Piglets!

"I want pig because very nice except the meat. My favorite color of the pig is a white and I want to care of it if it is small. I want to make a food for it so that it is not getting hungry. "

This is part of a story, written by Reynalyn, that Mizzy read while visiting the Philippines from England, which inspired her family's (and our guest teacher, Sue James') generous donation of piglets for our three youngest students.


Hi, my name is Mizzy. I’m a visitor of the One Candle Schoolhouse because I’m on holiday at KooKoo's Nest. Nearly every night me and my parents and friends all sit in the sea and have a pineapple juice while watching the sunset. This is my favorite time of day. It is very funny watching Barnie, our friend’s dog trying to fish. He tries every day but has never caught anything!

This is a painting of what I saw where we are staying.

Here are the stories of Reynalyn, Roselyn and Jayfer's experience:

The Time That We Get The Pig In Antulang

By: Richel, Ryan and Reynalyn Jandog

On Sunday afternoon me, Roselyn and Richel, ride on Jaid’s motorbike to Tambobo, One Candle Schoolhouse. When we arrive Ma’am Diane said to us, “We go to Antulang to get a piglet”. We all ride on the dinghy from school to Kookoo’s Nest. Reynalyn told me, “I felt so nervous when I rode the dinghy of Ma’am Diane!”

We are now in Kookoo’s Nest and seated on the bamboo chair. Ma’am Diane ordered us soft drinks. Then we drink it. It makes my thirst vanish away. We rest a few minutes then after that it is time to go. Nikki and Jamie go with us to get the piglet in Antulang.

We walked together until we arrived at our main destination, the house of Marie Fe. Then we saw her feeding the piglets in a bamboo cage. Ma’am Diane and Nikki were taking a picture of the piglets. “Are those four piglets the ones we are going to choose?” Roselyn asked. “I think so,” I answered her. Marie Fe asked Jayfer if he likes the Dalmatian one, but the rope that Allan brought was too big to tie the neck of the piglet, and he did not bring a sack. So that’s why Roselyn got the Dalmatian one, Reynalyn got the black one, and Jayfer got the color brown one that has a spots. Marie Fe put the piglet into the sacks for her. Allan borrowed another sack to Marie Fe. Every pig that Marie Fe put into the sack for us Ma’am Diane takes a picture of it.

The three of us are ready to go home happily, but first Ma’am Diane is going to pay the piglets. I help Reynalyn and Roselyn to carry their piglets to Kookoo’s Nest. When we arrived at Kookoo’s Nest we rested a few seconds on the beach, waiting for Nikki and Jamie. They will use their big dinghy to give us a ride to NE-AR-NE. We are very thankful to both of them for giving time to us to get the piglets and bring us home. Ma’am Diane tied the rope of her dinghy to Jamie's boat. And she gives us 100 pesos each for the feed of the piglets.

When we are going home she let me handle her camera to take pictures of Roselyn and Reynalyn’s piglet. Ma’am Diane cannot go with us because there were people waiting her in our school.

We are so lucky to have this opportunity to have a free piglet.

“THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO MIZZY WHO GAVE MONEY TO BUY TWO PIGLETS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH MA’AM DIANE FOR HELPING US TO GET THE PIG! TO SUE WHO BUY ONE PIGLET FOR JAYFER IN THE NAME OF HER NEPHEWS, AND THANK YOU TO NIKKI AND JAMIE FOR HELPING US TO GET THE PIGLETS AND SEND US HOME SAFELY!”

The Story About Piglet

By: Roselyn G. Tubato

February 20,2007 I went to Reynalyn and Richel’s house and to ride a motorbike with Jaid to Tambobo. We are going to One Candle Schoolhouse. Ma’am Diane and my company ride in a dinghy to Antulang to got the piglet in Mariefe’s house with Jayfer. Before going to Mariefe’s house we rest and drink cokes in restaurant of KooKoo’s Nest. Then we walk. When I see piglet I happy.

Now I feed booster every morning, noon and afternoon to my piglet, I pitch water to take a bath and also to clean the cage. My piglet name is Dayana. This piglet come from my classmate in One Candle Schoolhouse name Missy, she is a foreigner I’m very thankful to her. Missy, I am very happy the piglet you give me and the piglet you give, is so fast to eat, any kind of food I feed.

Jayfer’s New Pig

By: Allan Lajot

Last February 24, 2007, before the day he received the pig, Jayfer was feeling excited to have his own. He wasn’t interested before but now, when Sue’s nephews, Jim and Sam, gave him a pig, he likes to have one.

At night, he always asks me “Kuya, unsa ka dako nang baktin?” (“Brother, how big is the pig?”) Then I answered, “Wala ko kabalo.” (“I don’t know”). He went to the kitchen where my mother is and said “Naa na ko’y baktin” (“I have a pig”). “Naa bitaw, pero bantay ug dili ka molalog” (“You have, but I hope you will feed it”), my Mother replies. Later, Mother asked me if Sue’s nephews supported the feeds then I said, “I don’t know.” Then we go to sleep.

Sunday morning of February 25, Father and Jayfer repaired the pig’s house while my Mother asks me to go to Siaton to buy some feeds. But before I leave, Jayfer asked me, “Kuya, pagdali ug palit ug lalog kay hapit na ta mogikan.” (“Brother, hurry up in buying some feeds because we’re nearly to leave”).

