He rented a mountain to raise 30 pigs, then abandoned it for 5 years… One day he returned and was stunned by what he saw…

In 2018, Rogelio “Roger” Santos, a determined farmer from Nueva Ecija, believed that the mountains above Carranglan could change his life and lift his struggling family out of poverty.

Roger had grown up watching his parents struggle with endless financial hardship, so when he heard about a vacant hillside available for rent, he saw an opportunity rather than a risk.

The land was quiet, covered with tall grasses and scattered trees, far from the busy town center, but perfect for building a small pig operation.

With cautious excitement, Roger visited the area with the owner, Mang Tino, a kind old farmer who had lived by the mountain for decades.

Mang Tino explained that no one had used that part of the mountain for years because transporting supplies along the dirt road was difficult.

But Roger saw no drawbacks. Instead, he saw space, fresh air, and a place where the pigs could grow up without the overcrowding of the village farms.

After a week of reflection and conversations with his wife Marites, Roger signed a modest rental agreement for a portion of the hillside.

He returned home that night with tired eyes but a hopeful heart, already imagining rows of pigpens and a future full of promise.

Marites watched him as he drew plans on old paper, his pencil moving rapidly as he calculated feed costs, growth cycles, and expected market prices.

They both knew the plan carried enormous risk, but it also represented their first real opportunity to change their future.

Roger withdrew the small savings he had carefully accumulated over years of odd jobs and construction contracts across the province.

Even that money wasn’t enough to start the farm, so reluctantly, he applied for a loan from the Land Bank of the Philippines.

The approval came two weeks later, bringing relief but also a heavy responsibility that would soon accompany him everywhere.

With the funds ready, Roger began buying materials: bamboo poles, galvanized roofing sheets, cement blocks, and pipes for a deep well system.

For almost two months he climbed the mountain every morning before dawn, carrying tools and supplies along the narrow dirt path.

The neighbors occasionally stopped to watch him work, shaking their heads in curiosity and whispering about the ambitious young farmer.

But Roger ignored their doubts, concentrating only on finishing the corrals before the rainy season arrived.

At the end of June, several sturdy corrals stood on the hillside, their roofs glistening in the afternoon sun as the wind moved gently through the surrounding trees.

Roger then installed a deep well pump so that the animals would always have clean water, even during the dry weeks.

Standing on the slope one afternoon, he looked proudly at the small farm and imagined dozens of healthy pigs growing up there.

The final step was to buy his first batch of piglets, which he acquired from a breeder several towns away.

Thirty squealing piglets arrived in a small truck, their pink bodies restless and curious as Roger carefully guided them into the pens.

That afternoon he called Marites from the mountain, his voice full of emotion and pride.

“Just wait for me,” he said confidently, watching the piglets explore their new home.

“In one year, we will finally build our own house,” Roger promised, deeply believing in every word he spoke.

During the first few weeks, everything seemed to be going according to plan perfectly.

The piglets adapted quickly, feeding well and growing stronger under Roger’s attentive daily care.

He would wake up before dawn to clean the pens, refill the water tanks, and mix the feed while the fresh mountain air surrounded the farm.

By mid-morning the animals would quiet down, giving Roger time to repair fences or check the water pump.

Sometimes he would sit on a wooden stool outside the corrals, calculating profits in a small notebook.

If everything continued without problems, he estimated that the pigs could reach market weight in six months.

That would allow him to pay off the first portion of the bank loan while still saving money for the future.

Roger felt hopeful for the first time in many years.

However, success stories rarely tell how quickly fortunes can change.

One afternoon a fellow farmer visited the mountain with worrying news that was spreading through the nearby provinces.

African swine fever had been detected in several parts of Luzon.

At first Roger dismissed the warning, believing that the outbreak would stay away from Carranglan.

But within weeks, panic began to spread among pig farmers throughout the region.

The local government announcements urged farmers to increase hygiene and closely monitor animals for symptoms.

Soon the rumors became reality.

A nearby farm reported sick pigs that died suddenly without a clear explanation.

Another farm lost almost its entire herd in just a few days.

Authorities began strict monitoring while veterinary teams investigated possible infections.

