observatory (3)

Everything was muffled into silence. Even the tiny contraption that had always signified life on the other end was still. The only vibrations detected by my eardrum were the memory of the quivering acoustics of your breathing the night we last slept beside each other and the reality of the curtain blown wildly by the indifferent wind. The ashtray where I had laid my last stick of the moontime exhaled fumes, and flashes of your mirage filled my eyes and became a white shadow of Phrixos swimming in a sea of illusion of our bodies in smoke and constellations connecting the lines of a ram and a seagoat. The two beasts played in the mist as if fervently waiting for the precession of the equinoxes. But then, they clashed. The ram’s head crashed into the seagoat’s chest. Pieces of paper were on fire. Suddenly they were all gone—the cigarette, the fire, the ram and the seagoat. I tried looking for Phrixos; I tried looking for another image out of the smoke. But everything seemed gone. I stared blankly at the floor. Suddenly, I couldn’t even see the floor. I couldn’t see the blankness except for tiny black stars beginning to suspend in the air, in the seemingly perpetual cold coldness of the night. And with every zephyr that pierced my skin on those sleepless hours, I couldn’t take my mind off you.

What title, you say

What are you doing? You don’t own me. You don’t own yourself. Don’t talk to me about pride, ego, self-respect, self-love, or whatever the fuck. You say you lost your self-esteem. You see, it’s probably because you damn love yourself too much. Don’t tell me about order versus chaos. Words are mere fucking words, infinite, desultory, illusory, spoken incantations, written dramatizations, gestured ostentation.  I am chaos, you say. I am the perfect manifestation of distraction, clad in a symmetrical human anatomy that is not even close to Vitruvian perfection. I am disorder, you say. And you? Am I mad? I am, you say. And why, I asked. You’re mad for not growing up, you say. I did grow up, I say, I just refused to grow old. And why, you say, that’s so immature. And why not, I say. I don’t want to be like you, to grow with the world to pretentions, hypertensions, on the illusion that the world will be better. I tell you, the world is fucked up, it will never be better, the world will be even worse, it’s a whoredom of cunts, balls, playground of nuts, pretending to be civilized people that’s why they dress in uniforms, or in wools, with ties, with shining shoes. Oh, the world is fucked up and you are blind, I say. You are really mad, you say, thinking like a child, thinking like a stupid idealist; it’s either you’ll die early or you’ll just get really mad. I say, yeah, I died many times, many years ago, even minutes ago; I die with every beating because I loathe everything, because everything is so fucked up; I die because I have pain and couldn’t just die and that’s worse, that you can’t just die so you couldn’t feel anything, think about anything; I tell you, it’s worse not to die; and I sleep for a while after a bottle of booze, I try to sleep but I am afraid, I’m afraid that I would dream, a sweet sweet dream of a sweet sweet world with a sweet sweet girl, and then I would wake up, wake up in a fucked up world of reality; but what’s real? What is real, you say, what is fucking real; this is real, my words, this world, and you’ve got to wake up. I am awake, damn, I say, stop giving me all this shit. Who the hell do you think you are, you say. I don’t fucking care, I say… I am chaos because of you, because of your order, of your fake civilization, of your repressions, of your suppressions, of your damn belief in doctrines, law, and constitution. I didn’t choose to be like this. My mind chose who I should be and I chose to follow what’s on my mind. Who are you for me to listen to? Who do you think you are? Do you think you own me? I don’t fucking care if you can give me money for food; it’s best to starve; I don’t care if you know how to take me home, the world is my home. Those pricks, they claim lands and build nations and I can’t go anywhere I want to go in the world and they say we are free. Fuck your civilization in your geopolitical ass. Goddamn, you are really insane, you say. Insane, you say, I say, you think so? So how about this? How about shutting your mouth, shove it into your butthole, and leave me alone? I don’t want to fuck with you anymore; don’t talk to me about sanity, about philosophy, about idealism, solipsism, Buddhism, Christianism, communism, socialism, capitalism, modernism, realism, fuck the –isms, weren’t they invented by stupid idealists? Where are the beats, did they die, the lot of them? I don’t feel I belong anymore; you claimed the world; you people pretending to be people, you civilized liars, you believers of salvation, of afterlife, of a better world, of peace; well, let me tell you the good news, there is no peace, the word’s even confusing, difficult to define, hard to use, let alone to attain; let me tell you, peace is not the absence of chaos, peace is the absence of a civilized world thinking that peace is attainable in a fucked up world. How can I reason with you if you don’t listen to me, you say, you talk too much. What do you want me to say, I say, or not to say; should I shut the fuck up? do you think I am bitter, do you think you are better than me now, that I am wrong and you are right, that I am mad and you are sane; let me ask you, what is your goal, what is your purpose? What to have a family, to be happy in your old age, to be contended, to fuck as many cunts as you can, to die with a smile in your ugly, wrinkled face? Isn’t that conceited, isn’t that selfish? You don’t have the right to say that about me, you say, why, what about you, what do you want to do in life, to remain fucked up like this? I, I say, why not, my ultimate goal in life is to die; I am not a hero, I don’t have the right chromosomes to be a hero, I don’t even have the balls to face living in this society, this so cold so-called society; am I insulting you now? No, you say, I will just forget everything about you said and be calm, like a normal person would. Oh, ho ho ho, a “normal” person, I say, that’s it, that’s why I cannot exist, please do me a favor, please kill me now, or I’d be just insane like you. You are really fucking mad, you say. Hey don’t forget, I say, I am you.

