LITERARY

PIECES
SHORT POEM
The Cat with a smile
The cat with a smile
Will wait for a while,
Cleaning its paws
And sharpening its claws,
Though for what I don’t know –
Perhaps it’s just show?
If there’s a mouse nearby
Perhaps it should go ….

Fly
This fly
Could be a spy,
Buzzing around
(Annoying sound!)
Hither and thither,
Fast in a flicker
It’s changing direction,
A new location,
Barely in sight,
Incredible flight –
What does it see?
Does it see me?

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 LITERARY
PIECES
SHORT POEM
Spiders
I couldn’t sleep for spiders,
Spiders climbing everywhere –
I couldn’t sleep for spiders,
Spiders all round me.

I couldn’t sleep for spiders,

Spiders climbing in my hair,
I couldn’t sleep for spiders –
They’re all that I could see.

I couldn’t sleep for spiders

(Someone keep the light on bright!)
I couldn’t sleep for spiders –
Oh! What a terrible night!

The wave
The wave grew tall,
Became a face,
Sucked and roared
And then gave chase –
From the beach,
Across the land,
Down the street,
Became a hand,
Reached out and grabbed me
But as it did –
I jumped into a shop and hid!

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PIECES
SHORT POEM
Bogies
Bogies come in different shapes,
In different colours, different weights,
Some are straggly, long and thin,
Some are wet and won’t stay in,

Some are smeared across my face

(Since losing them would be a waste!)
Whilst others must be flicked away
Because they cling and want to stay!

My sister says bogies taste great,

She’d love to eat them off her plate!
But since her nose is now empty
She’ll have to have a proper tea.

Duck crackers
To walk with a waddle
The duck’s had to swallow
An egg, a meringue and a spoon:
Its beak’s far too thick,
It hasn’t got lipth,
Which is why the duck can’t hold a tune.
Quack!

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PIECES
SHORT STORY

The Ass in the Lion's Skin

An Ass once found a Lion's skin which the hunters had left out in the
sun to dry. He put it on and went towards his native village. All fled at
his approach, both men and animals, and he was a proud Ass that day.
In his delight he lifted up his voice and brayed, but then every one knew
him, and his owner came up and gave him a sound cudgelling for the
fright he had caused. And shortly afterwards a Fox came up to him and
said: "Ah, I knew you by your voice."

The Bat and the Weasels

A Bat who fell upon the ground and was caught by a Weasel pleaded to
be spared his life. The Weasel refused, saying that he was by nature the
enemy of all birds. The Bat assured him that he was not a bird, but a
mouse, and thus was set free. Shortly afterwards the Bat again fell to
the ground and was caught by another Weasel,whom he likewise
entreated not to eat him. The Weasel said that he had a special hostility
to mice. The Bat assured him that he was not a mouse, but a bat, and
thus a second time escaped.

The Fox and the Leopard

The Fox and the Leopard disputed which was the more beautiful of the
two. The Leopard exhibited one by one the various spots which
decorated his skin. But the Fox, interrupting him, said, "And how much
more beautiful than you am I, who am decorated, not in body, but in
mind."

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PIECES
SHORT STORY
The Fox and the Hedgehog
A Fox swimming across a rapid river was carried by the force of
the current into a very deep ravine, where he lay for a long time very
much bruised, sick, and unable to move. A swarm of hungry blood-
sucking flies settled upon him. A Hedgehog, passing by, saw his anguish
and inquired if he should drive away the flies that were tormenting
him.

"By no means," replied the Fox; "pray do not molest them." "How
is this?' said the Hedgehog; "do you not want to be rid of them?' "No,"
returned the Fox, "for these flies which you see are full of blood, and
sting me but little, and if you rid me of these which are already satiated,
others more hungry will come in their place, and will drink up all the
blood I have left."

The Fox and the Monkey

A Monkey once danced in an assembly of the Beasts, and so pleased
them all by his performance that they elected him their King. A Fox,
envying him the honor, discovered a piece of meat lying in a trap, and
leading the Monkey to the place where it was, said that she had found
a store, but had not used it, she had kept it for him as treasure trove of
his kingdom, and counseled him to lay hold of it. The Monkey
approached carelessly and was caught in the trap; and on his accusing
the Fox of purposely leading him into the snare, she replied, "Oh
Monkey, and are you, with such a mind as yours, going to be King over
the Beasts?"

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PIECES
SHORT STORY
The Man and the Lion
A Lion and a Man chanced to travel in a company through the
forest. They soon began to quarrel, for each of them boasted that he
and his kind were far superior to the other both in strength and mind.

