital.

Kulit jumped into Nena and all the kids and adults clapped on her rescue.

The following day, Nena and Kulit were walking early after they ate breakfast before the camping excursion.

Nena said goodbye to Kulit since she will be near the Pagsanjan Falls collecting plants and rocks with her classmates and two teachers.

Kulit wagged his tail.

A few hours later, Kulit got bored in the camp after taking a longer nap and he meandered in the city district.

He followed a penoy and balut vendor offering food to the public. The vendor thought he was nobody’s pet. So he brought him along in his tiny shack. Kulit saw his family, six children and a wife who does laundry on-the-side to augment the family income.

He had twins, both girls, about 8-years-old named Martha and Marsha. He played with them and immediately the girls loved his company.

As the days pass on, Kulit sneaks out late afternoons and comes back in the tiny shack daily.

He helps the mother do laundry by giving her laundry soap and helps the kids do their chores.

Mang Isidro, the balut vendor came in one afternoon.

“Jesusa, I was robbed!” he said crying, “Some thugs in the street stole my Three hundred pesos and a few balut and penoy that was left for the day!”

“Let us go to the police!” Jesusa said

Kulit stayed with the children as Jesusa and Mang Isidro only held their youngest, their three-year-old son.

While waiting for them to return that night, Nena was worried in the camp. She could not find Kulit.

One of her classmates, Stephanie, approached her.

“Let us find him! I am getting worried, too!”

“Common, I am sure he might be in the city market! He loves people and little kids!” Nena and Stephanie run through the city center.

They ask the city baker, the city barber, and the city police. They denied seeing him.

Then they started asking residents, no sight of him.

Until it was almost 8:00 pm, they were getting tired and wanted to go back to camp.

“One last try, let us ask that little house there!” Nena said.

“OK, then lets go back to camp” Stephanie said.

Nena nodded.

The cardboard shack with galvanized tin roof and hollow block base was lighted up.

“Hello, did you see a little pig?” Nena asked

“Yes, he is at the back!” pointing near an outhouse restroom.

The two walked there and saw Kulit trying to find scraps of food.

“Oh you had us worried!” Nena grabbed him.

Kulit kissed her.

“You are so dirty and stinky!” Stephanie laughed.

“Well let’s go!” Nena said

Kulit jumped out and ran inside the home with the five children.

“Why won’t you come with me?” Nena puzzled.

An older boy of 11 explained they are alone and their parents are in police precinct.

Nena and Stephanie waited there and almost dozed off when the parents returned.

“Tatay, we have visitors! I believe they own the pig!”

“Is that so?” Mang Isidro said.

“Yes sir!” Nena said politely. “I am Nena, this is Stephanie and our little pig is Kulit!”

“Oh, Kulit is such a help here!” Jesusa said. “Could he visit us often?”

“Sure, as long as he is not a bother…”

“Not at all. We like him around.” Martha said happily.

The kids introduce themselves as Nena, Stephanie and Kulit trooped back in their camp.

At camp, Mr. Perez and Mrs. Ignacio were worried and called police.

They showed up at 11:00 pm.

“Where have you two been?”

“Sorry about it Ma’m, Sir, we look for Kulit!”

“You girls should ask permission!” Next time if you do it again, both of you are barred from any field trips. Understood!” Mr. Perez was adamant.

“We will never do it. Ever!” Stephanie crosses her heart.

“We are so sorry, Sir” Nena apologized.

“Better draw blood on it.” Jojo teased.

“Shut up!” Nena cautioned.

Mrs. Ignacio shakes her head.

“Gas Lamps Out!" We have a big day tomorrow!” She yelled.

Two days later, Kulit was feeling bored in the campsite and he swung by to visit the Tadeo kids again.

He entered the door that was left ajar and found no sign of the family there not even Jesusa and the toddler.

He looked around to see if she was at the back doing some laundry. It was all too quiet and he felt danger was in the air.

He saw Joseph, the 11-year-old boy in the market with a Caucasian man in a straw hat chewing tobacco. They were holding hands with the twin girls in tow.