A Poet’s Love Letter to His Muse

Words,

How have you been? Where did you hide yourself when you were so ashamed that I felt ashamed to have turned my back on you? I wanted to break you for not giving me enough and for giving me too much in the wrong chances, false places, forgotten time. You see, the better half of words has gone missing for a long time now. And I found myself looking at people as if they own you, Words, and I can’t take you with me, back to my solitude of smoke and liquor.

You probably got tired of me, of my loneliness, of my rage, of my rigmaroles, of the multiplicity of my confusion and complexity, of how I contradict myself with polarity. I might have drowned you with adjectives. I might have choked you with my pretentious, ostentatious, pedantic notes. You see, I did not change. I still long for you even though you smother me to my veins, breaking me like how I break you into silence.

I know I can do anything to you. The poets do not own you. Nobody owns you. Do you own me? But how could you? You are just words.

And I have lost you.

How can I find the right words to say this is not good-bye?

élan

constellations float in the dark,
underlining your face,
italicizing your eyelashes
with their lights beaming
through the leaves,
bowing down
to the gravity
that pulls my lips to trace
the rubious threshold
that exhales the whisperings
of your aching anima—
transcending science,
from physical to the metaphysical,
to the cosmic pursuits
of our paphian gestures
and gung-ho kisses,
breaking the fourth wall
of our phantasmagoric overtures.



xtopherdelax 2011

Delicate

“We might make love in some sacred place

The look on your face is delicate.”

—From “Delicate” by Damien Rice

The storm had waned in the morning and left its marks on wrecked spider webs—the webs the old trees had welcomed like the nests the birds had built to nurse their hatchlings. A spider appeared from a tree hollow. It crawled through a twig hanging five feet above the ground and started weaving a new web. A skylark came to rest on a higher stalk as if to spy on the spider as the wind played a symphony of waves on the leaves surrounding them, making the stones colder as cold, wet boughs showering globules of water onto the ground which was almost drying with the kiss of the light from the already shining sun that was about to bid goodbye in an hour or so.

The sundry trees had also welcomed the couple for this spot to be their Eden. There was comfort in here. The question why the woman felt safe was confusing—was it because of the familiar place or the even more familiar arms of the man she was clutching now as they walked on the wet grass? They had come here not to hunt like Adam and Eve. They didn’t intend to make another memory. They might even be looking for nepenthe. But what they’d found were severed pine cones and the fluffy heads of dandelions. They were meant to remember…

He could still remember the dream he had a long time ago, about six months after he met her the first time. In that dream he wakes up early in the morning, finding her still sleeping beside him. I rise and make breakfast for us. I kiss you in the forehead. You are still fast asleep—body draped in sheets, face covered with smiles. I go to the balcony and read a book. After a while you appear and kiss me, take a sip from your cup and we just sit there, doing our own things, knowing that there’s no need for us to talk to break the silence. We feel so much love in that home we’ve always dreamt of.

They were young then and this place had been their playground and wishing well. Now they grew up just to be children again. Not to play but to look at the paintings of memories that used to be real. The man wondered if he could alter reality and restore what they had had through dreams, memories, writing, believing. Perhaps it was through believing.

