CHILHOOD DAYS OF A HERO GROUP 1 NARRATOR: Throughout all time, men have always ventured through the vastness of eternity. And so we ask ourselves, would those who’ll come before us remember our name?
ACT I: SCENE 1 (HOUSE) Rizal (MONOLOGUE) : I was born in Calamba on the 19 th of June 1861 between eleven and twelve o’clock at night, a few days before the full moon. (Don Francisco goes back and forth outside the room, stressed! Doňa Teodora lies on the bed, full of sweat. Don Franciso holds her hands and kisses it. The hilot then gives them a bundle of cloth where the baby is ) Hilot: (gives the baby) Here’s your child dear. (smiles) Doňa Teodora: (smiles with tears) Oh thank you, thank you so much (looks at the baby lovingly). Don Francisco: (smiles too, then kisses the baby) What shall we name him? Doňa Teodora: I have delivered him safely because of the divine help of “ Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage “ so we’ll name him JOSE, my little jose (then cuddles the child, the three of them hug) Don Francisco: Jose it is, our precious Jose (kisses his wife)
SCENE 2: (CHURCH) Rizal (MONOLOGUE): My parents were overjoyed and at three days time, I was baptized in the Catholic Church of Calamba to formally welcome me as part of our family. Rev. Rufino Collantes: (pours holy water on the baby’s head) In the name of the holy son, Jesus Christ, I welcome you Jose as one of God’s son…bless you! Bless you! (audience claps)
Doňa Teodora: (smiles with tears then kisses the baby) Thank you Padre! Gracias! Rev. Rufino Collantes: (smiles then looks at the couple) May the child grow with love under your care seňora!
Don Francisco: He will Padre, he will! (nods and then hugs his family)
SCENE 3: (HOUSE) After 3 years… Rizal (MONOLOGUE): I often would venture outside our garden, the meadows and the lake for which I was scolded by my Mother. Doňa Teodora: (yells) Jose! Jooosee! Jose! Where are you? (saturnina walks by, and Donya Teodora asks her) Neneng, have you seen Ute? Neneng: No, Nanay I haven’t seen him, maybe Aya took him at the garden. Doňa Teodora: (holds at her temples) Oh yes. Salamat anak. (hugs and kisses neneng then both walks away)
SCENE 4: (GARDEN) Little Jose: (looks at the Aya expectantly) And then Aya, what happened? Aya: (smiles and looks at the boy) And then, when the young man came home he discovered that the sack of ginger which Maria Makiling gave him was full of nuggets of gold. From that time on, the story of Maria Makiling spread far and wide. Her kindness and beauty became a symbol of light for the men of old. The end. Little Jose: (smiles) That was a great story Aya, tell me more tell me more. Aya: (smiles, but then hears Donya Teodora’s voice) Maybe next time Jose, your Nanay is calling us. (little Jose stands up, and then walks to his mother and hugs her)
Little Jose: (looks up to his mother) Nanay, nanay Aya was just telling me the legend of Maria Makiling, is it true Nanay? Does she really exist? Doňa Teodora: (laughs and looks at the boy) Yes it is true, my boy! Maria Makiling exists, but she only shows herself to little boys and girls who are neat and clean..so huthut it’s time to take your bath! Little Jose: (shakes his head) But I don’t want to take a bath, I want to play. Aya: You have to take a bath Jose, or else the aswang and higante will take you! Ohhhhhhh
Little Jose: (looks up to his mother) Nay, is that true? Doňa Teodora: (smiles) Yes it is Ute, so you have to take a bath now! Little Jose: (sighs) Oh okay! Doňa Teodora: (smiles again) Good then let’s go inside, Aya take Ute’s toys inside will you? Aya: Yes seňora.
SCENE 5: (HOUSE) Rizal (MONOLOGUE): My mother and father were good parents to me, my brother and sisters. One could not ask for a better family.
Don Francisco: (calls everyone) Everyone it’s time to eat, come! Let us not keep the Lord’s grace waiting! Everyone: (except Donya Teodora) Coming Tatay! (Everyone comes to the table and sits down) Don Francisco: (looks at everyone) Before we eat, let us thank the Lord for this blessing He gave us. Neneng lead the prayer.
