POZORRUBIO CENTER OF HISTORICAL & CULTURAL STUDIES

POZORRUBIO CENTER OF HISTORICAL & CULTURAL STUDIES

By: RODRIGO P. DE VERA, JR., Ed.D.

            Municipal Mayor Ernesto T. Go, guest of honor and speaker, together with Education Program Supervisor I, In-Charge of Araling Panlipunan and IPEd, Dr. Jerome S. Paras, and Mr. Mel V. Jovellanos, President of Pozorrubio Historical & Cultural Society (PHCS), cut the ribbon for the opening of Pozorrubio Center of  Historical and Cultural Studies (PCHCS)  held last October 28 at Gerardo A. Buada E-Library.

Inspired by the creation of Center for Pangasinan Studies (CPS) which serves as a repository of documents, researches, artifacts, printed materials, and media materials by the Provincial Government of Pangasinan  during the celebration of the Agew na Pangasinan on April 5, 2016, the Pozorrubio Center of Historical & Cultural Studies (PCHCS) was born in response to the municipal version  of CPS.

With the permission from the Municipal Mayor who signed the establishment of PCHCS at BNHS on September 27, 2017 and upon the recommending approval of Ms. Flordelisa Eroles, Principal IV of BNHS, Dr. Rodrigo P. de Vera, Jr, SHS Coordinator who is a historian and collector, initiated the putting up of PCHCS.

            Aside from its function as a repository of related materials concerning Pozorrubio, the Pozorrubio Center of Historical & Cultural Studies is aimed to: 1). collect and organize data from various sources featuring the history and culture of the Municipality of Pozorrubio from the past up to the present; 2). preserve historical documents, audio-visual documentaries, vintage photos, books written by Pozorrubians and artifacts that are donated/ lent to the Center; 3). write and publish articles relative to the history  and culture of Pozorrubio in general, history and development of our 34 barangays, cultural heritage, industry (commercial establishments included), successful personalities (educators, political and civic leaders, athletes, entrepreneurs, military personnel, etc.), tourist spots, delicacies/products, Pozorrubian-Chinese merchants, indigenous peoples, other migrants of Pozorrubio,  and other issues and etc.; 4). come up with a journal called the Red Well Journal which will be published semestral and provide a copy to the Center of Pangasinan Studies, Provincial Library, Pozorrubio Municipal Library, etc.; 5). solicit/ buy magazines, newspapers, journals and books that deal  with  articles about Pozorrubio   or books authored by Pozorrubians; and 6). engage in research studies on various topics featuring cultural practices, language, history, pedagogy, anthropology, etc.  as part of our research outputs of our Senior High School students and SHS faculty as part of their professional growth.

            PCHCS features the second copy of the original manuscript of Awaran dated October 10, 1940, the only historical document of the founding of Pozorrubio and was written by Atty. Filomeno Magno, who was a writer and the first attorney-at-law produced by the Municipality of Pozorrubio; vintage magazines and newspapers donated by Mr. Mel V. Jovellanos featuring the Sunday Tribune (November-December 1940 issues; PM Daily of Times Square, New York City covering the Philippine Invasion of Japan in 1944 and other related issues; Licnaan na Pozorrubio, a community newspaper issued from 1988-1989; souvenir programs of  Pozorrubio Town Fiesta since 1968 to the present, and the family documents of Dr. de Vera since 1893 up to post WWII. You can also see and read  century old books of the Jovellanos-Venezuela family and novenas as early as 1902.

ABS CBN reporter, John Germono, who is also a Pozorrubian,  covered the ribbon cutting ceremony.

           

THE FIRST INDIGENOUS PEOPLE’S CENTER IN PANGASINAN DIVISION II

THE FIRST INDIGENOUS PEOPLE’S CENTER IN PANGASINAN DIVISION II

By: Rodrigo P. de Vera, Jr., Ed.D.

            Just like the rest of us, people migrate to other places where opportunities are abundant. When they leave their community, they live in accordance with the prevailing culture. They start embracing the dominant culture and living the life they had before has become an option. Such condition reflects the life   of  the Igorots who are living in the different towns in Pangasinan.