She remembered the night he visited her this far north on her birthday. It was probably ten degrees cold. He lent me his jacket and held me in his arms as we walked through the lights lingering from the windows of cafés and shops we had visited during the day. It was the warmest feeling he’d ever had. He didn’t feel cold at all. It was the first time he believed in the warmth of selfless love. And she wondered if there was a patron saint of memories; she would pray in the deepest core of her cerebrum. If love was all about memories made, I would buy memories in a candy wrapper. Memories that shaped our clouds. How happiness can be surreal yet pain can be so real.

Fallen leaves whirled up and around as they walked past the trees. A drizzle cut across and soaked their clothes. How they both loved the rain. She halted for a moment and spread out her hands. She danced to the tune of the splatter of fine drops of water upon the leaves. It was the first time he saw her dance. She never looked this lovely. Her skirt blossomed like petals of a flower as she twirled. Her eyes projected the landscape like a reel. Her eyelashes accentuated the beauty of the pines waving hello then goodbye in milliseconds. She had changed. She looked older. She had gained twenty pounds or so and slabs of fat, probably on account of childbearing, were evident just below her bosom down to the waist. But for him she was still his Clandestine. His lovely Clandestine. His imago. A butterfly passed by, stealing his eyes for a moment. He had always wondered, as a child, if he could make elephants fly like if he could make a love like theirs last forever. And he looked back at her, thinking. If all these were not ours, I’d be in hell.

As soon as she stopped dancing, he moved towards her and kissed her hands. He kissed the ring around her ring finger and, as the smell of her breath deliberately sank into his senses, he whispered something in her ear. She felt the cold, painful, sweet breeze touching her inside. They never sang the songs they played on their minds but they heard the same things—the skylark singing hallelujah, the soft vibration of the wind ostensibly assuring them that the trees wouldn’t tell a soul as their cavities watched his gentle embrace in their sacred ground. She felt him. She realized that he hadn’t changed at all. He remained slim. He actually looked younger than the last time she saw him three years ago. He never liked his body but the woman held it the way she held her own child. Years ago they had lost their horizon. If it had come back she wouldn’t let herself lose it again. She held him in this borrowed moment, in this place only the two of them knew. She held him as if she could never bear the time they would have to part ways once more. His thoughts traveled back to the day they were looking for dandelions in this same spot. Now it was like they were picking up dandelions in a cemetery. He couldn’t stand it. He wished to be a smoke of air then vanish.

She saw his troubled face and suddenly memories of that frown whenever he got upset flashed into her mind and tickled her throat and cheeks that generated mirth. Her laughter pierced him. How he loved the sound of it. How he closed his eyes to hear her voice like music. She held his hand, held his soft, nacreous hands. He never liked them, but she held them and she loved them. She had always loved that he owned those fragile hands. She pulled him and they lay on the grass. The petrichor never smelled so ambrosial yet so stinging. The damp soil stained her white sweater but she didn’t let it bother her. He moved his hands under her shoulder and laid her head on his chest. A plane cut across the sky. She felt scared. She moved her face to his shoulder, smelled him and seemingly wandered along the arch that bridged the lands of forgetfulness and nostalgia. He felt his shoulders wet with tears. He stroked her hair the way he did a long time ago. Each strand reminded him of the days they had spent together. Likewise, it reminded him of the days he'd spent in sorrow. How he'd managed to live all these years, he didn’t know. He closed his eyes; closed them the way he had done so when he had lain on the sand in the days of three Decembers without her, and just saw the shadows of clouds pass by in the back of his eyelids.

As the sun crouched to give way to the infinitesimal stars to illuminate the navy blue evening sky, he felt her lips navigating his face. Her lips were a compass, recalling every angle, tracing the lines that marked the years of each other's absence. He gently moved his body to cave in her hands that caressed his neck. He kissed her mouth and felt their tongues play the old song like the flame of a dust-covered candle burning its antiquity as if for the last time. She spread her legs and let his groin cling to hers. He could feel the wetness between her thighs, so warm, so maddeningly sweet. He put his hands inside her skirt and pulled the fabric that curtained the threshold of her very soul. She pulled him up a bit and removed his shirt then, his pants, feeling afresh the flesh and spirit as the trees remained silent to the push and pull of ecstasy steaming from the bodies rolling in the ground.

They were like in a film played in slow motion but time seemed to pass very quickly. A firefly began fluttering like a freckle to light their faces, flushing the frost off their feet. The skylark remained watching the spider move its legs like fingers on a piano striking the right keys of passion’s harmony by switching the melody of melancholia to the fugue of bliss. And they reigned over each others’ brain—king and queen.

