“KRU-U” –The Curly Haired Mountain Boy
By Adelino L. Masigla
Del Pilar Primary School, a satellite school of Roxas Central School, Roxas, Palawan, is located in barrio Barbacan ten kilometers north
of Municipality of Roxas . The solitary school room was both occupied by grades 1 and 2 who were taught at the same time by only one
teacher. Row 1 was occupied by twelve grade-1 while row 2 by nine grade-2 pupils. The locality was scarcely populated mainly by 11
families who worked for the nearby wharf of a silica sand mining firm. Much of the pupils reside in the nearby barrios whose families
were farmers. Being the only pupil who originated from Manila with a continuous supply of a can of 120 pieces butterball candies arriving
at least twice a month I was a favorite in the school.
One morning, in the year 1951, during recess while we were having fun in the small playground behind the school one of the boys
noticed an unfamiliar image moving along the bushes nearby. He would move back and disappear each time some one get closer to the
bush and reappear at a distant. A classmate told me that was a mountain boy with curly hairs. I have not yet seen a mountain boy and I
was curious how he look like so I sat down and observed. He was there behind the tall grass and watching the pupils play and staring at
me often. While his eyes were focused on me I took a butterball candy from my pocket and purposely showed how to unwrap, then put
the candy in my mouth and gave one each to three of my friends. When the school bell sounded I took the last candy out of my pocket and
placed it over the rock near him then ran toward the school room. I peeped through the walls and saw him slowly walked towards the
rock, picked up the candy then disappeared into the forest.
The following day we found the mountain boy back in the same spot. This time I left two candies on the rock. After all the pupils went back
to the room he slowly walked towards the rock and again took the candies away.
The next few days I would live two candies on the rock and he would take it. However on following Monday the mountain boy did not show
up. He was not seen the next day either. On the third day during recess he was back in the same spot, in our full view and in G-strings. I
approached him slowly showing three pieces of my candies while he seemed to be smiling at me and to my surprise when he put out
his hands from behind he was holding a small white baby parrot and gave it to me in return.
From thereon this mountain boy with curly hair became our friend. He would show up at least twice a week with anything he can carry,
wild fruits, root crops, mountain toys, etc and even birds’ eggs. Though we did not understand each others' language we later learned
that his name is “Kru-u”, from a nomadic Tagbanua tribe who roams the mountains of Palawan.
Months after, Kru-u showed up no more. The baby bird he gave was never caged yet grew-up into a white talkative and very friendly parrot
who responded each time the named KRU-U is called. She would fly away every morning into the forest and return back each afternoon
just before twilight, and, after being fed with palay grains, stayed at a comfortable spot in the cieling structure for the night . About a year
and a half later KRU-U was seen up on a nearby tree with another white parrot. She went back to stay in her familiar spot in the ceiling
few more nights then one day, just like the curly haired mountain boy, my KRU-U parrot showed up no more.
My KRU-U, oh, my KRU-U.
By Adelino L. Masigla
Del Pilar Primary School, a satellite school of Roxas Central School, Roxas, Palawan, is located in barrio Barbacan ten kilometers north
of Municipality of Roxas . The solitary school room was both occupied by grades 1 and 2 who were taught at the same time by only one
teacher. Row 1 was occupied by twelve grade-1 while row 2 by nine grade-2 pupils. The locality was scarcely populated mainly by 11
families who worked for the nearby wharf of a silica sand mining firm. Much of the pupils reside in the nearby barrios whose families
were farmers. Being the only pupil who originated from Manila with a continuous supply of a can of 120 pieces butterball candies arriving
at least twice a month I was a favorite in the school.
One morning, in the year 1951, during recess while we were having fun in the small playground behind the school one of the boys
noticed an unfamiliar image moving along the bushes nearby. He would move back and disappear each time some one get closer to the
bush and reappear at a distant. A classmate told me that was a mountain boy with curly hairs. I have not yet seen a mountain boy and I
was curious how he look like so I sat down and observed. He was there behind the tall grass and watching the pupils play and staring at
me often. While his eyes were focused on me I took a butterball candy from my pocket and purposely showed how to unwrap, then put
the candy in my mouth and gave one each to three of my friends. When the school bell sounded I took the last candy out of my pocket and
placed it over the rock near him then ran toward the school room. I peeped through the walls and saw him slowly walked towards the
rock, picked up the candy then disappeared into the forest.
The following day we found the mountain boy back in the same spot. This time I left two candies on the rock. After all the pupils went back
to the room he slowly walked towards the rock and again took the candies away.
The next few days I would live two candies on the rock and he would take it. However on following Monday the mountain boy did not show
up. He was not seen the next day either. On the third day during recess he was back in the same spot, in our full view and in G-strings. I
approached him slowly showing three pieces of my candies while he seemed to be smiling at me and to my surprise when he put out
his hands from behind he was holding a small white baby parrot and gave it to me in return.
From thereon this mountain boy with curly hair became our friend. He would show up at least twice a week with anything he can carry,
wild fruits, root crops, mountain toys, etc and even birds’ eggs. Though we did not understand each others' language we later learned
that his name is “Kru-u”, from a nomadic Tagbanua tribe who roams the mountains of Palawan.
Months after, Kru-u showed up no more. The baby bird he gave was never caged yet grew-up into a white talkative and very friendly parrot
who responded each time the named KRU-U is called. She would fly away every morning into the forest and return back each afternoon
just before twilight, and, after being fed with palay grains, stayed at a comfortable spot in the cieling structure for the night . About a year
and a half later KRU-U was seen up on a nearby tree with another white parrot. She went back to stay in her familiar spot in the ceiling
few more nights then one day, just like the curly haired mountain boy, my KRU-U parrot showed up no more.
My KRU-U, oh, my KRU-U.
masigla.com
A SHORT STORY
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