Bad Girl

This is a popular declamation piece about a "bad girl" who becomes bad because of the negligence of her family, school,
and society.

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 teenagera 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 to.

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 threaten me 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 Rich Man and the Poor Man

This is another popular piece that has been delivered in declamation contests time and time again. It is a dialogue
between two men: the selfish rich and the begging poor. It is, perhaps, memorable for this line: "Eat, drink, and be
merry. For tomorrow you shall die!"

Food and money I give to you,

Why do you shout so mercilessly

When I give you your part?

queried the rich man.

The poor man replied:

Your question you cannot answer

For from pain and agony you are free,

But I have suffered and borne

The situation that I dont like to be in.

That I couldnt understand

Because life for me is easy;

I take this and take that,

And life is just what I want it to be.

consented the rich man.

Comfort your mind, rich man,

with realities of death.

Your wealth I do not envy

For you cannot buy

eternity with money.

If to live happily

is to live in hypocrisy,
Then I prefer to be silly

so I would be holy.

Life you love so much you will lose

And only then will you understand

What agony is, the poor man shouted.

Ha! Ha! Ha! You say so

For you desire this place of mine.

Indulgence you have clouded with reason

But I understand because of your situation.

boastfully the rich man said.

Outraged the poor man answered:

How pitiful the person blinded with pleasure;

No, you dont care of our journey

That you have created through your greediness.

Come now, man of weak soul!

Your days are numbered for you to face

The Man of Love.

You may not cry now but later you will

When the chilling reality of the last judgment

Comes across your way;

Yes, then you will pity, but not for me.

Not for anybody else.

But for yourself only!

Yes, eat, drink, and be merry.

For tomorrow you shall die!

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 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?

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 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.

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 couldnt 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, Ive turned fifteen.

Well Anna, Im 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, Im willing to learn.

But fates 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 Ill 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, Im withdrawing my charge.

A rich lady gave Anna a job

That helped her and all that she loved.

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 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.