Am I to be blamed?
A glass of cold water
They’re chasing me, they’re chasing, no they
must not catch me, I have enough money now,
yes enough for my starving mother and
brothers.
Please let me go, let me go home before you
imprisoned me. Very well, officers? take me to
your headquarters. Good morning captain! no
captain, you are mistaken, I was once a good
girl, just like the rest of you here. Just like any of
your daughters. But time was, when I was
reared in slums. But we lived honestly, we lived
honestly in life. My, father, mother, brothers,
sisters and I. But then, poverty enters the
portals of our home. My father became jobless,
my mother got ill. The small savings that my
mother had kept for our expenses were spent.
All for our daily needs and her needed
medicine.
One night, my father went out, telling us that
he would come back in a few minutes with
plenty of foods and money, but that was the
last time I saw him. He went with another
woman. If only I could lay my hands on his neck
I would wring it without pain until he breaths
no more. If you were in my place, you’ll do it,
won’t you Captain? What? you won’t still
believe in me?. Come and I’ll show you a
dilapidated shanty by a railroad.
Mother, mother I’m home, mother? mother?!.
There Captain, see my dead mother. Captain?
there are tears in your eyes? now pack this
stolen money and return it to the owner. What
good would this do to my mother now? she’s
already gone! Do you hear me? she’s already
gone. Am I to be blamed for the things I have
done?
Everybody calls me young, beautiful, wonderful.
Am I? Look at my hair, my lips, my red rosy
cheeks and a pair of blinkering eyes.
I remember, somebody says that I look like my
mother that I look like my mother. But that
when she was young.
Now, I am much lovelier than she is. I’m a
mortal Venus. Oops! What time is it? I must get
ready for the party!
Beep-beep…!A-huh! Here they are! Yes, I’m
coming!
"Child, are you still there?"
"Hmp! That’s my mama"
"Child, are you still there? Will you please get
me a glass of cold water?"
"Mama, I’m in a hurry!"
"Please child, try to get me a glass of cold
water."
"Mama, please, try to get it on your own."
"Please child, try to get me a glass of cold
water!"
At the party, I danced and danced the whole
night.
You see, I can’t leave the party at once. I have
to danced with everybody who proposed to me.
At last, the party is over. I’m very tired. Very,
very tired.
So, I went home to tell mama what happened.
"Mama, I’m home! It’s very quiet. "Mama, I’m
home!" Nobody answers.
Where is she? I look for her in the sala, but
she’s not there. Where is she? A-huh! In the
kitchen!
I saw my mama, lying down on the floor, dead.
With a glass on her hand. I remember, she tried
to get it.
Oh, God, just for the glass of cold water! Mama!
Mama! Oh, Mama!
Juvenile Delinquent
Am I a juvenile delinquent? I’m a teenager, I’m
young, young at heart in mind. In this position,
I’m carefree, I enjoy doing nothing but to drink
the wine of pleasure. I seldom go to school,
nobody cares!. But instead you can see me
roaming around. Standing at the nearby canto
(street). Or else standing beside a jukebox stand
playing the nerve tickling bugaloo.Those are the
reasons, why people, you branded me
delinquent, a juvenile delinquent.
My parents ignored me, my teachers sneered at
me and my friends, they neglected me. One
night I asked my mother to teach me how to
appreciate the values in life. Would you care
what she told me? "Stop bothering me! Can’t
you see? I had to dress up for my mahjong
session, some other time my child". I turned to
my father to console me, but, what a wonderful
thing he told me. "Child, here’s 500 bucks, get it
and enjou yourself, go and ask your teachers
that question".
And in school, I heard nothing but the echoes of
the voices of my teachers torturing me with
these words. "Why waste your time in studying,
you can’t even divide 100 by 5! Go home and
plant sweet potatoes".
I may have the looks of Audrey Hepburn, the
calmly voice of Nathalie Cole. But that’s not
what you can see in me. Here’s a young girl who
needs counsel to enlighten her way and
guidance to strenghten her life into
contentment.
Honorable judge, friends and teachers…is this
the girl whom you commented a juvenile
delinquent?.
The face upon the floor
The Face Upon the Floor