Neneng: (Bows her head and makes the sign of the cross) Sa ngalan ng Ama… (After the prayer, everyone then eats. After eating everyone goes to the sala and sits down in front of the Sacred heart of Jesus and Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage’s statues) Doňa Teodora: (sits down and hands a rosary to little Jose) Jose, this time you will lead the prayer okay? Little Jose: (takes the rosary and sits down too) Yes, Nanay. (Little Jose the proceeds in reciting the Novena and family prayers)
SCENE 6: (HOUSE) Rizal (MONOLOGUE): Our family was the best family I could ask for. But I quickly learned that life was not only filled with joy and happiness, but also pain and suffering. (Concha is lying in the bed with a cloth over her head while a hilot examines her. The hilot then stands up and walks to Don Francisco and Donya Teodora) Hilot: (bows her head) I am sorry, but I cannot help your daughter, she is suffering from an illness that I cannot decipher. Doňa Teodora: (cries and looks at her husband) Oh Francisco! Don Francisco: (hugs her wife and looks at the Hilot) Is there nothing you can do, I’ll pay whatever the price you ask just help our daughter! Hilot:(shooks her head) I am sorry Don Francisco, but there is nothing more I can do! (Just then Concha opens her eyes and calls her mother and father) Concha: (extends her hands in the air) Nanay, Tatay where are you? Doňa Teodora: (hurries over to Concha, and takes her hand with tears in her eyes) Anak, nandito si Nanay, is there something wrong? Do you want anything? Don Francisco: (walks slowly to the bed and hugs her wife) Anak, were here? May kailangan ka ba?
Concha: (coughs) Nanay, Tatay I just want you to know that I love you, all of you. (parents cry and Concha washes their tears away) Don’t cry Nanay, Tatay. I want you to tell Kuya Ute that I love him very much,please? Please tell him. I love you Na….nay Taaaaa…tay (slowly her breathing slows down and her hand falls) Doňa Teodora: (looks at her daughter and shooks her) Concha, concha anak! Anak, please wake up (cries loudly) Concha, concha wake up, wake up! Don Francisco: (struggles to keep his wife calm) Tama na Teodora, enough.Please calm down (cries too while looking at his daughter) There is nothing more we can do! Doňa
Teodora:
(cries and hugs her dead daughter)
NO!
NOOOOOO!
CONCHAAAAAAA!
CONCHHAAAAA! Anakkkkk! ( Unknown to them, Little Jose was watching from the door of the kwarto and was crying over the loss of his sister)
Rizal (MONOLOGUE): That was saddest day of my life, watching my sister suffering from afar, helpless to help her. After three days, my sister was buried and along with her a small part of my heart died and our family never became the same again. For a week, I cannot talk to my mother. She never spoke a word, but every now and then I can see her silently crying while looking at my sister’s portrait. That sight broke my heart, knowing that I can’t do anything to ease her pain.
SCENE 7: (ANTIPOLO) Rizal (MONOLOGUE): Even so, after some time my mother came back to her original self. She became the woman who loved me and her family again. Though the death of my sister was devastating , all of us managed to help each other in enduring the pain of Concha’s death. After some time, a new member of our family was born… my sister Trinidad. My Father then took me on a pilgrimage to Antipolo where the Virgin of Antipolo was. Little Jose: (while walking) Father, what are we going to do here?
Don Francisco: (looks at his child and laughs) Well, my son we are going to offer a prayer of thanks to the Our Lady Of Peace and Good Voyage for delivering you to us safely. Your Mother was having a hard time in delivering you safely, so we uttered a prayer of help to the virgin of Antipolo to help us and miraculously she answered our prayers. (At last, Father and son reached the shrine and there, they offered their prayer of thanks)
SCENE 8: (HOUSE: Sala) Rizal (MONOLOGUE): As a child I became fascinated with folklore and poetry. My Mother helped to developed my talents. Yet I always get a good beating whenever she sees that I have done something wrong. Doňa Teodora: (yells angrily) Joseeee! Joseeee! Come here this instant! Little Jose: (hurries up to his Mother) Yes, ‘Nay? (looks up to his Mother) Doňa Teodora: What have you done with your book? I thought I told you to read it, not write silly things on it. (shows the book to Jose and extends her hand) Give me your hand! (little Jose steps back) I said give me your hand! (Jose then gives his hand) As punishment, you will have three whippings! (holds Jose’s hands and whips) One…Two…Three! Let that be a lesson to you! (walks away, while little Jose weeps)
(That night…) Little Rizal: El praso si amigo et hul.. mi aga to reseo emara (reading slowly) Doňa Teodora: Ute, that is not the way to read a spanish… here give me the book and I’ll teach you. (Donya Teodora reads the book while Little Jose listens. After some time, Jose yawns, catching Donya Teodora’s attention. She then closes her book and looks at Jose) Doňa Teodora: Ute, I am going to read you a very pretty story. Now pay attention… Little Jose: (sobers up in attention) What is it, Nanay?