Now they reached a clearing in the forest and there stood a

statue. It was a representation of Heracles in the act of tearing the jaws
of the Nemean Lion.

“See,” said the man, “that’s how strong we are! The King of Beasts
is like wax in our hands!”

“Ho!” laughed the Lion, “a Man made that statue. It would have
been quite a different scene had a Lion made it!”

The Lion, the Fox, and the Ass

The Lion, the Fox and the Ass entered into an agreement to assist each
other in the chase. Having secured a large booty, the Lion on their
return from the forest asked the Ass to allot his due portion to each of
the three partners in the treaty. The Ass carefully divided the spoil into
three equal shares and modestly requested the two others to make the
first choice. The Lion, bursting out into a great rage, devoured the Ass.
Then he requested the Fox to do him the favor to make a division. The
Fox accumulated all that they had killed into one large heap and left to
himself the smallest possible morsel. The Lion said, "Who has taught
you, my very excellent fellow, the art of division? You are perfect to a
fraction. He replied, "I learned it from the Ass, by witnessing his fate."

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SHORT STORY
The Sick Lion
A Lion, unable from old age and infirmities to provide himself with food
by force, resolved to do so by artifice. He returned to his den, and lying
down there, pretended to be sick, taking care that his sickness should
be publicly known. The beasts expressed their sorrow, and came one by
one to his den, where the Lion devoured them. After many of the
beasts had thus disappeared, the Fox discovered the trick and
presenting himself to the Lion, stood on the outside of the cave, at a
respectful distance, and asked him how he was. "I am very middling,"
replied the Lion, "but why do you stand without? Pray enter within to
talk with me." "No, thank you," said the Fox. "I notice that there are
many prints of feet entering your cave, but I see no trace of any
returning."

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DECLAMATION
“Am I to be Blamed?”

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?

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PIECES
DECLAMATION
“A Glass of Cold Water”

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!
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PIECES
DECLAMATION
"The Unpardonable Crime"

Only one living creature seemed to take any notice of his

existence: this was an old St. Bernard, who used to come and lay his
big head with its mournful eyes on Christophe's knees when Christophe
was sitting on the seat in front of the house. They would look long at
each other. Christophe would not drive him away Unlike the sick
Goethe, the dog's eyes had no uneasiness for him Unlike him, he had
no desire to cry: "Go away! . . . Thou goblin thou shalt not catch me,
whatever thou doest!" He asked nothing better than to be engrossed
by the dog's suppliant sleepy eyes and to help the beast: he felt that
there must be behind them an imprisoned soul imploring his aid.
In those hours when he was weak with suffering, torn alive away
from life, devoid of human egoism, he saw the victims of men, the field
of battle in which man triumphed in the bloody slaughter of all other
creatures: and his heart was filled with pity and horror. Even in the days
when he had been happy he had always loved the beasts: he had never
been able to bear cruelty towards them: he had always had a
detestation of sport, which he had never dared to express for fear of
ridicule: but his feeling of repulsion had been the secret cause of the
apparently inexplicable feeling of dislike he had had for certain men: he
had never been able to admit to his friendship a man who could kill an
animal for pleasure. It was not sentimentality: no one knew better than
he that life is based on suffering and infinite cruelty: no man can live
without making others suffer. It is no use closing our eyes and fobbing
ourselves off with words. It is no use either coming to the
conclusion that we must renounce life and sniveling like children.
No. We
must kill to live, if, at the time, there is no other means of living.