            There is no problem with the older Igorots who have migrated to Pangasinan as they can still live and behave like authentic Igorots. When they converge together during special occasions like wedding, burial, and similar occasions, they proudly wear their bahags or G-strings for men, and tapis for women. They showcase their talents of dancing and playing of indigenous instruments like gong.

            On the contrary, younger generations of Igorots who migrated at an early age and who have been born in Pangasinan have a problem. In the study conducted by me  on the status of indigenous learners in our school,  it showed negative findings. Acculturation, feelings of inferiority and shame  and fear of being bullied have shown in their responses. The only remaining part of their culture is their language. They feel ashamed of wearing their traditional clothes like bahag and tapis during special occasions.  

            With this alarming result, the author a came up with the idea of putting up an Indigenous People’s Center in our school. With the approval of my school principal, this project was born during the Brigada Eskwela in May 2017. Turning the stockroom where discarded materials and equipment of the school as an IP Center became a gigantic task. After the Brigada Eskwela, the next step was filling up the empty space with Indigenous learning materials. With faith and determination, I shook the world upside down. 

            On September 26, 2017,  the first  IP Center in Pangasinan Division II was finally opened for public. Attendees and guests during the ribbon cutting were Dr. Enrique P. delos Santos, Jr., Provincial Officer of the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP); Dr. Jerome S. Paras, Education Program Supervisor of Araling Panlipunan and IPED; Mr. Nestor R. Sinlao, Association President of Association of Advocates of Historical and Cultural Preservation of Pangasinan (AAHCPP); Ms. Rianna Jane D. Ortega, Municipal Tourism Officer-Pozorrubio, and Mrs. Irene E. Culbengan, Administrative Officer IV, NCIP-Pangasinan.

What can we see in our IP Center?  Our IP center features the traditional clothes of the different Cordilleran tribes-the bahag or G-string for men and the tapis for women, indigenous musical instruments like gong and solibao, headgears, spear, magazines, books on Cordilleran history and culture, wood carvings of Banaue, and many other items on display.

 Most of my townmates are not aware  that the Igorots were the early settlers of Pozorrubio before they were displaced by other migrants who came from other places in Pangasinan and Ilocos during the Spanish period. Thus, having an IP Center is just the right move to give due recognition to the early settlers of this town which was once part of San Jacinto, Pangasinan.

Now that the IP Center is here, may this Center serve as an instrument in revitalizing the cultural identity and cultural practices of our indigenous learners and their families but more importantly, may this  serve as an eye opener  to our fellow non-indigenous learners to learn and respect the wonderful world of the Igorots.

HISTORY EXHIBIT, AN ALTERNATIVE FOR FIELD TRIP

HISTORY EXHIBIT, AN ALTERNATIVE FOR FIELD TRIP

By: Rodrigo P. de Vera, Jr., Ed.D.

The suspension of field trip by the Department of Education (DepEd)  has lead to the confinement of students inside their classes, As an alternative mode to field trip, history teachers can have their history exhibit on special occasions.

 If a history teacher collects stamps, then, he/she could have them on display during November as Stamp Collecting Month. President Fidel V. Ramos declared November as Stamp Collecting Month under Presidential Proclamation Number 494. In 2013. Philippine stamps feature our national heroes, culture, and history. Stamps are mementoes of yesteryears. They tell the history of a nation from its people, historical places up to the unfolding of events to the present. Stamps are amazing materials to learn our own history and world history in general.

August is declared as History Month by virtue of Proclamation No. 339 signed on Feb. 26, 2012 by then President Benigno Aquino III. The proclamation moved History Week  from Sept. 15 to 21, to August and made it a month-long celebration. These transfer and extension were made in view of major events in  Philippine history that happened in August. What do you put in your exhibit? You can make use of postcards featuring our heroes, commemorative coins featuring our National Heroes, WW II heroes, etc. You can also put on display WW II mementoes like helmet, paper money, guerrilla notes, ancient coins etc.

With these exhibit materials of historical value, teaching history is not boring after all but it creates curiosity in the minds of our students. Putting exhibit materials that reflect a particular period is of great value to students who see and touch them. Visual aids may help the  conceptual understanding of the students but artifacts, like Ancient Roman coins, presented during an exhibit is a different level of experience. Ask your students to contribute. Let them bring their artifacts and return them later.

