Tuesday, February 24, 2009
The Fourth Little Pig, Bantay Bata 163, and Mayor Jon-Jon of Gentri
by Carmelita C. Ballesteros
YOU ARE INVITED.
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What: A meeting; a program; a gift-giving event. Who: Gorgy (the fourth little pig), Bantay Bata 163 , and Mayor Jon-Jon of Gentri. Where: Municipal Hall, General Trias, Cavite, Philippines. When: February 4, 2009. Why: 1) Gorgy is going to meet 162 bright-eyed children. 2) Gentri children will gift BB163 kids with their love. 3) Mayor Jon-Jon wants to show that Gentri cares for the future of children. How: Mayor Jon-Jon, Gorgy, and Bantay Bata 163 happened to meet one day. They cooked up the meeting, the program, and the gift-giving event. |
How The Fourth Little Pig Was ‘Born’
In 1999, Teresa Celsi wrote a sequel featuring a female fourth little pig. I didn’t know about Celsi’s version until after I’d written mine in 2001. The two versions are completely different from each other. Mine is rooted in the Philippine milieu.
Gorgy, my fourth little pig, is an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who leaves his pig family behind in search of a piece of land where he could build his own home. The pig farm where his Mama Pig, Papa Pig, and three brother pigs live is overcrowded.
He goes from pig farm to pig farm without much luck. All the other pig farms are overcrowded, too. He works as a carpenter while going from one pig farm to another. He saves most of his money, hoping to make his dream home come true.
One day, he sees an old cottage in need of repair. It looks like a lonely house where nobody lives. After knocking several times, he goes inside the cottage thinking that it is his lucky day.
He is embarrassed when he sees a missy little pig inside the cottage. It is Josephine, a struggling piano teacher who’s been a polio survivor since childhood. She needs to have her dilapidated cottage repaired, but she doesn’t have enough money.
Gorgy and Josephine help each other, and the story ends happily.
After keeping the manuscript of The Fourth Little Pig for two years, my family and I founded Panday-Isip, a small publishing house. We made a leap of faith, sold our old Toyota, and borrowed money from friends at an interest in order to finance the publishing, printing, and marketing costs.
A talented and freelance artist, Beth Parrocha-Doctolero, illustrated the manuscript. And so Gorgy, the fourth little pig, came to life in 2004.
Bantay Bata 163
Bantay Bata 163 is a non-profit organization which rescues abused children, and provides them with a holistic rehabilitation program aimed at the ultimate healing and reunion of family members. BB163 is under the umbrella of ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc.
Mayor Luis ‘Jon-Jon’ Ferrer IV
Mayor Jon-Jon is a young, self-propelled leader who has governed General Trias (Gentri), Cavite, Philippines since 2004. Under his leadership, Gentri was awarded as the most business-friendly municipality for Luzon in October 2007 by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry. (Luzon is the biggest island in the Philippine Archipelago of more than 7,000 islands.)
Several industrial estates, such as the Cavite Export Processing Zone, are based in General Trias. While supportive of export-oriented business firms, Gentri strives to achieve a balanced development program for agriculture, housing, education, public works, and social services.
Among Mayor Jon-Jon’s social services are a local rescue program for abused children in Gentri and the support of 52 day care centers (kindergarten) in 33 barangays.
How Mayor Jon-Jon, Gorgy, and BB163 Met
Mayor Jon-Jon was looking for a suitable Christmas gift for the day care children when he saw the picture storybook, The Fourth Little Pig.
The child in him was magically drawn to Gorgy’s cover illustration. A pig in a yellow jacket and a pair of red pants! And why is he waving goodbye to the three other pigs?
Curious like a child, Mayor Jon-Jon skimmed through The Fourth Little Pig and got to know Gorgy, the carpenter pig symbolizing OFWs. Mayor Jon-Jon met Josephine, too, and realized that the missy little pig gives a face and voice to children in need.
Together, Gorgy and Josephine endeavor to rise above their needy situation by living the values of cooperation and interdependence . These are priceless values which young children can learn without being taught through a picture storybook.
“Why is the logo of Bantay Bata 163 on the cover of the Fourth Little Pig?” Mayor Jon-Jon asked.
After hearing about Panday-Isip’s pledge, Mayor Jon-Jon decided to give a personal donation to BB163.
Ms. Tina Monzon-Palma, Program Director of BB163, accepted Mayor Jon-Jon’s personal donation during a private meeting. In keeping with its pledge, Panday-Isip Publishing House also gave a small amount.
During the gift-giving event, the children of General Trias were both receivers and givers. Grateful for all the simple blessings they enjoy, the children gave simple gifts for the BB163 kids. No child is too young to care about other children.
After the read-aloud of the Fourth Little Pig, a girl said Gorgy’s story made her understand why her father is working as an OFW. Another child said she understood the value of land and the importance of having a home.
Most of all, the children enjoyed the wonderfully illustrated story, the treat of going to their very own sparkling municipal hall, and the honor of meeting Mayor Jon-Jon.
It was a wonderful feeling to know that their mayor truly cares for them. It was a humbling experience to give a little something for other children and to know that their humble gifts were deeply appreciated.
It was a magical moment to realize that one day, their childhood dreams and hopes and prayers for a better future can come true!
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