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But the man who kills for the sake of killing is a miscreant. An
unconscious miscreant, I know. But, all the same, a miscreant.
The continual endeavor of man should be to lessen the sum of
suffering and cruelty: that is the first duty of humanity.
In ordinary life those ideas remained buried in Christophe's
inmost heart. He refused to think of them. What was the good? What
could he do? He had to be Christophe, he had to accomplish his work,
live at all costs, live at the cost of the weak. ... It was not he who had
made the universe. . . . Better not think of it, better not think of it. ...
But when unhappiness had dragged him down, him, too, to the
level of the vanquished, he had to think of these things. Only a little
while ago he had blamed Olivier for plunging into futile remorse and
vain compassion for all the wretchedness that men suffer and inflict.
Now he went even farther: with all the vehemence of his mighty nature
he probed to the depths of the tragedy of the universe: he suffered all
the sufferings of the world, and was left raw and bleeding. He could not
think of the animals without shuddering in anguish. He looked into the
eyes of the beasts and saw there a soul like his own, a soul which could
not speak: but the eyes cried for it: "What have I done to you? Why do
you hurt me?" He could not bear to see the most ordinary sights that
he had seen hundreds of times —a calf crying in a wicker pen, with its
big, protruding eyes, with their bluish whites and pink lids, and white
lashes, its curly white tufts on its forehead, its purple snout, its knock-
kneed legs:—a lamb being carried by a peasant with its four legs
tied together, hanging head down, trying to hold its head up,
moaning like a child, bleating and lolling its gray tongue:—fowls
huddled together in a basket:—the distant squeals of a pig being bled
to death:—a fish being cleaned on the kitchen-table. . . . The nameless
tortures which men inflict on such innocent creatures made his heart
ache. Grant animals a ray of reason, imagine what a frightful nightmare
the world is to them: a dream of cold-blooded men, blind and
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deaf, cutting their throats, slitting them open, gutting them,
cutting them into pieces, cooking them alive, sometimes laughing
at them and their contortions as they writhe in agony. Is there anything
more atrocious among the cannibals of Africa? To a man whose mind is
free there is something even more intolerable in the sufferings of
animals than in the sufferings of men. For with the latter it is at least
admitted that suffering is evil and that the man who causes it is a
criminal. But thousands of animals are uselessly butchered every day
without a shadow of remorse. If any man were to refer to it, he would
be thought ridiculous.—And that is the unpardonable crime. That alone
is the justification of all that men may suffer. It cries vengeance upon
God. If there exists a good God, then even the most humble of living
things must be saved. If God is good only to the strong, if there is no
justice for the weak and lowly, for the poor creatures who are offered
up as a sacrifice to humanity, then there is no such thing as goodness,
no such thing as justice.

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PIECES
DECLAMATION

"Bad Girl"

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, peddlers 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 threaten 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!

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DECLAMATION
THE CULPRIT

The Republic of the Philippines

Versus Rolando Madlang Bayan
Criminal Case No._________
...................Yes your honor I am Rilando Madlang Bayan docked in
Criminal Case #27890 for multiple murders and drug trafficking. Yes, I
pledge guilty to the crime I don not intend to deny. Come, sentence me
to the ultimate capital punishment I deserve bu I beg of you to listen to
me.
This is how it happened. Many years ago in an obscure village, a
healthy boy was born to a woman who had a name in a flickerville. My
father was a man who had a name to himself. I was the fruit of their
secret relationship. After my birth my mom got back to the world of
make believe just to accept many more rejections. Offers started to
come just a little and all her misfortunes were charged to my
unexpected coming. She called me a jinx, her misfortune, her failure.
Until one time she died of overdose of sleeping pills. Her untimely
death added to my sufferings. My own father disowned me for reason
he alone knows. Society condemned me. The pang of rejection was
even bitter. I started on my own. Living the hard way until I found
myself hooked in the business of drug trafficking.
You brand me as evil, but have you ever tried to give me the
chance to live decently? You call me wicked but has it ever crossed
your mind that you too had a share in shaping me into a hoodlum?
During the pitiful night, there was raid. We were surrounded
by men in uniform. From my place I know the man who led the
raiding team was the man responsible for my birth ... My own Dad ... I
could have killed him that very night. I could have vindicated the

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injustice he had done but blood was thicker than water ... I made
painful decision. I surrendered and handed him my revolver,
I know I would answer for the many crimes of murder I had done but I
am sure with my decision my father will earn another feather in his cap.
It would mean a promotion for him.
Your honor, now on your hands lie the verdict. Who is the real
culprit? The man who sold prohibited drugs to sustain a living or the
man who turned his back from responsibility? The man charged of
multiple murders or the decorated man who led me to this horrible
crime?

