Alms in the Noon

Traffic
By Emmanuel Torres

Submitted To:
Ms. Lady Flor Partosa
Literature 21 – E
SY 2009-10
Submitted By:

James Ryan S. Jervis D. Villarez

Penalosa Catheryn M. Sy
Chansen B. Locsin Marl Felred A. Actub
Donna May M.
Omictin
 “A poem should learn how to lead an attack”
Ho Chi Minh

“An eye-opener of a specific dimension of the society… Alms in

the Noon Traffic…”
-James Ryan S. Penalosa

“The poem enables us to have a glimpse of reality.”

-Donna May M. Omictin

“It serves as the chamber of truth and veracity on what is really

going on, on our society today.”
-Jervis D. Villarez

“A journey to whoever we are and what we may be…”

-Catheryn M. Sy

“Whenever we find the key to success, some idiots change the

lock… So, don’t mind the key, learn how to break the locks.”
-Marl Felred A. Actub

“Life expectancy is the atmosphere for miracles…”

-Chansen B. Locsin
 “Sorefooted.
Grave walking in perpetual penitence.
Dragging the frayed shadows of ancestral millstones.
They make it to the windows of cars stalled at the longes
Stoplight”

Life in an urban society being a beggar is likely to be compared as an endless penitence… walking to meet the
different faces of death.

“…You have no benefit of choice: neither have they, ambling

From window to window to get where you are.
No use to ask which one to single out
Lest your sedan become a wailing wall
For all the others who deserves as much.
You cannot choose. Old and young alike
Share an aura of ancient dust.
Their rags hang from the same slopes of weariness.
To give less than you should
Is to demean your sorrow and your own.
Some other time, perhaps… has a false-bottom sound,
So you say nothing, give nothing.
A nothing that festers on both sides of your chrome-framed
Window…”

We, as part of the biotic system of ecology, experiences the modes of development – from infant,
toddler, childhood, adulthood, and so on and so forth. Whether we like it or not, the verities in life strikes us
that it should end… ashes to ashes, dust to dust – we all fall on the same fate… we are all in this together.

The car’s window was being stated as the separation of comfort and sacrifice. The walls of sedan for those
who are inside are for comfort – the benchmark of soothe. To those who are outside the walls of it is
wretchedness & forlorn.

In Marxian view, there is what we call, borguise & proletarians; in searching deeper the accounts of
Marx, he formulated another unique yet insignificant class in the society in his time – the lumen proletariats,
which is composed of prostitutes, burglars, out laws and most especially, the beggars, which Marx find them
immaterial to the society. With the notion that Marx set, the latter was not really given heed on the common
accounts of Marx.

The poem sets a modern society which is quite some time from our present time line, yet, capitalism,
for many centuries since its establishment, is already present when Emmanuel Torres wrote the poem [F.Y.I. :
Capitalism started ever since the Filipino – Chinese Trade relations, though the system is not yet matured &
more complicated during that era.]

As many said, Capitalists, including ordinary businessmen are the ones responsible in making our
wants – things that are not really necessary for a conventional living for sake’s comfort. Thus, our needs made
us more ambitious and self-centered. In the other hand, the capitalists just laugh or be amused with the effects
of their innovations that made people fanatics in their [Capitalists] “promising” inventions for profit’s sake.
As they say, there should be more gains than loses. Majority of the countries all over the world observed
common economic policy & ideology – Capitalism. Is this system really the one who has the doings of
poverty, cancers of the society and most especially, political, economic & personal corruption?

When we heard the word politics, we tend to conclude that it is all about politicking, red tapes,
bureaucratic pitfalls & flaws, allegations, corruption, never-ending trouble, and the like. But this paper would
not like to talk or exhibit politics on that matter, instead, captivating this word or “trouble” [politics] into a
lighter definition; Politics if we base it on the earliest definition, is the interaction of human being to another
human being (according to Plato, the Father of Political Science) in the poem, the interaction is clearly
pictured out that there is really a big gap between the rich and the poor individuals. These big gaps would then
be pointed out in the succeeding interpretations.

The setting is on the street, noon time and with the traffic. We actually picture out that people interact
this atmosphere or environment is liberated and western-minded since things done in the cities are in the
influence western cultures. The behavior of the people is actually stratified as well as their status.