by Hugh Antoine D'Arcy
(Source: www.bidaeskwela.blogspot.com)
'Twas a balmy summer evening and a goodly
crowd was there,
Which well-nigh filled Joe's barroom, on the
corner of the square;
And as songs and witty stories Came through
the open door,
A vagabond crept slowly in and posed upon the
floor.
"Where did it come from?" someone said. "The
wind has blown it in."
"What does it want?" another cried. "Some
whiskey, or rum or gin?"
"Here, Toby, sic 'em, if your stomach's equal to
the work--
I wouldn't touch him with a fork, he's filthy as a
Turk."
This badinage the poor wretch took with stoical
good grace;
In fact, he smiled as tho' he thought he'd struck
the proper place.
"Come, boys, I know there's kindly hearts
among so good a crowd--
To be in such good company would make a you now.
deacon proud. As I told you, once I was a man, with muscle,
frame, and health,
"Give me a drink--that's what I want... I'm out of And but for a blunder ought to have made,
funds, you know, considerable wealth.
When I had cash to treat the gang this hand was
never slow. "I was a painter, not one that daubed on bricks
What? You laugh as if you thought this pocket and wood,
never held a sou; But an artist, and for my age, was rated pretty
I once was fixed as well, my boys, as any one of good.
you. I worked hard at my canvas and was bidding fair
to rise,
"There, thanks, that's braced me nicely, God For gradually I saw the star of fame before my
bless you one and all; eyes.
Next time I pass this good saloon, I'll make
another call. "I made a picture perhaps you've seen, 'tis
Give you a song? No, I can't do that, my singing called the 'Chase of Fame'.
days are past; It brought me fifteen hundred pounds and
My voice is cracked, my throat's worn out and added to my name,
my lungs are going fast. And then I met a woman... now comes the
funny part--
"I'll tell you a funny story, and a fact, I promise, With eyes that petrified my brain and sunk into
too. my heart.
Say! Give me another whiskey and I'll tell you
what I'll do... "Why don't you laugh? 'tis funny that the
That I was ever a decent man not one of you vagabond you see
would think; Could ever love a woman and expect her love
But I was, some four or five years back. Say, give for me;
me another drink. But 'twas so, and for a month or two, her smiles
were freely given,
"Fill her up, Joe, I want to put some life into my And when her loving lips touched mine, it
frame-- carried me to Heaven.
Such little drinks to a bum like me are miserably
tame; "Boys, did you ever see a girl for whom your
Five fingers... there, that's the scheme... and soul you'd give,
corking whiskey, too. With a form like the Milo Venus, too beautiful
Well, here's luck, boys and landlord... my best to live;
regards to you. With eyes that would beat the Koh-i-noor and a
wealth of chestnut hair?
"You've treated me pretty kindly and I'd like to If so, 'twas she, for there never was, another
tell you true half so fair.
How I came to be the dirty sot, you see before
"I was working on a portrait, one afternoon in
May,
Of a fair-haired boy, a friend of mine, who lived
across the way.
And Madeline admired it and much to my
surprise,
Said she'd like to know the man, that had such
dreamy eyes.
"It didn't take long to know him and before the
month had flown
My friend had stole my darling, and I was left
alone;
And ere a year of misery had passed above my
head,
The jewel I had treasured so had tarnished and
was dead.
That's why I took to drink, boys. why, I never
see you smile,
I thought you'd be amused and laughing all the
while.
Why, what's the matter, friend?... there's a
tear-drop in your eye,
Come, laugh like me 'tis only babes and women
that should cry.
"Say, boys, if you give me just another whiskey
I'll be glad,
And I'll draw right here a picture of the face that
drove me mad.
Give me that piece of chalk with which you
mark the baseball score
You shall see the lovely Madeline upon the
barroom floor."
Another drink, and with chalk in hand, the
vagabond began
To sketch a face that well might buy, the soul of
any man.
Then, as he placed another lock upon the
shapely head,
With a fearful shriek, he leaped and fell across
the picture... dead!
Murderess
It’s already twelve o’clock. Oh, God, I’m hungry!
I’ve been running and hiding for almost three