You might wonder where to get your exhibit materials like ancient coins, artifacts. Today, there is no problem acquiring these history-related materials as there are many online stores available. Online stores and auctions are available on Facebook. Just search and add yourself in the group. Then, start investing in your collections.

PAPER MONEY AND COINS AS TEACHING MATERIALS IN SOCIAL STUDIES

PAPER MONEY AND COINS AS TEACHING MATERIALS

IN SOCIAL STUDIES

By: Rodrigo P. de Vera, Jr., Ed. D.

            Are you a numismatist? If you collect coins or paper money, you are a numismatist or a collector of coins and paper money, including tokens and medals. This is an appropriate hobby for a Social  Studies teacher to engage into.

            As to the history of coins, coins were introduced as a means of payment at around 6^th or 5^th century BCE, but its invention is still shrouded in mystery. Nobody knew exactly how it started, but according to to Herdotous, coins were first minted by the Lydians, while Aristotle claimed that the first coins were minted by Demodike of Kyrme, the wife of King Midas of Phrygia.

            As to the history of paper money, the Chinese started it. They  started carrying folding money during the Tang Dynasty (A.D. 618-907),  mostly in the form of privately issued bills of credit or exchange notes. They used it for more than 500 years before the practice began to catch on in Europe in the 17th century.

            Regardless who should receive the credit of starting the use of coins and paper money, one thing is for sure, both items are valuable materials for teaching Social Studies subjects.

            Why use paper money and coins as teaching materials?

        Coins and paper money tell the history of nation. Coins and paper money are the “living” witness of the rise and fall of nation, even for a civilization. Ancient coins are still unearthed and found at the bottom of the sea. Coins have longer life span than to its makers. Ancient coins featured their leaders/ emperors during their reign. Today, we have witnessed  the fall of a nation. Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, U.S.S.R., East Germany and West Germany, North Vietnam and South Vietnam, to name a few, have been gone and have become part of  history; however, their coins and paper money during their existence remain intact and preserve among the hands of collectors and enthusiasts. Even ancient coins from the time of the Roman Empire or earlier, we can still see and own one. That is why, when your topic is about the Roman Empire, you can show to your class ancient coins on the said period. This will surely make your class alive and interesting as your students can touch the coins used during the Roman Empire. You can buy ancient coins and paper money  online for your class and they are affordable.

            Coins and paper money show the economy of a nation. The value of a coin and paper money is determined by its gold reserve. The value of a paper money and the coin depends on the political and economic condition of that country. In times of war, inflation is a threat to a nation in crisis. During war, you can see a paper money in billions or millions but in reality it has a little value. After the war, these paper monies eventually lost their value and ended up souvenir items just like what happened to former Yugoslavia.

        Paper money features the culture of a nation. Festivals, occupations, recreation, historical landmarks, beliefs, religious institutions, etc. are featured at the back of the notes. Color and designs of our paper money today make these notes interesting among students.

          Paper money and coins can be a great decoration in your classroom. You can put them in frames and hang them in your classroom. In order to protect your paper money, you can cover them with acetate film.

            Start collecting now and enjoy the fun!

POSTAGE STAMPS AS TEACHING MATERIALS IN SOCIAL STUDIES

POSTAGE STAMPS AS TEACHING MATERIALS IN SOCIAL STUDIES

By: Rodrigo P. de Vera, Jr., Ed. D.

Bobonan National High School (BNHS)-Senior High School Subject Group Head

            Its small size might not be qualified as a visual aid, but such size breaks the rule. Truly, value  of a postage stamp is greater that its size.

            For most people, postage stamp is only used when one goes to a post office and sends his/her letter, postcard, a gift or any item to be sent for his/her relatives and friends in another place. However, for a stamp collector, the use of a stamp does not end in the post office or at the hand of the recipient, it is just the beginning of its great journey.

A teacher who is a stamp collector considers stamps  as his/ her valuable teaching materials. Stamps  can be used in almost all subjects.

“Small but terrible” is appropriate expression for the use of stamps. We use the term “terrible” from the positive point of view which we may refer to great use of stamps in teaching.

Why use stamps as teaching materials?