Being in this kind of rigid society, the “have groups” became more lion-hearted. They prioritize their
own selves before others. Their self-interest, pride, guilt & prejudice is the play role of having this harsh
stratification by which their behavior become more corrupted and less concerned to the people who are in the
grass root level of the society.

The “have-nots” in the other hand, instead of pursuing their dreams and aspirations would rather be
contended on their present state and beg for money.

Both of the parties [haves & have-nots] are merely influenced with the urban atmosphere they are into.

The question is who made the system wrong? Is it the “haves” or the “have-nots”? If neither of the
two, are there any more people to be blamed in this situation?

The timeline is within the 70’s or 80’s, because of the words, sedan and Toyota crown is widely used
during that time to refer a car or an automobile. It is these eras also which poverty on the Philippines starts to
appear due to great boom of population; and liberal minds of people starts to construct.

This is also the time when the rise of Communism, and dictators from different parts of the globe
made their blow in forming and shaping their different territories in which it is viewed as today - Pol-pot of
Cambodia, Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines, and Agricultural Revolutions in some parts of Southeast
Asian countries & Africa.

Technology also starts to come into being, yet still many concepts are still crude, like the rise of
internet connections among the larger firms of America & Europe (most especially banks & financial firms).
In Japan, the first camera phone was invented by Toshiba, but it is still black & white with less than a pixel.

The rise of “better” mass media can also be traced in this time line – the machination of mass media
in setting standards – that women or men should be like this, wear like this, act like that, be with a person that
is like this, etc.

The innovations, technologies & new concepts shapes our society including the midst of the people,
but the question it, is it [technology & innovations] a boon or a bane?

Beggar’s role in the society is to beg money and food to other people in order to live. It is actually the
reality that the city atmosphere is actually composed of people who are deprived and who are only dependent
on the people who belong to the middle class and the first classes. We cannot deny that it is exists in every
corner of the streets of the city view. Many sociologist classified poor into two categories: the urban poor &
the rural poor. But our visage is to go over with the urban poor. Is there difference between the two kinds of
poor? Of course, there is. Urban poor is more likely to go into illegitimate ways of sufficing their hunger
compared to rural poor who has easier access to agricultural food alternatives or victuals.

Social stratification is defined as the hierarchy of people in a certain territory. This rank mainly
defines the role of different people within a boundary.

Our play director James Ryan, though he has sometimes a very unpredictable mindset in bringing on
ideas [a good point actually] wanted to share to you ideas why he came up with the concept and the music of
the play.
According to James, “W hen my fellow group mates asked why in all the time lines, that happened in the past decades, why choose the point in
time that is somewhere in the 70’s? The only thing that I said was, “I want to go back in time [though I was born in the denim & family
computer era- the 90’s]”. Funny, but true- aside from that, one of my purpose is to introduce some of the uncommon song to our generation
which isn’t appreciated by my fellow age group. Uniqueness is the primary thing to consider in making plays. For instance, if we would be
setting decade in this time it is undeniable that we know these things – they are common sight in our status quo [consider also the music of
Pitbull, Blackeyed peas, etc.]. Common things make a man bored; in the other hand, unique or let’s say, exceptional or uncommon things can
make a man experience various reactions – whether he or she’ll find it disturbing, sloppy or they would appreciate it – issue and aim here is to
create reactions [ may it be good or bad, agreeable or disagreeable], but never a sleeping session. Life is more simple that time – no cellular
phones, no music videos, people are more contented and Philippines is quite clean during this period. But having the desire to go into irony
that despite the contentment of most people, it is inevitable to consider the kinds of people who think nothing but only his/herself. There are
some songs, however that is out of the timeline, so that, the audience can also relate on some music to avoid certain ‘time alienation’….

… The rise of disco clubs and the introduction of western vices were pointed in this play – let the songs do all the talking… songs can speak for
their self. ‘Aray by Mae Rivera’… The song depicts pain and desperation – it is also a song that portrays a person that lacked love and
attention. Even though this is not really from the 70’s or even 80’s I did my best that the audience can really relate to the feelings that was
present in the play and to the poem as well; Sabihin mo sa Akin by Sheryn Regis - Aside from the Vilma Santos ala Kampanerang Kuba way
back the olden times, which was also played by Anne Curtis as ‘Imang’ in the same title of the soap opera way back 2006, the song generally
speaks for those who are deprived with love because of the way they appear on their physical attributes. In the play, it also pictures out that
beggars are deprived with love and care – same as with the poem;