days. I’m dead tired. I need some rest. But no,
they are looking for me! And if they find me, I
will be put to jail. But, where can I hide? Leo’s
father is so influential, so powerful. He is the
governor of our great province and I happened
to kill his son!
No, don’t accuse me like that! I’m not a
murderess! Hear me, I’m begging you, I tell you
I’m not a murderess.
Audience, let me explain, please.
Okay, okay, okay! It all happened in school one
day. I went to the library to find a book. Then I
found it. I got so engrossed to what I was
reading that I almost didn’t notice the time. It
was gone past six and, oh my! I think I was the
only student left in the library. To my dismay,
Leo was waiting for me outside. I wanted to
hide but it was too late. He was already in front
of me.
“Hi, Brenda! Can I drive you home?”
I shook my head irritatingly. My God, how I hate
him! He often sends me scented love letters in
pink stationery which I sent back all unopened.
He sends me roses and chocolates, too. They
are my favorites. I wanted so much to eat the
chocolates, but I hate the person who gave
them. So I throw them into the trash. How
could I ever get away from this guy?
“Hey, Leo, wait a minute! If you want to drive
me home, thanks, but no thanks! I’m old
enough to go home on my own, okay? So,
please stop following me like a dog! And
besides, I’m too young for love and I don’t
accept any suitors, understand?”
“But, Brenda, I love you! Can’t you understand?
I can give you anything you want. Say it and
you’ll have it. And, Brenda, remember, I can get
everything I want by hook or crook. So you’d
better be good to me or else. Ha… ha… ha…!”
And he started laughing like a monster. I got so
scared. I know how powerful his family was, but
I still insisted, “Leo, how can you be such a jerk?
I don’t like you and I don’t love you. In fact, I
hate you! Now, will you leave me alone?”
But instead of leaving, do you know what he
did? He pushed me so hard against the wall and
started kissing me. I was shouting for help, but
no, no one was there!
“Somebody, help me, please! Please, please!
Help! Help!”
Then he gave me a big, big punch on my
stomach. Oh my God! It was painful!
But even before he reached for me again, I
spotted a rusty knife and grabbed it.
“Now, Mr. Leo Monteverde, try to kiss me
again, attempt to rape me again, and I will
never ever forgive you! Go to hell! Um… um…
ummm!”
I didn’t know how many times I pushed the
rusty knife in his body. Then I noticed
something. Blood, blood… there’s a blood on
my hands!
Leo, Leo…! Oh, God! I killed Leo! No, I’m not a
murderess! He was going to rape me and I just
defended myself. I didn’t mean to do it, I’m not
a murderess! I’m not a murderess! But I killed
Leo…! I killed him! I’m a murderess! Ha! Ha! I’m
a murderess! Ha! Ha! Ha!
The Charcoal-Burner’s Son
My father he’s at the kiln away.
My mother sits at her spinning;
But wait, I’ll too be a man someday,
And a sweetheart I’ll be winning.
So dark it is far off in the forest.
At dawn I am up and off with the sun –
Hurrah! When the sun’s a-shimmer,
To father then with his food with me,
And long mountain shadows are thrown there.
So dark it is far off in the forest.
Tralala! As glad as a bird in flight
I’ll sing as the path I follow.
But harsh the reply from the mountain high,
And the woods are heavy and hollow.
So dark it is far off in the forest.
The shadows come down so thick, so thick,
As if curtains were drawn together,
There’s rustle and rattle of stone and stick,
And trolls are walking the heather,
So dark it is far off in the forest.
There’s one! There are two! In their net they’ll
take
Me, alas! – how the fires are waving!
They beckon, O God, do not forsake me!
By flight my life I’d be saving,
So dark it is far off in the forest.
The hours went by, the daylight was gone,
The way it grew ever more wild now,
There’s whispering and rustling over stick and
over stone
As over the heath runs the child now.
So dark it is far off in the forest.
With rosy-red cheeks and heart beating fast,
To his father’s kiln swiftly fleeing, he fell.
“My dear son, oh, welcome at last!”
Tis trolls, aye, and worse I’ve been seeing.
So dark it is far off in the forest.”
“My son, it is long here I’ve had to dwell,
But my God has preserved me from evil.
Whoever knows his Our Father well