They had had each other then. They had each other now... in this stolen moment. When they finished making love, they lay for awhile with a lot of thoughts on their minds which they refused to talk about. In about half an hour they would have to get up and walk. Besides the stars and the firefly, a solitary lamppost would light their way. There would be strange shadows behind them like the billions of people around the world—one of them for the other to love, the fundamental kind, and the rest are mere shadows. And as the crescent curved across an empty road unraveling things that were flowering too late, he would have to tell her the words: “I’m getting married tomorrow.”

The spider had finished spinning its abode between the twigs. It wouldn’t take long for the new web to be ruined by another storm and both the spider and the skylark would find the horizon of their essence entangled and, as some eclipses end in ellipses, somewhere between the hands of the clock, they would find their own time again and perhaps create another memory.

Sa Videoke Nangarap

Tirik na tirik ang araw nang suungin ni Mang Ando ang maalinsangang lansangan bitbit ang monitor ng videoke. Kailangan niyang maipagawa ito bago pa siya tilian ng pinakamamahal na unica hija. “Dahil naman dito, sisikat din si Donna. Minsan lang magkaroon ng ganoong katinding interes ang anak ko. Kung ito ba ang makapagpapaligaya sa kanya e.”

May kalahating kilometro lang naman ang layo ng pagawaan ng electronic appliances mula sa bahay nina Mang Ando. Alanganing mag-jeep pa siya. Hindi rin naman ito makalulusot sa makipot na eskinita mula Perla hanggang Angustia. Gayundin kung sasakay siya ng pedicab, baka ni sa bukana ng eskinita, lakarin na niya. Nakaya naman nang mga unang minuto ang pagbuhat niya sa monitor. Pero iba ang kalahating kilometro. Tatlong bahay pa nga lang ang nalalampasan ni Mang Ando ay nagbutil-butil na ang pawis sa kanyang mukha. Buti ay malakas pa siya kahit na nasa kwarenta'y dos anyos na.

“Pa, sa pagkanta ako sisikat. Ako ang susunod na magiging Charice Pempenco,” minsang sabi ng walong taong gulang na si Donna nang mapanood sa telebisyon ang international singing sensation.

“Ayaw mo munang maging Sarah Geronimo muna, Anak?”

“Papa, mangangarap na nga lang ako, siyempre 'yung mataas na.”

“Magaling ka na bang kumanta?”

“Sobrang galing daw sabi ng mga kaklase ko. Kaya Pa, bilhin mo na 'yung bidyoke nina Mang Eyo.”

Mga ilang ulit naging ganito ang eksena ng mag-ama kaya isang araw, mula sa naipong abuloy sa pagpapalibing sa asawa at dagdag na sweldo ng akinseng iyon, binili ni Mang Ando ang videoke ni Mang Eyo. Buti na lang at may konting sira ito kaya mas nakamura siya.

“E, Papa, sira naman. Paano ako makakakanta niyan?”

“Monitor lang naman daw ang ipaaayos. Bukas na bukas din ay dadalhin ko sa repair shop sa tabing-ilog.”

Ganoon na lamang ang pagtalima ni Mang Ando. Naniniwala siyang mas madaling mapapawi ang pangungulila at lungkot ng anak sa yumaong ina nito.

“Bukas a. Kundi...”

“Oo, Anak.”

Hindi na bale ang kanyang pangungulila sa asawang namatay dahil sa pulmonya. Hindi na baleng mangutang sa mga kasamahan sa pinapasukang opisina sa Quezon City bilang security guard. Hindi na bale kung anong sasabihin ng mga kapitbahay kapag naiingayan ang mga ito kapag nagsimula nang kumanta ang anak. Naniniwala naman siyang matutuwa sila sa ganda ng boses nito.

Parang nagprusisyon sa Nazareno ang pagbakat ng pawis sa damit ni Mang Ando nang makarating siya sa repair shop. Dali-dali niyang inilapag ang monitor sa estante.

“Teka, teka,” pagpigil ng may bantay. “Dun ho sa sahig. Mababasag 'yang salamin e.”

“So... sorry. Ambigat na kasi.”

“Ano hong sira?”

“Hindi ko nga alam. Ayaw lang bumukas.” Pinahiran ni Mang Ando ang pawisang katawan gamit ang suot na damit. Agad namang tiningnan ng bantay ng repair shop ang monitor ng videoke.

“Naku, power supply. Bukas niyo na lang balikan.”

Kay bilis naman, sa loob-loob ni Mang Ando. “Wala na bang tawad? Saka pwede bang mamayang gabi na makuha? Kailangang-kailangan na kasi sa... sa party ng anak ko.”