Mr. Disco by Manilyn Reynes - The earliest song was actually popularized by Ella del Rosario, the most popular singer way back 70’s in the
field of Original Pinoy Music (OPM). However, the version of the song presented in the play was a revival of Ogie Alcasid performed by
Manilyn Reynes. I chose the second version because it is groovier compared to the earlier version. It reflects that in the olden days, disco was
really a big hit! People who wants to have good time would go and settle things up and to unwind things despite the problematic world that the
world outside the disco balls and lights bring them;

Punk by Ellegarden - This song, even if is not in the olden days, but it gives an inspired touch of retro rock music. I was accrording to
Wikipedia.org that emo punk genre of music and fashion rose by the 70’s. If we would be interpreting and observing deeply the lyrics of the
song, we can consider this song as the “answer or reply” of the “guy” of the singer / speaker or the poem or blues, “Master Change Blues” of
Nikki Giovanni. Ellegarden is a Japanese J-Rock (Japanese rock) band popular since 1998 but decided to leave their lives separate by 2008 
[the story that trembled me when my cousin called me after taking up finals examination]. They are the Eraserheads of the Philippines who was
a legend & inspiration to many and aspiring J-Rock lovers & players. The band is popular because of their good English pronunciation and
retro-inspired music.

Kung Liligaya Ka sa Piling ng Iba by Imelda Papin - It shows the sorrow of a woman who is trying to let go the one she really loves. It gives
an atmosphere of a woman that is trying her best to be stoical and to accept the fate that she really has.

Disco Duck by Rick Dees – ‘The drum beats are awesome that if you are in your 40’s today, it would remind you the good old days in your life.
This is also one of the good and hit songs before in the disco bars of Malate, Metro Manila , Timog, Quezon City & Chiba, Japan.’[A phone
interview to my mother who is currently in Japan]. The music is just splendid – a good music to start a play. This is also the theme song of the
segment in ‘The Misadventures of Maverick & Ariel’ (ABC 5 – now TV5 Philippines). The characters of the said segment is also like me who
loves retro (70’s – 80’s).

Macho Gwapito by Rico J. Puno - One of the striking song by ‘Rico J. Pasimuno, este Puno’ (by Bubblegang GMA). This on the metro
sexuality of men.

‘Sige, Gastos’ - This is a TV advertisement of Bayan Tel last year although not part of 1970’s; it strongly heeds too much spending done by the
rich characters in the play.”

He finally added: “All the things in the play shows selfishness of the people who are actually blessed with ample or even too much resources in
their life, setting aside the Sunday solemnity and helping the unfortunate ones. The play is actually made by very confused and retro-activated
mind… “
 As we brainstorm different ideas and taken a lot of interpretation strategies, we could say that the
consequence of inaction in life – it’s like not doing something for yourself and you stay inside your comfort zones
without thinking that you are wasting your life.

With the inaction or too much “waiting” for something to happen, you tend to forget solutions or possible
activities to relieve you of the situation.

You begin to want for something else and tend to be distracted thinking of illusions or desires when you
have to concentrate on your present situation.

You cannot escape the fate of “death”, anyone will just die from “ancient dust” from the situations we are
in, most especially when these situations force you to do nothing even if you have the potentials to change them.

Instead you become weary; you think thoughts that will comfort you; you have radical thoughts but are not
relevant to the reality.

In this present situation, you fell alone, lonely, forsaken, since the whole process demands that you do
nothing that you have no power to change the bigger picture or let’s say the general society, since you are trapped
inside your own iniquities, or sins, or wants that you forget that there are things more important in life than just
protecting your “sedan” – you can actually walk and get out of the TRAFFIC.

You don’t want to be involved from the situations outside – among the people who BEG – because you can never
get out of your own self-confinement, and doesn’t want to express the same feelings of the people outside, for all
you care is to wait & wait of the present [traffic], without caring about helping people which is the most important
thing in life.

These people outside show their suffering, their incompleteness, their depravity, their despair, and solitude
but YOU DON’T CARE…

Since the present problem is just you are waiting & waiting without actually imposing the situation, or
doing something purposeful, since again, you are trapped inside your own personal decisions which are self-
centered & indifferent in nature, your capriciousness tend you to forget that all men are supposed to be created
equal.