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PIECES
DECLAMATION
THE PANG OF MISFORTUNE

Klang. Klang. That's the signal, yes, two hours more is left. Do you
hear that? At four this afternoon I will have my rendezvous with death
at the lethal injection chamber. I pledge guilty to drug trafficking and
multiple murder. I know I deserve that ultimate capital punishment, but
listen to my story. You too have a share in forming me into a hoodlum
in this dog eat dog world.
I was a matter of fate by destiny that I grew up in an area fast a
accelerating in this orbit of moral decadence. My mom died a few days
after my birth. Lola brought me up as dad, a policeman was a footloose
and fancy-free family man.
Outcast yes, I am , a bitter pill to swallow but more bitter than this
was the pang of rejection. Dad disowned me for the reason he alone
knew. Society condemned me fo mom's indiscretion, a fault not of my
own making.
I did not ask to be born but they gave me life just to wallow in
poverty, in shame and in anger. All around me were dark shadows of
frustrations: pre-marital sex, women of loose morale in heavy make-up,
indecency, gambling, vices of all kinds, graft, corruption. Name them
and we have them all in our place.
At first, I lived as an errand boy then as a messenger for this oldest
trade of flesh to sustain a living. I graduated to selling prohibited drugs
while sniffing once in a while to get into the world of make believe to
escape reality of life. That was how life was with one like me
who has no choice but to stay living that hard way.
One night, in my usual routine I had some small packages of
prohibited drugs to deliver to my valued clients. I was intercepted by a
man in uniform and was consequently caught in the act. i could do
nothing more but to face the situation. Instead of submitting
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myself peacefully to the authority I managed to grab the revolver
and shot him flat dead. Once , twice, until several policemen
came to his succor. I shot aimlessly not minding anymore who might
get hurt until I no longer knew how many lives were lost.
God forgive me! But you people of the Philippine Republic who
accuse me of drug trafficking and multiple murder I also accuse you
before the seat of the Most High, God the all knowing, all wise Judge
for:
- having failed me with our lawmakers who themselves are law
breakers,
- having taught me life's bitterness just with your words not coupled
by your witnessing,
- having done nothing to fight moral decadence that has swept and
pestered our country now.
I know I have but few minutes to live. Before I submit myself
to face the Maker, I ask you People of the Philippine Republic to
atone for passive participation in the mess and corruptionour
country is faced with. Do something to save our country, save the
Philippines, save our youth. Capture the lost values through moral
recovery.

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PIECES
DECLAMATION
Five Loaves of Bread

She stood at the bar of justice

A frightened creature wan and wild—
In form too small for a woman,
In feature too old for a child.
For a look so worn and pathetic
Was stamped on her lovely face
It seemed that years of suffering
Was something time couldn’t erase.

“Your name?” asked the judge as he eyed her.

“Is Anna Ruiz, Sir,” said the girl.
“And your age?” asked the judge again,
Then girl replied, “I’ve turned fifteen.”

“Well Anna, I’m sorry to say,

That you have been charged today
By your town baker who said,
That you stole five loaves of bread

Do you know that stealing is bad?

And that you have displeased our God?
Do you know that you could be jailed?
And cannot be set free or bailed?”
“Your Honor, I know it was wrong,
But day in and out I walked along
Looking for work so I could earn
Even hard jobs, I’m willing to learn.

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But fate’s unkind, my father is dead,
My mother is sick and lying in bed,
My brothers and sisters missed six meals,
They asked for food with eyes full of tears.

What could I do to save them from death?

I myself was losing my breath—
So I took the five loaves of bread,
But I’ll pay with services instead.”

There was silence in the courtroom,

That was suddenly filled with gloom.
The women wiped their tears away,
They heaved a sigh and tried to pray.

All dug into their pockets,

And then brought out their wallets
Sounds were heard of golden coins that fall
Into boxes passed around the hall.

The baker stood up and told the judge

“Your Honor, I’m withdrawing my charge.”
A rich lady gave Anna a job
That helped her and all that she loved.

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DECLAMATION
The LOST GIRL
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 world 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…

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DECLAMATION
A CALL FOR MOM AND DAD
Ring... ring... ring... is it the phone? My, it's two o'clock in the
morning yet. But wait. It is Dad. Has he just got home from the business
meeting, maybe... poor Dad! He works so hard for Mom and me.
I walked on tiptoe to the door ( another honking was heard ). Oh, is it
Mom? Yes and what happens? She looks drunk, swinging her way to
the sala.
All I hope was to give them surprise but I get, instead the biggest
surprise in my life. Dad, my hero leads a Cassanova lifestyle: wine,
women and party. And Mom, the lady behind the recent fund raising
campaign is the exact opposite of the image she projected in that last
week's PTA event. A cheat, a liar. How could they do this to me? "You
brute," Mom shouted, You think you can always hide things from me? I
saw you with your secretary," and she started throwing things at Dad.
"Stop that, Matilde." And he pushes Mom hard enough to the wall.
Is this the home I was eagerly looking forward to return for a vacation?
And Dad, is he worth emulating? My Mom, what has gone with her? I
got out from my place.
Mom, Dad what's wrong? Benjo, good you are here. Dad managed to
say. We can no longer go on this way anymore. It's no use of hiding
things from you I must confess. I love you son. You are the only reason
of my staying here. Now it is for good. I must leave the house. Son,
please understand. He went up and in an instance he came down with
his luggage. Mom seemed to be in the state of shock. All she
could do was cry.
Benjo, my son. I can no longer hide the truth. Your Dad and I
are never happy. We have to part ways. Please, Son try to understand.

I bite my lips to hold my tears but I held Mom by shoulders.