Fears neither for troll nor for devil,
Though dark it is far off in the forest.”
“Bad Girl” Declamation
Hey! Everybody seems to be staring at me..
You! You! All of you!
How dare you to stare at me?
Why? Is it because I’m a bad girl?
A bad girl I am, A good for nothing teen ager, a
problem child?
That’s what you call me!
I smoke. I drink. I gamble at my young tender
age.
I lie. I cheat, and I could even kill, If I have too.
Yes, I’m a bad girl, but where are my parents?
You! You! You are my good parents?
My good elder brother and sister in this society
where I live?
Look…look at me…What have you done to me?
You have pampered and spoiled me, neglected
me when I needed you
most!
Entrusted me to a yaya, whose intelligence was
much lower than mine!
While you go about your parties, your meetings
and gambling session…
Thus… I drifted away from you!
Longing for a father’s love, yearning for a
mother’s care!
As I grew up, everything changed!
You too have changed!
You spent more time in your poker, majong
tables, bars and night clubs.
You even landed on the headlines of the
newspaper as crooks, pedlars and
racketeers.
Now, you call me names, accuse me of
everything I do to myself?
Tell me! How good are you?
If you really wish to ensure my future…
Then hurry….hurry back home! Where I await
you, because I need you…
Protect me from all evil influences that will
threathen at my very own
understanding…
But if I am bad, really bad…then, you’ve got to
help me!
Help me! Oh please…Help me!
The lost girl
“The Lost Girl” Declamation
by dhang
I am a girl, young in heart and in mind…
I am carefree, I enjoy doing nothing
but play,play and play…
I seldom go to school but hmp! nobody cares!
Instead,you will see me roaming around
standing at the nearby canto,
or hanging around at the sari-sari store
standing beside the jukebox stand…
One day I asked I asked my mother to teach me
how to behave, to live, and appreciate all the
beautiful things in life.
Would you like to know what she told me?
She said… " Can’t you see, I have to hurry up for
my
majong session! " So I turned to my father to
console me.
But what a wonderful word he did tell me…
" Child, I have to finish my overtime
work…Here’s 500 pesos,
go and ask your teacher about that question…"
Sadly,I attended my class…
But I heard nothing but the echoing voice of
my teacher,torturing me with her words…
" Hey yo lazy girl!
Why waste your time studying those things?
When up to now you can’t even multiply seven
by nine?
Go home and don’t bother me!!!"
I am lost…confused…I don’t know what to do
with myself…
Where are my parents to guide me?
My teachers to give me inspirations?
My friends, when I play?
I’m lazy and irresponsible.
When I try to study,
I get punished for not being able to answer.
Where now…I’m confused…
Somebody, please help me…
You say that the world is beautiful,
why is it treating me this way?
Hear me please!
Help me please!
Help me…
I am lost…
I KILLED HIM BECAUSE I LOVED HIM!
Honorable judge, gentlemen of the jury, people
of the Philippines!
Judge me! Am i guilty or not guilty?
But before you sentence me, let me tell you my
story.
There was a young girl, 17 years of age
with a curvaceous body, 36 24 36, a long hair
and a sizzling eyes…
And being rich as she was, she studied at an
exclusive school..
And oh my gosh! I met this guy!
He’s the best player in our basket ball team and
hes the heartthrob of our school.
Oh my gosh and his name, guess what? who?
Robie Santillan isn’t it sweet?
Oh my gosh! We became friends, we became
friends and later more than that.
After 1 year of relationship we decided to settle
down.
The marriage that cut off the ties of our
families.
And since his parents disagree, that’s why he
was not supported by his studies.
So i decided to give up my studies, and work
as a saleslady in a supermarket.
And then one night he returned home he asked
for money but i cant give him for I just gave him
one last night.
So he walked out and then the next day he
returned home. He was as cold and as hard as a
stone.
I gave up my studies: I worked as a
saleslady and this? This is how you pay
back? You cant just do this Robie, you cant just
do this!
“I have to leave”, and when he packed his
things
I decided to get my 45mm revolver.
“Robie you cant just leave me. I’m your wife
Robie. You are mine Robie
you are mine!”