Stamps existed because of a teacher.   Rowland Hill who was a British schoolteacher designed and introduced the world’s first adhesive stamp on May 6, 1840. His first design featured the young Queen Victoria and was printed in black and was priced at one penny. Thus, the term “Penny Blacks”.

Stamps record history. They serve as the eye witness of the past. People die, but stamps live longer. The history of a nation is chronicled on stamps. Did you know that 14 years after the first postage stamp was invented in England, the first stamp featuring Queen Isabella II of Spain  was issued in the Philippines?  Stamps have become a valuable source of records of our own history and culture. Even the rise and fall of a nation stamps rose and fell with them, too. Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, U.S.S.R., to name a few, cease to exist anymore, but stamps issued during their years of existence are still circulated and preserved in the hands of  stamp collectors worldwide. Stamps commemorate the founding of a nation, its occupation, independence, its leaders and among others.

Stamps teach us geography. All countries issue stamps bearing their names, except United Kingdom. You might wonder the names of some countries. We have Eire for Ireland, Island for Iceland, Hvvatska for Croatia, Magyar for Hungary, Nippon for Japan, Norge for Norway, Polska for Poland, Sverige for Sweden. If you encounter difficulty in finding a stamp with unique name, refer to stamp identifier on the net for your assistance. When you have a foreign stamp  with you, use your world map to locate that country. Stamps increase our knowledge on geography. Do you know where Kiribati is?

Stamps promote culture. Religious institutions, cathedrals, mosques, religious leaders are featured on stamps. Festivals or culture-related activities are also presented. Foods and drinks are also shown on stamps. People in their traditional clothes are featured on stamps.

Stamps keep us to love nature/ environment. Stamps teach us to appreciate the beauty of nature with its beautiful scenery and wild animals in their natural habitat. Activities related to the preservation of the environment are also featured on stamps.

As a teacher, you can organize your stamps according to themes- animals, archeology, astronomy, costumes, environmental protection, manned flights, maps (modern & antiques),  minerals, etc.

You can also promote philately among your students and organize a stamp club in your school. During Stamp Collecting Month of November, organize a stamp exhibit. In order to protect your stamps, you can cover your stamps with acetate film before mounting them in a special paper.

Isn’t it great to engage in stamp collecting? Start now!

STATUS OF MIGRANT INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

STATUS OF MIGRANT INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

By: Rodrigo P. de Vera, Jr., Ed. D.

Bobonan National High School (BNHS)-Senior High School Subject Group Head

Migration is a social phenomenon that is affecting every society. This phenomenon happens everywhere and anywhere. People migrate from their birthplaces to other places, either from the provinces to the cities or vice versa. They have many reasons why they migrate to other places, but obviously, people migrate primarily for economic reasons.

Indigenous people are not exempted from this phenomenon. They migrate from their indigenous communities to other places. They are looking for better employment and business opportunities. In this case, many Igorots are already migrating to other places, particularly in the  lowlands. They either buy or rent lands for their farming and wood craft and carving activities.

In the Municipality of Pozorrubio, there is a  growing number of  Igorots living in different barangays. Igorots who are living in the interior barangays of this town are mostly from Benguet Province. They are known for their farming activities. However, Igorots who live along the national roads are mostly from Ifugao Province. They are known for their woodcraft/ woodcarving industry where their business shops are found  in Barangays Rosario, Alipangpang, Palacpalac, Bobonan, and Batakil.

As these Igorots have found their new home in the Municipality of Pozorrubio, they brought along with them their families. As a result of their long stay in this place, their children have suffered the consequences of such migration.

Thus, their children learn to live and study  together with the children of the lowlanders. Consequently, these indigenous children have become vulnerable to acculturation, leaving their parent’s cultural heritage in abeyance and worse, oblivion of their indigenous culture. The culture of the dominant group has been adopted and adapted in order to avoid any discrimination.

 In effect, these children experience an ethnic identity crisis as they are growing up in the midst of non-indigenous children and non-indigenous community.

In order to revitalize the cultural identity and cultural practices of indigenous students of Bobonan National High School, Pozorrubio, Pangasinan, an Indigenous People’s Center has been put up by the author together with his technical adviser, Mr. Reynaldo D. Salayog II, during the Brigada Eskwela 2017.