Mom, why has this happened to us? Have you ever thought of
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the effects on me? That happened a long time ago.I do not know
where Dad is now. It took me long to gather the prices of my
broken dreams. All I know is I am very much affected by what
happened to us.
To you fathers and mothers present in this hall now, I challenge
you to step forward to prove you are not cowards like my own Dad. I
challenge you mothers to stay firm and unwavering, never to let your
family break.

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DECLAMATION
LRT BOMBING

Bread. Bread. . .spare me a piece of bread. Believe me, I don't want to

society but fate dooms me to this deplorable situation.
We used to be a happy family. Dad was a good provider until that pitiful
day in May. All I could remember was Mom crying over the sad news of
Dad's untimely death. He died in an airplane crush and his remains was
nowhere to be found.
Mom gallantly took her responsibility as our guide and provider. Benjo,
Mom and I made up the happy family we were once.
A day before New Year, we took the LRT to evade the heavy traffic. I
was in pink dress, matched with a pink ribbon. As I mused with
towering edifice on our way to lola, a great Commotion ensued. Mom
embraced me tightly to shield me from apparent danger. Everything
went fast. BOOM. . . A DESTRUCTIVE EXPLOSION WENT OUT.
"RIZZA, take care," she said and finally loosened her hold on me. Her
look was gloomy and slowly she closed her eyes as she gave forth her
last.
"Mom." I cried out loud as I struggled to get out from the broken seat.
As I looked at the crowd, I saw everything in disorder; people in
commotion and crimson blood oozed from my Mom's forehead.
"Mom," I cried bitterly embracing her lifeless body. Everything went
dark, darker until I found myself in a hospital. Worst, Benjo was
nowhere to be found.
What awaits a small, incapable girl like me. Nothing but a the
bare truth of misfortune-darker than the hundred nights. . .
uncertain than a thousand blank reality.

Bread, bread. . . give me a piece of bread.

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ORATION

I AM THE YOUTH OF TODAY – ORATION PIECE

I am the youth of today. I am a descendant of the brave Katipuneros

and the strong-willed leaders of the revolution. I wear the red banner and
carry the torch of my guerrilla forefathers. The blood of my ancestors runs
through my veins. I was not delivered into this world in defeat. The
resilience of the past centuries nourishes my will but I am still fighting for my
freedom, justice, and peace.
To our distinguished members of the board of judges, to my fellow
contenders, friends, visitors, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon.
I stand before you to speak for democracy, that our heroes died for,
the unfortunate and unjust strived for, and the present and even the future
generation’s endeavour. Honor and dignity flow in my blood and my heart
beats for freedom.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Filipino heroism is our legacy. It is found in
the determination that made it possible for our Banganhon brothers to fight
for freedom. It is in the courage that sustained them to seek justice for the
brutal Banga massacre many years ago. Let the blood of the courageous
Katipuneros run through the veins of our children. Let their cries be echoed
to our youth. Let us revel in the victory and peace that our forefathers gave
their life for.
But where is our freedom? Through the agony of the three hundreds
of years under the Spanish colonization, several years
under the Japanese and American occupation, I should think we are
liberated from foreign forces… but a fellow Filipino dictator once again
threatened our peace. When victory became ours, the seed of democracy in
our country began to take root and sprouted to
grow. I should rejoice, and shout. However, ladies and gentlemen,
I can see pictures of our Mother Land in reality at the present and
she is chained. Her shackles are those of poverty and inequality. Her chains
are those of injustices, human rights violations, corruption, and treason. Her
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eyes are blinded by media, and social networking. But her heart breaks as
she sees her sons point their guns at each other. She sees her daughters
slaving their way in foreign lands to earn money to buy food for their
families. Is this what freedom has cost her?
I am the youth of today, I am free to do what I want without prejudice.
I am free to say what I want without fear of incrimination. I have grown fond
of TV shows, love teams and teleserye, and fight over them in social media.
If only my fellow youths can defend our land from domestic terrorist groups,
like how we defend AlDub or Pastillas girl. If only we can protect our West
Philippine Sea from foreign invaders like how we protect our love teams
from rumors. Then I can say that our forefathers’ heroism is not in vain.
Fellow Banganhons, I am the Filipino Youth of today. I enjoy
social networking like facebook and instagram. I like taking selfies and
posting it online. But what I do online does not define me. It is my thoughts
– thoughts that will always contain memories of the meaningful virtues our
ancestors passed down to us. It is my
words – in the stories that I will tell my future children and grandchildren of
how Aeaw-aeaw came to be. It is in my actions
that embody the true nature of Saguibin – helping one another.
As Dr. Jose Rizal once quoted, “He, who doesn’t know how to look
back where he came from, will never reach his destiny.” The only way to
reach our dreams for the future is to have a clear understanding of the past.
What has already happened can never be changed but they can be lessons
we can learn from.
I am the YOUTH of today. I am a descendant of the brave Katipuneros
and the strong-willed leaders of the revolution. I
wear the red banner and carry the torch of my guerrilla forefathers.
The blood of my ancestors runs through my veins.
I was not delivered into this world in defeat. The resilience of the past
century nourishes my will but I am still fighting for my freedom, justice, and
peace. Ladies and gentlemen, where is YOUR freedom? Once again, good
afternoon.