One day, his graduation came and i was so
happy!
I expected Robie to invite me but he never said
a word.
I didn’t mind it I still attended his graduation
ceremony.
I wore my nicest dress ever..
And then when his name was called ,
With a degree of medicine, a Suma Cumlaude,
Robie Santillan!
I shouted with glee.
Hey, honey, be calm.
“No..no..no,,dont leave me
dont leave me robie dont leave me”
and then i decided to go out and
I did the worst thing i made in my whole
painstaking life!
“Mr. Robie Santillan, with a degree of medicine,
a Suma Cumlaude, you will pay all my labors
and sacrifices!”
I shot him.

But when I was just stood up. robie.. robie..

I was shocked, when another girl stood up and I killed him
gave that medal to him I killed in my bare hands
I’m supposed to give him that medal, and pin huhuhuhuhu
that ribbon because im his wife.
Robie I’m so sorry
I’m his wife right?
And now honorable judge, gentlemen of the
im his wife!
jury, people of the Philippines!
With that unpleasant thought,
Judge me!
I fainted.
Am i gulty or not guilty?
And then when he returned home that night,
I killed him because I love him.
I confronted him.

“Robie who is that girl?”, I asked

And then he answered ,” its not your business!”
“But I am your wife Robie”, I answered
“You are just my wife”
How could you do this to me robie?
I KILLED HER as I embrace her. " Yes, mother….. If only I could
get all your pain and agonies…"

I killed her because I do love her. These hands, " Then….. if you love me, end my sufferings, kill
these hands that give life to many, killed her
me… Let me die."
because of my love to her.
"But, mother, I promise to give life and not to
Ladies and Gentlemen of this honorable court, end it."
please listen to me, listen to my story before
you give my verdict. I am Dr. Reyes, a cancer God…. She did not deserve the unhappiness.
specialist. I was born in a slum district of She deserves to be happy.
Batalon. My father oh! I don't know him for I
am a child of faith. My mother brought me up in I run to my room and came back with a syringe.
such determination and my ambition was to
escape the filthy and horrible place of Batalon. I "Mother, forgive me…. God, please understand
was nourished with hope that someday I might me…."
live a life different from her. My mother had a
burning faith that she turned the nights into "Mother, mother, you must not die….. Don't
days. All her efforts were not in vain for I leave, I love you. It was only a distilled
pushed through with flying colors. My mother water…..Mother…… Mother……. MOTHER……"
who had given her whole life to me had tears in
her eyes as she pinned the gold medal on my
proud breast. Now, Ladies and Gentlemen, give me your
verdict. Yes, it was only distilled water which
Later on, I was sent as a scholar of the ended the sufferings of my mother.
Philippines to the United States of America. I
embraced my mother… tightly as I've reached
Judge me….. Punish me………
the plane….."Mother, mother,.." I whispered.
You will always be my best mother in the
GO, punish me………….. Thy will be done!!!
world.

After four years, I came back with laurels. I

became a cancer specialist. I gave my mother
everything but I was too late. I who had used to
ease the pain of many, came too late to the life
of my dying mother. I gave the best treatment
but the grasp of death was so tight around her.
My God, what is the use of ten years of study if I
couldn't even use it at my mother's pain.

Then one night, I heard a strange cry. I run to

her room. "Do you love me, child?"… she asked,