“Dapat umarkila na lang muna kayo, mas nakamu—ay sige ho, balikan niyo na lang mamayang alas singko,” tila pagpapalit ng isip ng bantay. “Pero 800 talaga. Rush na nga ito.”

Bumalik nga si Mang Ando nang hapong iyon. Mabuti na lang at handa na niyang iuwi ang ipinagawa bago pa man makauwi ang anak galing eskwelahan. Matapos makapagbayad ay muli niyang binuhat ang monitor. Mabuti na lang at lumamig-lamig na ang hangin, mas kaunting pawis ang naipon ng kanyang damit sa paglakad pauwi. Inayos niya ang videoke. Nilinis ang salamin ng monitor, ipinatong sa kontrol, kinabit ang mga kurdon, at saka isinaksak.

“Mic test.” Saktong dating ng kanyang anak.

Hindi niya mailarawan ang kakaibang ngiting dulot nito sa anak. Gusto niyang maluha dahil lalo siyang nangulila sa asawa. “Kung makikita lamang siya ni Loring. Tingnan mo, magiging sikat na singer ang anak natin.”

Pagkababa ng bag ay kinuha ni Donna ang song book, pumindot sa videoke, at kinuha ang mikropono sa ama.

“Wrecking Ball” ni Miley Cyrus. Nasabik makinig si Mang Ando.

Mga ilang linya ng kanta ang nagpaligalig sa kanya, pagduda ang mga sumunod, at tuluyang pagbasag ng pingganin niyang puso ang kalagitnaan ng kanta. Hindi niya maunawaan kung bakit ganoon ang pangarap ng kanyang anak. Hindi rin niya alam kung paano tatanggapin ang tila walang kapag-a-pag-asang sintonadong boses ni Donna.

Call of Duty (Dulang May Isang Yugto)

MGA TAUHAN:

Sonny Boy Cruz, 49 taong gulang, Pangulo ng Pilipinas 

General Mateo Guinigundo, 62 taong gulang, Secretary ng Department of Defense 

Max Rosario, 48 taong gulang, Executive Secretary 

Christopher Moderno, 50 taong gulang, Secretary ng Department of Foreign Affairs 

General Miguel Meraño IV, 45 taong gulang, AFP Chief of Staff, tahimik at matikas kumilos 

Jollypitt Musngi, 32 taong gulang, image consultant, may pagkamahinhin 

Jonathan Santos, 27 taong gulang, IT Expert

TAGPUAN:

Sa Yellow Room, isang tagong kwarto sa Malacañang kung saan pinupulong ng Pangulo ang ilang tao tungkol sa maseselang isyu ng lipunan. Sa pagkakataong ito, mainit ang pag-uusap ng mga tauhan dahil kailangan ang mabilisan subali't maingat na desisyon ng pamahalaan tungkol sa nangyayaring sigalot sa Isla Waka Waka.

Isang mahabang mesa ang nasa gitna ng entablado. Nakaupo sa gitna ang Pangulo, katabi sa kanan ang Executive Secretary na si Max Rosario, sa kaliwa naman si Jollypitt Musngi, image consultant ng Pangulo at nakapalibot ang iba pang tauhan maliban kay Jonathan Santos na paikut-ikot lang sa silid, hawak ang isang iPad.

(Seryosong nakikinig ang lahat kay Sonny Boy bilang panimula ng pagpupulong. Hawak niya ang ballpen na paminsan ay sinusubo kapag hindi nagsusulat sa papel na nasa harap niya. May laptop sa harap ni Max, may hawak namang cellphone si Jollypitt at ang iba ay lapis at papel lang ang nasa harapan.)

SONNY

Okay, gentlemen. I think we should start. This is a clear and present danger at kailangan ko ng buong tiwala niyo. Kaya bago ang lahat... let's see. (Titingin siya sa papel sa kanyang harapan.) My Executive Secretary, Max?

MAX

Present.

SONNY (magsusulat sa papel)

Secretary of Defense, General Guinigundo. Nandito na ba si lolo? (Mauubo si Mateo.) General Mateo Guinigundo?

MATEO

Sonny. I’m sorry. Mr. President.

SONNY

DFA Secretary, Mr. Moderno?

CHRISTOPHER

Here.

MATEO

Mr. President, I don't think we need this. Nandito naman na ata lahat ng kailangan para sa meeting. Kailangan na nating umaksyon sa lalong madaling panahon.