 This IP Center features the traditional clothes of the Cordilleran tribes-the bahag or G-string for men and the tapis for women, indigenous musical instruments like gong and solibao, headgears, spear, magazines and books on Cordilleran history and culture, wood carvings of Banaue, and many other items on display. This is open for public viewing, not just only for the indigenous people but more importantly to the lowlanders in order for them to understand the rich cultural practices of the indigenous people who are living in a non-indigenous community.

Baleg ya Abung, a Treasure of Pozorrubio and Pangasinan

Baleg ya Abung, a Treasure of Pozorrubio and Pangasinan

By: Rodrigo P. de Vera, Jr., Ed. D.

Bobonan National High School (BNHS)-Senior High School Subject Group Head

Amidst the rapid development of infrastructure within the town proper, the Jovellanos-Venezuela Ancestral House , popularly known as the Baleg ya Abung, the Pangasinan term for the big house, along Sison Street, remains the only reminder of the  past.

            People are wondering why this house is still there standing in the midst of new buildings  that have been constructed around it. For them this house has become an eyesore as the structure seems to be forgotten as shown by its age- rusty roof, termite-infested walls and ceilings, and dilapidated old windows. In their mind, they wonder why the owner doesn’t seem interested of tearing it down and build a new building instead.

            People don’t know the importance of this house in the history of Pozorrubio. Many Pozorrubians don’t know that this ancestral house played a significant role in the life of our President Emilio Aguinaldo.  President Aguinaldo and some of his men slept in this house on November 14, 1899 while retreating from  his American pursuers.

 Three days after President Aguinaldo left this house, his American pursuers also occupied this house leaving their mark (13^th U.S. Rifle Co.) at the back of  the door of the room where President Aguinaldo slept.

During the World War II, the Japanese Military Commander used the house as his personal quarters between 1944 and 1945.

The ground floor of this ancestral house was also used as classrooms when the Pozorrubio High School, now Benigno V. Aldana National High School, was put up in early 1946;

After the July 16, 1990 earthquake, this ancestral house served as the office of some departments of the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Pozorrubio for almost one year;

This is the only existing Spanish-style edifice in Pozorrubio and it is now in great danger due to infestation of termites that are slowly eating the woods of this house.

In order to preserve this house, the Association of Advocates of Historical and Cultural Preservation of Pangasinan (AAHCPP), a group of teachers from the different towns of Pangasinan and nearby provinces of La Union, Zambales, and Tarlac, has adopted this house for their community extension program. In fact, they even filed a resolution for the Sangguniang Bayan of Pozorrubio to declare this as a historical site.

During its Brigada Historia, a clean up activity similar to that of Brigada Eskwela of the Department of Education, conducted last May 26,  the Association also launched its biggest card in town and in Pangasinan featuring the “Baleg ya Abung” in the news segment of Bagong Umaga, Bagong Balita, a morning program of ABS CBN-Dagupan City and  TV Patrol North Central Luzon on May 29, 2017.

The Young Trees

The Young Trees

By: Rodrigo P. de Vera, Jr. Ed.D.

In a distant past, there was once a tree kingdom. This kingdom was verdant and vibrant. Most of the trees were growing old with their branches spread majestically toward the infinity of the sky. Despite of their age, they still showed their greatness. They still stood with firmness and gentleness. 

In the midst of the kingdom, young trees started to grow. They, too, stood firm but with aggressiveness. They wanted to grow faster and majestic just like their forebears.

Once a year, the kingdom was visited by twig pruners. The king tree permitted them to cut the unwanted branches and leaves of the trees in his kingdom on voluntary basis only. As usual, old trees loved to have their unwanted branches and leaves cut, but the growing young trees only watched how the branches of the old trees fell on the ground.

When the tree insects were done and left the place, it was unpleasant to look at, especially the old trees with pruned branches. Young trees were laughing at them and even ridiculed them for their looks.