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ORATION
IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION SPEECH 2

Good morning to the Excellencies, my respected teachers and my dear

friends. I would like to speech over importance of education at this great
occasion in front of you. Education is very important to all of us. Our parents
make us learn many things at home and then send us to school after age of
three years. Our home is first education institute where we learn how to
behave to others and other skills however school education is very
necessary to be successful in practical life. Through school education we
learn and develop personality, mental skills, moral and physical powers.
Without proper education, one gets lack of all educational benefits in
his/her life. Education is the only key to success in personal and professional
life. Education provides us various types of knowledge and skills. It is a
continuous, slow and secure process of learning which helps us in obtaining
knowledge. It is a continuous process which starts when we take birth and
ends when our life ends.
We should make our habits of learning always all through the life from
our teachers, parents, family members, friends and other related people in
our life. We learn to become a good person, learn to live in home, society,
community and friend circle. Attending school and receiving education is
extremely vital for every person and necessary for those who want to
achieve success. We all take birth in same manner at the same planet
however do not get same opportunity to receive such type of formal
education which may lead everyone of us towards success because of the
lack of money and knowledge of parents. One who gets proper education
becomes admired by
the members of the family, community and country. Proper
education by all brings equality among human beings and removes
the feeling of difference.
Education not only makes us able to learn about history,
science, math, geography, and other subjects however it makes
us smart enough to learn how to live life and handle bad situations.
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ORATION
IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION (SPEECH 1)
First of all I would like to say good morning to the respected teachers,
parents and my dear friends. I would like to speech on the importance of
education which is must to know by all of us. Education plays a great role in
the life of everyone all through the life. Getting proper education is very
necessary to get success and happy life just like food is necessary for healthy
body. It is very important to live luxurious and better life. It develops
personality of the people, provides physical and mental standard and
transforms people’s living status. It promotes the feeling of physical, mental
and social well being by providing better life. Good education is constructive
in nature which constructs our future forever. It helps a person to improve
his/her status of mind, body and spirit. It provides us lots of confidence by
giving us bulk of knowledge in many field. It is a single and vital way to the
success as well as personal growth.
The more knowledge we get, we grow and develop more in the life.
Being well educated never only means to earn certificates and good salary
from the recognized and reputed organisation companies or institutions
however it also means to be a good and social person in the life. It helps us
to determine whether something is good or bad for us and other persons
related to us. The first purpose of getting good education is being good
citizen and then being successful in personal and professional life. We are
incomplete without a good education because education makes us right
thinker and correct decision maker. In such a competitive world, education
has become a necessity for human beings after food, clothe and shelter. It is
able to provide solutions to all problems; it promotes good habits and
awareness
about corruption, terrorism, and other social issues among us.
Education is the most important tool offers inner and outer strength to
a person. Education is the fundamental rights of everyone and capable of
bringing any desired change and upliftment in the human mind and society.

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ORATION
IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION (SPEECH 3)
Good morning to the Excellencies, my respected teachers and my dear
friends. As we have gathered here to celebrate this special occasion, I would like
to speech over the importance of education. Good and proper education plays a
great role in shaping our future and professional career. It helps us to develop
personality and earn recognition and respect in the family and society. We can
say that education is socially and personally an essential part of the human life.
We cannot ignore the importance of education in our life at any cost. As we see
daily in the society lots of social issues just because of the lack of proper
education. Social issues like inequality, gender discrimination, religious
differences and so many problems are there because of the lack of education in
our life. Proper education helps us to maintain the personal and social standards
in daily life.
In such a modern, technological and competitive world, there is still the issue
of education among poor and uneducated people of the society which needs to
be solved as soon as possible. Education is the key to solve all the social, personal
and professional problems of the people. Proper and higher education makes us
more civilized to live in the society. One cannot make his/her good image in the
society and live prosperous and happy life without getting appropriate education.
It makes us able to maintain the healthy surroundings. Now-a-days, unlike ancient
time, getting proper education has become easy and simple because of the online
system and correspondence facility in all the big universities. It has made
education system easy because of which poor people can also get education in
their own field of
choice. There are many huge efforts and plan strategies by the
government to maintain the quality of education all over the India.
Education helps us to be healthy, save many lives, boosts economic growth,
earn money, raise quality crop, promote peace in the society, eradicate poverty,
remove gender discrimination and inequality, promote women and children
rights, bring good governance,
remove corruption, make aware about fundamental rights and so many. Good
education does not mean to study hard and get good results however it is to
conquer new things for the betterment of whole mankind.