The girls had nice dolls and the boy Joseph seems like he is wearing new clothes. They were laughing and eating ice cream.

He followed them and they shooed him away.

“Kulit!" Be a good boy and go back to Nena!” Joseph warned.

“We are going to the amusement center to play video games and they do not allow pigs there!” Martha chimed.

Kulit looked and stayed put. He was about to go back and saw Aling Jesusa with Tito, the three-year-old toddler in tow buying some fish in the market.

“Kulit! How are you?”

Kulit wagged his tail.

She seemed happier. So Kulit took off and went back to camp.

The following day, Kulit rose early to wake up Nena and the kids. It is their last day in camp and he was happy he can go home to his mama.

Before leaving he thought he wanted to say goodbye to the Tadeo family, so he went back and to his surprise Jesusa was crying and Mang Isidro looked drunk and swearing.

“Putang Ina ninyo! Kinuha ninyo pa ang anak ko!”

He knew something was wrong.

The kids were there except Joseph.

He remembered the French guy and saw him milling around the market before. He looked in the market again to see if he can find him.

To his surprise, he was there alone buying groceries in a store.

He sneaked and hid.

He trailed him till he came to a bungalow. He saw that there were three other guys who lived in the same place.

All speak French and they were about to eat lunch. While eating one guy stood up and prepared a plateful of vegetables and fish. He went into another room.

Kulit sneaked in the kitchen.

When the stocky built guy went out he said.

“He would not eat. He was whining… Poor boy he could not take the pleasure anymore as he touches his groin.”

All of them laughed.

Another guy got his video camera and went in the room.

Kulit immediately went in as the others were eating and drinking San Miguel beer.

To his surprise he saw Joseph hog-tied blindfolded and stripped naked in bed.

He was squirming in fear.

As the other lanky guy came in. The stocky guy inserted his cigarette inside his butt unlighted.

“Common, lets do it.”

“No! I cannot take it anymore” he yelled

“Do it for your Big Daddy!”

“Your Proud Papa will be lonely if you do not give it to Big Daddy!”

As he caressed his naked body and kissed it all over and spilled beer on it and licked it like syrup….

“Yummy… I like this…. Make sure the camera is on, Tony! "You moron!”

“Oh yeah." Sorry.” As the lanky guy Tony turned it on.

The stocky man played with himself as he let Joseph swallow his juices. “

He gagged and retched.

Tied with both hands and blindfolded.

Another guy came in and said “Here don’t you want to be famous!” “We will make you a star, just a few more days and we will pay you good, boy!”

The guy in the market came and kissed him on the lips.

“You guys treat my baby gently, ok.” He still needs to get home to Nanay and Tatay.”

He had a small blade and tried to still the boy as he engraved this on his belly.

“My Sweet Baby”

He screamed and shrieked mixed with fear and pain.

The other guys’ gang upped on him and raped him one after the other.

Kulit could not stand it any longer. So when the door was open he scampered away.

They noticed him and one guy chased him with his pants down.

He went to camp and saw Mrs. Ignacio. She could not believe it or the kids as they were packing up.

“Susmaryosep! Ano ba ito!”

She took her cell phone and called the police. Mr. Perez pounced on him as the other kids punched him.

The police came and apprehended him.

Kulit jumped up and down and Nena sensed something is wrong as they followed him to the house of the bearded guy.

They were about to inside the house as the police called a shoot out.

They threatened to kill the boy or give them freedom. They heard shots and screams from Joseph.

The parents of Joseph came and waited for almost six hours before they surrendered.

Kulit came inside the house and was shot in the neck, yet he still tried to bite the stocky guy. The only one who refused to surrender.

The boy Joseph was harmed but alive.

He had cuts and bruises and was raped.

Jesusa cried and Mang Ignacio almost fainted as the boy lost consciousness and was brought to the hospital.

Kulit followed and was patched up.

A hearing was set the following week yet Nena and her friends were scheduled to leave.

“Thank you for all your help and in saving my Joseph!”

“We hope he will be ok?” Mr. Perez said.

They left back to Pulilan cheering Kulit from saving the boy.

The End