He had once rented an entire mountain to raise 30 pigs, then abandoned the place for five years. Upon his return, what he saw left him completely petrified.

The moment everything collapsed

Stress slowly destroyed him.

Sleepless nights. Endless worries.

Finally, Roger, exhausted, collapsed and was hospitalized in Cabanatuan. He spent more than a month convalescing at his in-laws’ house.

When he finally returned to the mountain, the sight devastated him.

Half of the pigs had disappeared.

The price of animal feed had doubled.

The bank had started calling about the loan.

Each night, as the rain beat against the corrugated iron roof of the pigsties, Roger felt as if his whole life was collapsing.

Then, one evening, after another call from a creditor, he sat down on the floor and whispered:

“I’m finished.”

The day he left

The next morning, Roger locked the pigsty and handed the key to the landowner,  Mang Tino  .

He went down the mountain without looking back.

In his eyes, all was lost.

For  five years  , he never returned.

Roger and Marites settled in  Quezon City  and worked as factory workers. Life was simple: no luxuries, but at least there was peace.

Whenever someone mentioned pig farming, Roger would smile bitterly.

“I threw my money away.”

A phone call after five years

Earlier this year, the unexpected happened.

Mang Tino called him.

His voice was trembling.

“Roger… come here. Your old home… something bad has happened.”

The next day, Roger began the long journey home.

He walked over  40 kilometers  to climb the mountain.

The dirt road was now almost invisible, swallowed up by grass and trees.

As he climbed, anguish filled his chest.

Had everything been destroyed?

Or had his dream completely disappeared?