Why did this man choose to live inside a cave for 30 years?

Seventy-three-year-old Mang Emigdio has lived inside a mountain cave in Bohol for 30 years.

For the past three decades, he was able to turn this once-hostile dwelling into a comfortable abode for himself.

The cave had everything that Mang Emigdio needed: a makeshift wooden bed, a stone table, and a bath area.

The elderly man shared that he takes a bath every day with fresh spring water, and plants sweet potato crops to sustain himself.

Why did Mang Emigdio decide to leave his hometown for an isolated life?

He used to live in a conventional home with his former wife. But after their house was destroyed by a typhoon, he sought to live in solitude.

He wanted a quiet life.

In 1987, he decided to trek up the mountain where his grandfather's land was. That was where he found the cave, which eventually became his home for three decades.

Mang Emigdio shared that even though he was living away from civilization, his children would come and visit him. Some of them would even give him money to help him survive. His cousin, Rogelio, would bring food for him whenever he could.

Rogelio told KMJS that he pitied the elderly man because of his condition, and feared that his cave-dwelling cousin would not be able to call for help when he needed it.

Even Mang Emigdio's beloved child Tonet felt pity seeing his father in such a state.

Mang Emigdio is contented with his simple life inside the cave. But he admitted that it was difficult to live in such a situation.

After his story was posted online, several groups reached out to him.

Some even provided him the materials he needed to build a hut just a few meters away from the cave.

To help him, the KMJS team also provided additional materials for his new house.

Mang Emigdio's friends and neighbors also volunteered to help build the elderly man’s new house.

Mang Emigdio said he was thankful for all the support, and hoped that the house would be completed soon. — Angelica y. Yang/LA, GMA News