Patsy (My Father's Dog on the Saga)

This entry was written by my Dad a few days ago.
I will continue to document stories of my father's family.

Patsy was my dog, he was black with a white spot in his left eye. 

When he was born, an old man, Apo Gorio, a Baylan {medicine man} told me to fed him in his first food a burnt beehive mixed in his food so that he can smell enemies from a di...stance and will be a good hunting dog and will become a brave dog. 

Patsy grew up in my care, papa bought a chain to tie him because he ran after everybody who came near our house. 

One night, we were awaken with his barkings from the camote field which is about 5o meters from our cottage.

Papa took his shotgun and put his "lanterna" in his forehead {like miners} and he found out that patsy has broken his chain and run after a big wild boar that came to eat camotes. 

When Patsy sensed Papa he ran to him and bit his pant signalling him to follow and not far away a still dying wild boar was lying down.

From that incident, Papa and some hunters does not go out without Patsy, he was always with the hunting party and they always have a catch, either wild pigs or deer and sometimes both.

Patsy became a celebrity in the barrio and was kowon in far Santiago, Minlangit, Agosahis, Bayawa and other neighboring places, he was known as "Aso hi Boy". 

Thus, one day, a group of men with spears and bolos following a man in a white horse with long hair and beard came to Silo-o.

It was a Sunday afternoon, Mama called all of us and we all hid in our bedroom.

Papa went to meet them, he introduce himself as Mandabao, the famous magahat. 

Papa called the people around by ringing the school bell made of an end of a world war 2 bombshell. Mangabao told papa that he came to buy Patsy for he heard about the dog, but Papa told him he can have Patsy for free. 

That night the barrio people hosted a party for the group, they were served foods and drinks. 

The following day Papa told me that the magahat will take Patsy. 

When he handed him his chain I started to cry until they were lost in the jungle.