Doňa Teodora: (smiles) This is the story of the young moth and his mother. One night, when the moon was full a young moth and his mother were flying around a candle. The young moth was fascinated by the light and wanted to go near it, but the Mother moth warned him that going near
the light will cost him his life. But the young moth was stubborn, he did not heed his Mother’s warning. He went near the light and after a time of flying around it, he was touched by its flames and was burned to death. The end. Little Jose, like the young moth you must not be disobedient from I what I say to you. For sometimes disobedience can cause one’s life, understood? Little Jose: (looks up at his mother) Yes Nanay! From now on, I will read all the books that you have given me. Thank you Nanay for reading me that story. Doňa Teodora: (smiles at her son) Your welcome my son, now go to sleep you have a big day tomorrow! (Little Jose walks up to his Mother and kisses her and then walks to his room. Donya Teodora stands up and blows up the candle) NEXT DAY:
Rizal (MONOLOGUE): I was fortunate enough to have three amazing Tio’s who wants the best for my well-being. My Tio Gregorio taught me to work hard, to think for others and myself and to observe life keenly. He was a great help in instructing me how to read books. Tio Gregorio: Now Jose, remember that the life given to us is a short one. You must make the best of it worthwhile for you to never regret anything Little Jose: Opo Tio (Tio Gregorio smiles and pats Jose’s shoulder)
My Tio Jose encouraged me to paint, sketch and how to create statues. He showed me that life is a work of art and that we should cherish it by sharing our talents to others. Tio Jose: Ute, always keep in mind that everything is a work of art for art is done by the Lord himself. Little Jose: (nods) Yes, Tio!
And my Tio Manuel taught me that to fight your own battles, you must have the strength to do it.
Tio Manuel: (brushes Little Jose’s head) Bear in your heart Jose, that you must never give up no matter what challenges you face. You must always stand up and have the will to go on with your life. Little Jose: (nods and smiles) Yes Tio!
Rizal (MONOLOGUE): With that experience, I became more fascinated in improving my talents to help others. My Mother became my inspiration to improve my abilities. Little Jose: (writing) Ouuurr…mothhher tongue, like…all the …highest …that we…know (Just then Donya Teodora walks in and sees her son writng) Doňa Teodora: (leans down to see what her child is doing) Anak, what are you doing? Little Jose: (looks up at his mother) I am writing a poem Nanay. Doňa Teodora: (looks at her son’s work) Hmmmm, let me see (reads the poem silently) It’s a good work my Son, but you have to improve your ideas more in writing poetry. What is the title of this poem? Little Jose: (smiles at his mother) Sa aking mga kabata Nanay. Doňa Teodora: (smiles) That is a good title, Ute. I am so proud of you. (hugs her son)
SCENE 9: (HOUSE: Sala) Rizal (MONOLOGUE): Time came that I must study vigilantly. My Father then hired one of his old friends to tutor me: Maestro Leon Monroy. Don Francisco: (calls his son) Uteeee! Uteeee! Come here! Little Jose: (walks in to his Father) Yes Tatay? You called me? Don Francisco: (points the man beside him) Son, I would like you to meet Maestro Leon Monroy, my old classmate and now your own Teacher. Little Jose: (walks up to Leon Monroy and takes his hand to his head) I am pleased to meet you Maestro.
Leon Monroy: (smiles) Likewise Ute, I am glad to meet you too.
Rizal (MONOLOGUE): For five months, Maestro Monroy taught me all that he knows about the Latin language. But his teaching was cut short by his death which left a scar in my heart.
ACT II: SCENE 1 (HOUSE) Rizal (MONOLOGUE): My Father was not discouraged with the death of Maestro Monroy. It came to pass that one day, I found out that I was going to move to Biňan to pursue my studies. Leaving my family brought a pain in my heart, but I knew that it had to be done. Doňa Teodora: (calls her Son) Jose, Jose would you come here please? Little Jose: (walks in and looks at his parents) Yes Nanay? You wanted to speak with me? Don Francisco: (looks at his Son) Anak, we want you to know that you are going to Biňan where you are going to continue your studies. There is a Maestro there, who can teach you all that you need to know. Little Jose: (starts to cry) But I don’t want to leave, I want to stay here with all of you! Doňa Teodora: (starts to weep as well) I know my Son, this is hard for all of us, but you must do this to complete your studies. It doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to see us anymore, you can always visit us here! Don Francisco: (leans down) Your Mother has already prepared your luggage, you are leaving this afternoon, my Son. Little Jose: (cries more) But where will I go there? I don’t even know anyone who lives there. Doňa Teodora: (hugs Jose) Don’t worry my Son, your Kuya Paciano will accompany you to Biňan, there you will stay with your Tiya Linda until you finish your studies. Understood?
Little Jose: (wipes his tears) Yes Nanay. (That Afternoon…)