When I return, I brought a 20-kilo of tahop, which I think will last up to 1 month. Jayfer is joyful, “Kuya, lantawa!” (“Brother, look!”), pointing to the small pig’s house. The pig’s house was very nice and no bigger holes that can let the pig out, which make me smile. Then I said, “Dia na ning lalog” (“Here are the feeds”) “Mao ni lalog sa akong baboy kuya?” (“Is this the feed for my pig, brother?”) He ask me then I said “O…Mao na” (“Yes, that is it”)

After our short conversation, because Jayfer walk slowly when we go together, I ask Jayfer to go ahead to wait at the Boslot Bay, near Kookoos Nest, and I will take him to there. And then he does it. I take my lunch after Jayfer leave.

I follow him after 15 minutes or so and see him waiting impatiently while watching the dinghy of Ma’am Diane to reach the beach. He saw me coming so he shouted, “Kuya, naa na silang Ma’am Diane!” (“Brother, Ma’am Diane is here already”) when he saw the dinghy of Ma’am Diane reaching the bay. So, both of us walk towards Kookoos Nest. The tide is high so I let Jayfer ride in my back until we reach the beach. There, Renalyn, Roselyn and Ritchel sitting in a bamboo chair with Ma’am Diane, smiling when we arrived. We drink a soft drink while they are talking.

After a while, we started to move. We walk the dusty road until we reach the buying place (the house of Marife, employee in Kookoos Nest). Marife was feeding them when we arrived. Jayfer watch them and he pointed the ‘Dalmatian pig’ because he likes it and he wants it. But, unfortunately, he received the brown one. He feels sad because his pig is not the one that he likes best. So I try to comfort him so that he will not get angry. I said, “sagdai ra.” (“It’s ok”). After he receives his pig, which is the brown one, he felt ok.

We walk to our house first with our companies. Jayfer and I put the pig in a new house we repaired. The pig was running around in her new home and I think she was scared because its friends were far away.

Because it is so hot, our companies went home. Jayfer guided them to the road. When he returns, I ask Jayfer what will be the name for the pig because she’s a girl. He doesn’t have any idea, so I said to him, “Unsa kaha ug Mrs. Dotty?” (“What if Mrs. Dotty?”) So we both named her “Mrs. Dotty” because her color is brown with some black dots.

Until now, the pig is growing bigger and bigger. We both feed her every breakfast, lunch and supper. Not only Jayfer feels happy with his own ‘Mrs. Dotty’ but also the rest of the family.

This album is powered by BubbleShare - Add to my blog

"...you ask, 'WHY?' "

"The point is not to do remarkable things, but to do ordinary things with the conviction of immense importance."

--Teilhard de Chardin

In 1996, Bill and I sailed to Austraila to begin a two-year refit of our gaff-ketch PILAR, in the lovely town of Maryborough, Queensland. It was there, in Barry White's vast old shed of what was once the Walker Shipbuilding Yard, that we became friends with Alan and Patricia Lucas. They had just begun building another boat, SOLEARES, which would continue their life- and livelihood afloat. In the sailing world, Alan is a well-known and respected author of numerous Cruising Guides; Patricia, his wife and partner extraordinaire.

It was the year 2000 when we set our anchor in the Philippine Islands, in Port Bonbonon, Negros Oriental, and casually began what would later become One Candle Schoolhouse.

Our first few months of Saturday School began in the small guest house we'd rented from NeArNe Restaurant and Boat Works.

It was to've been a space for us to continue boat projects, but it quickly became a classroom, filled with posters, colored pencils, games and books--all sent to us by Patricia and Alan.

For more than five years now, Patricia has not only been faithfully gathering and donating gifts to the Students of One Candle Schoolhouse, she's become a goodwill Ambassadress spontaneously telling friends and strangers about the children, touching the hearts of new friends for our school.

Awed by Patricia's unwavering commitment, I asked her in one of our exchanges of old-fashioned letters if she could explain to me why she has continued to remain so generously involved. She replied:

"…Maybe, deep down, I see what you are achieving with your kids, involving yourself so completely, as something I would love to do. Mainly, though, in the beginning, it was my love for you and a way of extending and enriching our friendship. Giving is joy, especially giving to those who are so grateful for anything. I remember, years ago, I asked you if soft toys would be useful and you said that they don’t need toys, they have their baby brothers and sisters! That really struck a chord. We are such a materialistic society; the simple pleasures are disappearing. My pleasure is in thinking and choosing what they (and you) would like or need.

One photo you sent me of the group
with those masks and whistles (Sorry Bill!) gave me such a buzz, I am thinking of framing it! That is all the inspiration I require; their pleasure.

We all need to be needed so when you say I am a part of the school, I glow.

I give others gifts, knit socks and jumpers and so on for the family and, quite often, hear nothing—not even a ‘Thank you’; one more present disappearing into the materialistic hole. I am not bitter about this, it is the way life is now, so your appreciation of anything I send is greatly felt…the warm glow spreads!

I find sending to you and yours an outlet for creativity. I certainly just love thinking of you all and wondering what would be suitable.
I usually get the box for you months before I send it. I see things and say, “Diane’s kids’ might like that!” and into the box it goes! When I ‘hit the button’ on something just right, it is a tremendous pleasure. Like the recorder...

—then Jill sending more—that was great! Especially as they were useful for the hearing impaired children—an extra bonus for me!

I can see how your school has progressed as the years go by, the way they have expanded as their knowledge and understanding of what they can actually achieve, their capabilities, has been enriched. I love being part of the school (as you say) and when Leonila emailed for Australian dance info, I was so thrilled! That makes me even more a part of the school..."



"...a part of the school," indeed. One Candle Schoolhouse has been so blessed with loyal supporters that it has become more of an extended family than a charity...and "the warm glow spreads!"

Thank you again and always, Patricia and Alan!