Fear slowly crept into Roger’s mind as he listened to these reports.

Then smoke appeared in distant valleys.

Farmers whose pigs tested positive had no choice but to burn down entire pens to stop the virus.

Day after day, gray clouds drifted over the mountains as infected farms destroyed their animals.

The smell of smoke lingered in the air for weeks.

Marites grew increasingly anxious as she followed news reports and local warnings.

One night he climbed the mountain to speak directly with Roger.

Standing by the corrals, he looked nervously at the animals.

“Let’s sell them while they’re still alive,” he pleaded in a low voice.

Roger immediately shook his head.

“If we panic now, we lose everything,” he insisted, trying to sound confident.

“This too shall pass. We just need to hold on a little longer.”

Marites remained silent, although fear filled her eyes.

The following weeks became the toughest Roger had ever faced.

He disinfected the equipment daily and limited visits to avoid possible contamination.

However, stress was slowly consuming him.

Every cough from a pig, every small change in appetite made his heart beat fast.

Sleep became difficult as worry kept him awake for long nights.

Meanwhile, food prices suddenly doubled because supply chains were disrupted across the region.

Roger’s carefully calculated budget began to collapse piece by piece.

The bank kept sending reminders about loan payments.

Each phone call tightened the knot of pressure in his chest.

Finally, exhaustion caught up with him.

After several sleepless nights, Roger collapsed from exhaustion while working near the corrals.

He was rushed to a hospital in Cabanatuan where doctors diagnosed extreme exhaustion and severe stress.

For more than a month he remained away from the mountain, slowly recovering under the care of his family.

During that time, he constantly imagined the pig farm collapsing.

When Roger finally returned to Carranglan, his fears were partially realized.

Half of his pigs had already left.

Some had died unexpectedly, while others were sold at a low price just to reduce losses.

The remaining animals required expensive food that Roger could barely afford.

Standing inside the silent corrals, he felt his dreams slipping away.

The rain pounded against the metal roofs for many sleepless nights that followed.

Each storm sounded like a warning that their hard work was crumbling.

Roger sat alone by the pens, looking at the remaining pigs.

I no longer felt the excitement that had once drawn me to the mountain.

Instead, a heavy silence surrounded him.

The phone rang again one night.

Another creditor was demanding payment.

Roger listened silently before ending the call.

Then he slowly sat down on the floor of the empty storage shed.

The rain outside intensified against the roof.

He lowered his head and whispered softly to himself:

“I’m finished.”

The next morning, Roger made the most painful decision of his life.

He closed the gates of the pig farm and walked towards Mang Tino’s small house.

Without many words, he returned the keys to the old owner.

Mang Tino looked at him with concern but said nothing.

Roger turned around and slowly walked down the mountain path.

He didn’t look back even once.

For him, the farm was already lost.

The following years passed in silence.

Roger and Marites moved to Quezon City and found jobs in a small factory.

Her life was simple and stable, although far from the dreams she had once imagined.

Whenever someone mentioned pig farming, Roger would just smile weakly.

“I just fed my money to the mountain,” he said.

Five long years passed.

Then an unexpected phone call changed everything.

At the beginning of this year, Mang Tino contacted him again.

Her voice trembled through the phone.

“Roger… you have to come back.”

“There’s something you should see at your old pig farm.”

Roger felt confusion growing inside him.

I hadn’t climbed that mountain in five years.

But something in Mang Tino’s tone seemed urgent.

The following morning the journey back to Carranglan began.

The dirt road that led to the mountain seemed almost forgotten.

The grass had grown thick across the path.

The trees leaned over the road as if they were reclaiming the land.

Roger walked slowly, his chest tight with uncertainty.

What could possibly remain of the place he left behind?

Would the corrals have collapsed a long time ago?

Perhaps only rusty roofs and broken fences would remain.

The climb felt longer than I remembered.

Each step brought back memories I had tried to forget.

Finally, he reached the last bend before the farm.

Roger stopped suddenly.

His heart began to beat faster.

Because what he saw in front of him left him completely paralyzed.

The mountain he had left behind… now looked completely different.

Continue reading in Part 2…