After a few years later, the young trees were now fully grown. And the arrival of the twig pruners was expected a few days later. The old trees advised the young trees to have their unwanted branches and leaves be cut, but the young trees did not yield to the desire of the old trees. They didn’t want that they will be the laughing stock of their fellow young trees in the tree kingdom. Old trees also advised them that having their unwanted branches and leaves cut will be beneficial to them especially in the coming days. Despite of all the admonitions, the young trees didn't listen as if they had deaf ears. Not one of them had their unwanted branches and leaves cut by these insects.

 Despite of the serenity of the place, the kingdom was also visited by a rain once in a blue moon. Since these young trees did not experience any rain, they just laughed at it while listening to the stories of the old trees that surrounded them.

After a few days, a gentle wind blew the kingdom. The young trees enjoyed it first. Then, the succeeding blows of the wind kept on getting stronger and stronger. Many leaves of the young trees were started to detach from their branches and were carried away by the strong wind. After the strong wind came, then, a heavy rain followed. This time it was not an ordinary rain but a thunderstorm. Strong winds and heavy rains joined forces together and brought havoc to the tree kingdom. While the storm was on going, old trees just stood firm on the ground. Meanwhile, the leaves and the branches of the young trees were still blown away by the strong wind. As they stood firm like the old trees and even danced with the strong wind,  many of them fell on the ground.

After an hour of devastation, many leaves and branches of the young trees were scattered and covered all over the tree kingdom while the old trees seemed intact and unhurt by the strong wind.

Many of the young trees fell on the ground while the old trees looked at them with a heavy heart. Soon after, when their yearly visitors arrived, all of the young trees with no hesitation spread their branches openly and gladly received a proud new look. Then, the  king tree  extremely felt so happy when their visitors left the kingdom.  

The Ant Colony

The Ant Colony

By: Rodrigo P. de Vera, Jr., Ed.D.

There was once an ant colony where ants lived in laxity. Works were usually done by elder ants while younger ants cared for nothing, except for playing all day long. It was a tradition that adult ants had to work for the whole colony and that young generation of ants had to stay at home to play with their fellow young ants. If tired, they had to rest, sleep or just stayed idle the whole day.

Years had passed and the number of working adult ants dwindled due to poor health and old age. On the other hand, the number of young generation of ants grew tremendously. Their daily needs were not met due to the small number of working adult ants. Adult ants could only work for a few hours due to their deteriorating health and strength.

Now, that the population of younger generation bloated, young ants forced even those older ants who already retired from work. If older ants were caught not working, younger ants normally punished them. Literally, adult ants became slaves in their own colony. Such treatment toward the older generation of ants became the root cause of many deaths among older ants leaving a vacuum of workers in the field.

Because of exhaustion, many of older ants died as their bodies could no longer cope up with the strenuous work enforced by the younger generation of ants to them. Due to the dwindling population of adult ants, the demand for food became great. Starvation became the leading death for most adult ants because young ants were given priority to be fed. Their situation became worse when heavy rains flooded their colony underground. Younger ants could easily evacuate away from their colony as they still had the strength to climb toward the surface. Right after the flood, thousands of adult ants died of drowning.

When water subsided, the remaining survivors both young and old alike sat down and talked together heart to heart. They all agreed to abolish their long tradition of allowing only adult ants to work for the whole colony. This time they made a better law. Everybody had to work for the whole colony regardless of their age and status. Every member of the ant colony had to help each other and had to work for each other.

Because of the new law of the ant colony, laziness had no more place in their place. They worked all day long and learned to store their foods during summer.

Until to this day, ants remain to be working hard just like their ancestors of long time ago.

The Mice and a Cat

The Mice and a Cat

By: Rodrigo P. de Vera, Jr.

Once upon a time, there lived five mice near at the foot of the mountain.  These mice were not family members, but they treated each other more than friends. Friendship bound them together and there was no room for hatred among them. They shared similarities. They were all loving, caring, and friendly.

One day a stray cat came into there place. She was tired and hungry. When she came nearer to the abode of the mice, she heard them laughing and dancing in front of their happy house. Suddenly, she appeared in front of them and the mice ran in different directions for fear of being killed by this big stranger.

The cat said in her loud voice, “Don’t be afraid. I came here to be your friend as I found no friend along the way. Besides, I am lost and I don’t know where to go”. With these assuring words from the cat, the mice ran toward her and welcomed her with their open arms. Then, the cat joined them in their merriment.

