Ang Manukan ni Lolo Pepe

Once, in a baranggay named Sitio Mapula, there lived an old man named Mang Pepe. He was very known there because of his great kindness. Together with him lived his five grandchildren, Marsha, the eldest, Cathy, Toni, Juan, and the youngest was Potpot. Lolo Pepe also had a poultry which was very popular in the place.

“ Potpot, come here and we’ll play,” shouted Toni. Hurriedly, Potpot went to his sister to play. “ Toni, can you feed the chickens?” asked Mang Pepe. “ After we play lolo,” answered Toni. “ How about you Cathy and Juan, water the plants.” “ Yes lolo! ”

Toni forgot what she has to do. Mang Pepe saw that the chickens were not yet fed. He also saw that the plants were not properly watered. He did these things again. Mang Pepe was very tired. But he didn’t yet fed the chickens. He got the chicken pellets and started to fed them. “ Marsha, can you lend me some help here? ” “ Yes, lolo!” Marsha went to his lolo. “ Lolo, are you okay? ” asked Marsha. “ I’m….I’m… ” Mang Pepe didn’t even got the chance to tell that he was feeling dizzy. Mang Pepe fainted and fell. “ Lolo…lolo! Hey, help me here, ” shouted Marsha. The five helped to carry their lolo. They waited for their lolo to wake up. They did everything they could. They called a doctor. The doctor said that their lolo has an incurable disease.

One morning, their lolo woke up. Everyone was surprised to see him awake. “ Tomorrow , early morning, wake up early. Go to the poultry. You will notice a chicken which will get out of it’s cage. Follow this chicken and he will lead you to the cure of my sickness. This chicken will hatch an egg. Bring it with you,” Mang Pepe told his grandchildren. After hearing those, they were very eager to find the cure. They woke up early.

“ Potpot, Cathy, Toni, wake up,” whispered Marsha and Juan. Hurriedly, they all went to the poultry and waited for a chicken to go out on its’ cage. “ Look guys, there’s the chicken,” said Juan. They followed this chicken as what their lolo said. But then, as they were following this chicken, they were in another dimension. “ Where are we?” asked Potpot. “ I…I don’t know,” answered Cathy. Suddenly, a mysterious voice was heared. “ How dare these intruders come to my place,” said the voice. “ We’re here to see the cure of our lolo,” answered Marsha. “ Oh well, good for you! Go now before it’s too late. But my dear, please be careful,” warned the mysterious voice. “ Guys, the chicken, it’s there,” shouted Juan. They ran as fast as they could, but they couldn’t find the chicken. It has been a long walk and they reached the point that they should separate ways.

“ Look. What shall we do next?” asked Marsha. “ Look at this. There are two ways,” she continued. “ How about if one group will go the way and the other will go this way,” said Toni. “ Great idea. Potpot and I will go this way and you three will go that way,” said Cathy. They continued with their plan. On the first road, Cathy and Potpot was there. They walked and rested for a while. But then, their surroundings became dark that they couldn’t see each other. “ Ate, what is happening here,” asked Potpot. “ I don’t know,”
replied Cathy. Suddenly, a ghost appeared and chased them. “ Ate, help me,” shouted Potpot. “ Where are you?” shouted Cathy. The two lost their ways and separate . On the other hand, Marsha, Toni, and Juan was there. After a long walk, they noticed a table with foods on it. “ Wow! Look, that is my favorite cake,” said Juan. Hurriedly, Juan went to the table to eat. “ Juan, no!” shouted Marsha. “ It can be a trap,” she continued. But Juan didn’t listen. And Juan was on his last slice of cake. “ Look, nothing happened,” said Juan. Not long before he took the first bite of the last slice, a huge, dark circle appeared and Juan fell on it. “ Juan! Where are you now?” shouted Toni. But no traces were found. They were down to two. They continued to walk. Not long after, something strange happened. Toni saw her crush who offered her to a dance. After saying yes, Toni was already not listening to Marsha, as if she was hypnotized. “ Toni, stop!” shouted Marsha. But it was too late. Toni wasn’t listening to her. Then Toni’s crush started to kiss Toni. After the kiss, Toni suddenly disappeared and went to another dimension. Toni forgot what happened and where is Marsha. Marsha was also there left there.

The five were separated and started to walk. After several hours, the five met again. “ What happened?” asked Potpot. “ I know. Potpot and I are afraid of ghosts. It’ our weakness,’ said Cathy. “ Also the food on the table, Toni’ s crush, they appeared on our journey on the other road,” said Marsha. “ They were all our weaknes,” Toni continued. Suddenly, everything turned to black, darkness grew and they were trapped. But then, Marsha’s necklace shone. “ Look! My necklace is shining,” Marsha exclaimed. “ Yes! The necklace that lolo gave you which is suppose to be mine,” said Popot. “ No! It was two years before when it should be mine,” said Cathy.

Two years ago, Mang Pepe has this necklace which was to be said has a great power. Mang Pepe was choosing who among his five grandchildren should he give this. One time, Mang Pepe gathered his grandchildren. “ I have here my necklace and I’ll give to the one who can handle and take care of this necklace,’ said Mang Pepe. “ Can I have it lolo,” said Potpot. “ Lolo, it should be mine,” exclaimed Cathy. “ And I’ll give this to Marsha,” said Mang Pepe. “ But don’t worry, I promise you’ll will have one someday,” he continued.

Back to the present, Marsha’s necklace was still shining. And then, the darkness started to fold its’ blanket. “ Yipee!” shouted the five. “ And look, there’s the chicken,” said Marsha. They went near the chicken. Then, they noticed that the chicken was hatching an egg, a very huge and colorful egg. Then they remembered what their lolo told them, “ This chicken will hatch an egg. Bring it with you.” Juan carried then the chicken and the five got the egg. Suddenly, they were on the poultry again and saw their lolo feeding the chicken. “ Lolo, we’re here,” shouted the five. “ Oh! My grandchildren are here. I saw you in my dreams and thank you for the things you’ve done,” said Mang Pepe. “ Thanks too, lolo. But are okay now lolo?” “ Of course,” Mang Pepe replied. “ Lolo, we’ve also brought the egg and the chicken,” exclaimed Juan. “ May I have it? Then come here,” said Mang Pepe. Juan gave Mang Pepe the chicken and the egg. They gathered around the table and put the egg on the center. After a while, the egg was hatching and four crystals appeared. These crystals went to Toni, Juan, Cathy, and Potpot. “ Okay. I fulfilled my promise to you four that you will have one like Marsha’s. these crystals contains powers. Yours Toni contains the power of love, the power to love the chickens and other animals. Yours Juan has the power of healing the animals. Yours Cathy contains the power of the prediction. You can predict anything, including what will happen to the animals around you. While yours Potpot has the power to understand what the animals are saying,” explained Mang Pepe. “ Thank you lolo!” said the five. “ We promise to use these powers in the right way,” said Marsha. “ Yes lolo! We will,” continued Cathy.
Many months have passed and Mang Pepe’s poultry was growing and progressing. His grandchildren was also helping him and these five also conduct some outreach program to these domesticated animals.