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ORATION
IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION SPEECH 4
Good morning to the Excellencies, respected teachers and my dear
friends. I would like to speech over the importance of education at this
special occasion. The real meaning of education is much more than the
success in personal and professional life. People in the modern society
have narrowed the meaning of education. It does not aim that
educated people gets professionally recognized instead it aims much
more than this. It is not only to run in the race to go ahead and read
only the school or college syllabus. The education really means to
improve the physical, social and mental well-being, develop personality
and improve skill level. The aim of education is very vast and makes a
person, good person.
In providing good level of education, teachers play very important
role. Whatever we learn through our parents and teachers goes with us
throughout the life which we again pass on to our next generation. The
aim and benefits of proper education is not restricted to only personal
gains instead it benefits other people of the family, society and country.
People in the society have different meaning, needs and perceptions
about the education however the real meaning and importance of it
never changes. A good education helps us all to be independent in the
society as well as get over of the problem of poverty. Many people do
education passionately and not as a workload. They love to read and
develop their mind and skill. Some historical people like Swami
Vivekananda spent their whole life in getting education and sharing
knowledge among poor people of the society.

We too should get proper education by understanding its

real value and get benefitted completely. Our aim of getting education
should be to help other needy people of the society to get them over
the weaknesses and superstitions. Education has unbelievable power
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which keeps us away from evil powers, helps us in making self
dependent and provides us new possibilities and opportunities to
become a problem solver and excellent decision maker. It keeps our
mind calm and peaceful by maintaining the balance among body, mind
and soul. Through the key of education one can open his/her difficult
lock of the success. Many people do hard work for whole day just to
earn some money for getting two times of food in the absence of good
education. So, education is must for everyone of us to have a better
and happy lifestyle.

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ORATION
Pico Della Mirandola: Oration On the Dignity Of Man
I once read that Abdala the Muslim, when asked what was most worthy
of awe and wonder in this theater of the world, answered, “There is nothing
to see more wonderful than man!” Hermes Trismegistus (1) concurs with
this opinion: “A great miracle, Asclepius, is man!” However, when I began to
consider the reasons for these opinions, all these reasons given for the
magnificence of human nature failed to convince me: that man is the
intermediary between creatures, close to the gods, master of all the lower
creatures, with the sharpness of his senses, the acuity of his reason, and the
brilliance of his intelligence the interpreter of nature, the nodal point
between eternity and time, and, as the Persians say, the intimate bond or
marriage song of the world, just a little lower than angels as David tells us.
(2) I concede these are magnificent reasons, but they do not seem to go to
the heart of the matter, that is, those reasons which truly claim admiration.
For, if these are all the reasons we can come up with, why should we not
admire angels more than we do ourselves? After thinking a long time, I have
figured out why man is the most fortunate of all creatures and as a result
worthy of the highest admiration and earning his rank on the chain of being,
a rank to be envied not merely by the beasts but by the stars themselves
and by the spiritual natures beyond and above this world. This miracle goes
past faith and wonder. And why not? It is for this reason that man is
rightfully named a magnificent miracle and a wondrous creation.

What is this rank on the chain of being? God the Father, Supreme Architect
of the Universe, built this home, this universe we see all around us, a
venerable temple of his godhead, through the sublime laws of his ineffable
Mind. The expanse above the heavens he decorated with Intelligences, the
spheres of heaven with living, eternal souls. The scabrous and dirty lower
worlds he filled with animals of every kind. However, when the work was
finished, the Great Artisan desired that there be some creature to think on
the plan of his great work, and love its infinite beauty, and stand in awe at
its immenseness. Therefore, when all was finished, as Moses and Timaeus
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tell us, He began to think about the creation of man. But he had no
Archetype from which to fashion some new child, nor could he find in
his vast treasure-houses anything which He might give to His new son, nor
did the universe contain a single place from which the whole of creation
might be surveyed. All was perfected, all created things stood in their proper
place, the highest things in the highest places, the midmost things in the
midmost places, and the lowest things in the lowest places. But God the
Father would not fail, exhausted and defeated, in this last creative act. God’s
wisdom would not falter for lack of counsel in this need. God’s love would
not permit that he whose duty it was to praise God’s creation should be
forced to condemn himself as a creation of God.