Few days had passed and the cat noticed the closeness of the mice. In her heart, she was still a stranger and felt jealous about it.

One day, one of the mice went to the nearby pond to pitch some water and the cat volunteered to accompany her without the knowledge of the other mice. While walking together, the cat said, “I heard your friends calling you coward that you can’t even hunt alone”. The mouse replied, “That’s not true! I will prove to them that I can hunt alone”.  The cat answered, “I believe you,  my friend. Tonight, you prove to them that they are all wrong about you”. The mouse said, “ Yes, I will.” But the cat cautiously told the mouse, “Don’t tell them of what I told you now for I don’t want to destroy your friendship with them. I am still here as you friend. And tonight, go alone and hunt so that by tomorrow they will be surprised to see a breakfast in our table”. When they returned home, the mouse pretended as if she heard nothing about the rumor and as usual she still did play with them.

Nigh time came when everybody was sound asleep, except for one. “Now is the right time to hunt alone and prove to my friends that I am not coward at all.”, said the mouse. She slowly went out from their house and proceeded to the mountain.

Dawn came and the mice were surprised. One of them was not around. The cat informed them that she saw their friend went out last night to hunt. One mouse reacted and said, “Why did she do it alone? We usually hunt in a group.” The cat said, “ She might be on her way now. Don’t you worry. She is brave and she will come home soon”. 

They waited all day long and waited for nothing. The remaining mice were already crying for fear that their friend might have been dead or hurt alone in the mountain. The cat said, “Tears can’t find our friend. We have to look for her, instead of crying. Perhaps, she is still alive and waiting for our help”. The elder mouse replied, “Our friend, cat, is right. Let us find our friend in the mountain”.  “In that case, I will lead the group” said the cat. But one mouse suggested that two mice will have to stay at home to guard the house and wait for their friend just in case she will come home ahead of them.

At night, the mountain was in total darkness. The only signs of life were the sounds of cicadas and some night birds. The mountain became alive again when echoes sounded back and forth calling the name of the missing mouse. Three voices were heard at the beginning of the hunt.  Then, only two voices remained calling in the middle of the night. Suddenly, a sharp cry was heard. “Somebody, help me!”, said the cat. And the remaining mouse followed the voice of the cat until the mouse found her. Day break came and the only one who went home  was the cat.

The cat was badly hurt and could hardly walk. She had broken leg and her fur was filled with blood. “What happened to you and to our friends?” said the two mice in chorus. The cat replied, “We have been attacked by a wild boar and I was the only one who survived it. I fought the boar but she was so big and strong. If only I didn’t climb at the last minute of our fight I might have gone as well”. Then, the remaining mice cried bitterly when they heard the bad news.

Only three friends remained in that once happy home, the two mice and the cat.

One of the mice left the house to fetch water from a nearby pond. The cat said to the remaining mouse in the house, “My friend, don’t feel bad of what I will be telling you. Our friend mouse talked to me the other day and she told me that you are less caring among our former friends and you didn’t even care for her feelings nowadays”. “Is that what she told you? asked the mouse. “Yes, I do”, said the cat.

When the cat left the house for a while, the remaining mice confronted each other. At first, they had a heated argument over what the cat said to the other mouse. soon after, they realized that it was all lies. They realized how dangerous it was to live with their new found friend as they suspected the latter to be cause of the death and disappearance of their old-time friends. Both mice decided to watch over each other secretly. They both knew that their life will always be in danger while they live with their friend cat. 

When one of the mouse went to fetch water in the nearby pond,  the cat followed her. Suddenly, a cry of help was heard and the other mouse nearby appeared before the cat and told the cat of her true nature. The mouse challenged the cat to chase her and would be willing to be her food instead of the injured mouse. Without a doubt, the cat chased the mouse. The mouse ran toward a newly built tent with covered grass around it and the cat followed her. The cat almost caught the mouse with just an inch of a distance when suddenly the tent fell on the hole made by the mice secretly. They finally trapped the cat in that deep hole. The cat pleaded for help but the mice played deaf ears. Instead, the mice covered the top of the hole with soil and offered flowers for their friends who became the easy prey of this evil cat.

At the end, the remaining mice promised to look for each other and love each other more.