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 wholl 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 oclock at night, a few days before the full moon.
(Don Francisco goes back and forth outside the room, stressed! Doa 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) Heres your child dear. (smiles)
Doa 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?
Doa Teodora: I have delivered him safely because of the divine help of Our Lady of Peace and
Good Voyage so well 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 babys head) In the name of the holy son, Jesus
Christ, I welcome you Jose as one of Gods sonbless you! Bless you! (audience claps)

Doa 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 seora!

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.
Doa 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 havent seen him, maybe Aya took him at the garden.
Doa 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 Teodoras 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?
Doa 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 its time to take your
bath!
Little Jose: (shakes his head) But I dont 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?

Doa Teodora: (smiles) Yes it is Ute, so you have to take a bath now!
Little Jose: (sighs) Oh okay!
Doa Teodora: (smiles again) Good then lets go inside, Aya take Utes toys inside will you?
Aya: Yes seora.

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 its time to eat, come! Let us not keep the Lords 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 Voyages statues)
Doa 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.
Doa 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, Ill 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?
Doa 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) Dont 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 Taaaaatay (slowly her breathing slows
down and her hand falls)
Doa 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!
Doa

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 sisters portrait. That sight broke my
heart, knowing that I cant 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 Conchas 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.
Doa Teodora: (yells angrily) Joseeee! Joseeee! Come here this instant!
Little Jose: (hurries up to his Mother) Yes, Nay? (looks up to his Mother)
Doa 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 Joses hands and whips) OneTwoThree! 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)
Doa Teodora: Ute, that is not the way to read a spanish here give me the book and Ill teach you.
(Donya Teodora reads the book while Little Jose listens. After some time, Jose yawns, catching Donya
Teodoras attention. She then closes her book and looks at Jose)
Doa 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?

Doa 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 Mothers
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 ones 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.
Doa 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 Tios 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 Joses 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 Joses 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) Ouuurrmothhher tongue, likeall the highest that weknow (Just then
Donya Teodora walks in and sees her son writng)
Doa 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.
Doa Teodora: (looks at her sons work) Hmmmm, let me see (reads the poem silently) Its 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.
Doa 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 Bian
to pursue my studies. Leaving my family brought a pain in my heart, but I knew that
it had to be done.
Doa 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 Bian 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 dont want to leave, I want to stay here with all of you!
Doa 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 doesnt mean that you wont 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 dont even know anyone who lives there.
Doa Teodora: (hugs Jose) Dont worry my Son, your Kuya Paciano will accompany you to Bian,
there you will stay with your Tiya Linda until you finish your studies. Understood?

Little Jose: (wipes his tears) Yes Nanay.

(That Afternoon)