Finally, the Great Artisan mandated that this creature who would receive
nothing proper to himself shall have joint possession of whatever nature
had been given to any other creature. He made man a creature of
indeterminate and indifferent nature, and, placing him in the middle of the
world, said to him “Adam, we give you no fixed
place to live, no form that is peculiar to you, nor any function
that is yours alone. According to your desires and judgment, you will have
and possess whatever place to live, whatever form, and whatever functions
you yourself choose. All other things have a limited and fixed nature
prescribed and bounded by our laws. You, with no limit or no bound, may
choose for yourself the limits and bounds of your nature. We have placed
you at the world’s center so that you may survey everything else in the
world. We have made you neither of
heavenly nor of earthly stuff, neither mortal nor immortal, so
that with free choice and dignity, you may fashion yourself into whatever
form you choose. To you is granted the power of degrading yourself into the
lower forms of life, the beasts, and to you is granted the power, contained in
your intellect and judgment, to be reborn into the higher forms, the divine.”

Imagine! The great generosity of God! The happiness of man! To man

it is allowed to be whatever he chooses to be! As soon as an animal

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is born, it brings out of its mother’s womb all that it will ever possess.
Spiritual beings from the beginning become what they are to be for
all eternity. Man, when he entered life, the Father gave the seeds of every
kind and every way of life possible. Whatever seeds each man sows and
cultivates will grow and bear him their proper fruit. If these seeds are
vegetative, he will be like a plant. If these seeds are sensitive, he will be like
an animal. If these seeds are intellectual, he will be an angel and the son of
God. And if, satisfied with no created thing, he removes himself to the
center of his own unity, his spiritual soul, united with God, alone in the
darkness of God, who is above all things, he will surpass every created
thing. Who could not help but admire this great shape-shifter? In fact, how
could one admire anything else? . . .
For the mystic philosophy of the Hebrews transforms Enoch into an angel
called “Mal’akh Adonay Shebaoth,” and sometimes transforms other
humans into different sorts of divine beings. The Pythagoreans abuse
villainous men by having them reborn as animals and, according to
Empedocles, even plants. Muhammed also said frequently, “Those who
deviate from the heavenly law become animals.” Bark does not make a plant
a plant, rather its senseless and mindless nature does. The hide does not
make an animal an animal, but rather its irrational but sensitive soul. The
spherical form does not make the heavens the heavens, rather their
unchanging order. It is not a lack of body that makes an angel an angel,
rather it is his spiritual intelligence. If you see a person totally subject to his
appetites, crawling miserably on the ground, you are looking at a plant, not
a man. If you see a person blinded by empty illusions and images, and made
soft by their tender beguilements, completely subject to his senses, you are
looking at an animal, not a man. If you see a philosopher judging things
through his reason, admire and follow him: he is from heaven, not the earth.
If you see a person living in deep contemplation, unaware of his body and
dwelling in the inmost reaches of his mind, he is neither from heaven nor
earth, he is divinity clothed in flesh.

Who would not admire man, who is called by Moses (3) and the

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Gospels “all flesh” and “every creature,” because he fashions and
transforms himself into any fleshly form and assumes the
character of any creature whatsoever? For this reason, Euanthes
the Persian in his description of Chaldaean theology, writes that man has no
inborn, proper form, but that many things that humans resemble are
outside and foreign to them, from which arises the Chaldaean saying:
“Hanorish tharah sharinas”: “Man is multitudinous, varied, and ever
changing.” Why do I emphasize this? Considering that we are born with this
condition, that is, that we can become whatever we choose to become, we
need to understand that we must take earnest care about this, so that it will
never be said to our disadvantage that we were born to a privileged position
but failed to realize it and became animals and senseless beasts. Instead, the
saying of Asaph the prophet should be said of us, “You are all angels of the
Most High.” Above all, we should not make that freedom of choice God gave
us into something harmful, for it was intended to be to our advantage. Let a
holy ambition enter into our souls; let us not be content with mediocrity,
but rather strive after the highest and expend all our strength in achieving it.

Let us disdain earthly things, and despise the things of heaven, and, judging
little of what is in the world, fly to the court beyond the world and next to
God. In that court, as the mystic writings tell us, are the Seraphim,
Cherubim, and Thrones (4) in the foremost places; let us not even yield
place to them, the highest of the angelic orders, and not be content with a
lower place, imitate them in all their glory and dignity. If we choose to, we
will not be second to them in anything.

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