SONNY

With all due respect, General. Kayo ba ang executive secretary?

MATEO

I’m the Defense Secretary. Kasasabi mo lang.

SONNY

I know, General Guinigundo. I repeat. Are you my executive secretary? Paano mo nalaman kung nandito na lahat ng nasa listahan ko?

MATEO

Nandito na kami at may iba pang ekstrang hindi ko alam kung bakit nandito. (Ituturo si Jonathan.) What the hell is that boy here for?

SONNY

Huwag niyong maliitin si Jonathan. Sa palagay ko, alam ng lahat kung bakit nandito ang mga nandito maliban sa inyo, General Guinigundo.

MATEO

Of course I have to be here.

SONNY

Ibig kong sabihin, maliban sa inyo, alam ng lahat ang importansya ng bawat isang nandito.

MATEO

Pero iilan lang tayo, bakit magche-check ka pa ng attendance?

SONNY

I'm sorry but since we need to make an important decision, kailangan nating maging maingat at kailangan kong malaman isa-isa, na lahat-lahat ng nandito ay tama, wasto, matuwid. Nilagay ko kayo sa puwesto dahil naniniwala akong lahat kayo ay sang-ayon sa minimithi kong tuwid na daan tungo sa pagbabago.

MATEO

I got your point. Please proceed, Mr. President. Sorry to interrupt you.

SONNY

Well, that's disappointing. Naaantala ako. (Patlang.) General Meraño... I'm sorry. General Miguel Meraño IV.

MIGUEL

Sir! Present, Sir!

SONNY

That's the spirit. Buhay na buhay. ‘Yan ang kailangan natin para sa agarang aksyon. Maliksing sumagot. Gustung-gusto kong binibigkas ang buong pangalan mo, General Meraño. Hindi ko alam kung natanong ko na sa'yo—of course your father is General Miguel Meraño III, am I right?

MIGUEL

Sir, yes, sir! Natanong niyo na po nung in-appoint niyo ko as AFP Chief.

SONNY

Of course. Teka ha, hindi ako nagiging malilimutin. I just want to clarify things. Lahat ng bagay kailangan klaro. Paano tayo makararating sa dapat nating puntahan kung malabo ang tingin natin, kung may mga nakakaligtaan tayo? General Guinigundo, I hope this won't offend you pero hindi ka pa naman nagkakaroon ng senior moment?

MATEO

Senior moment?

MAX

Symptoms ng Alzheimer's, General. (Bahagyang lalakasan ang boses.) Kung nagiging makakalimutin na ho ba kayo.

MATEO

Hindi pa naman ako nabibingi.

SONNY (matatawa)

Alzheimer's Disease, General Guinigundo. Jonathan, paki-Google mo nga tapos pabasa mo sa kanya.

MATEO

Sonny Boy... Mr. President, of course I know what Alzheimer's Disease is. Sinasabi ko lang na hindi pa ako nabibingi. Hindi mo kailangang lakasan ang boses mo.

SONNY

That was Max. Max, huwag mo raw pagtaasan ng boses si General Guinigundo. (Sarkastiko.) Let’s respect each other, especially the elderly. Okay. (Patlang.) Pero buti na ring mabasa niyo para alam niyo rin kung paano maiiwasan ang Alzheimer’s. Kailangan pa naman kita sa administrasyon ko. (Patlang.) Let's proceed. General Meraño . . . Jollypitt. Gentlemen, of course you know Jo and Jonathan, my Image Consultant and our IT expert, respectively. Jonathan?

JONATHAN (habang may pinapakita sa iPad kay Mateo):

Here, Sir.

MATEO

You knew the guy is here. Bakit tinatawag mo pa?

SONNY

Again, General, kailangan nating malaman lahat. Maging maingat. Well, let's begin.

MATEO

One moment, Sir. Hindi pa po tapos basahin ni General Guinigundo ‘yung article ng Wiki sa Alzheimer's.

SONNY

Okay. Let's wait for General Guinigundo.

MATEO
No need. Hahanapin ko na lang sa encyclopedia sa bahay. Pwede na tayong magsimula.

SONNY

Are you sure, General?

MATEO

Nakausap ko ang isa sa mga sundalo natin sa Isla Waka Waka. Ayaw pumayag ng mga Intsik sa bargain natin.

(Mauupo si Jonathan sa isang bakanteng silya.)

SONNY

Ano ba ang napag-usapan natin?

MAX

Nagdemand tayong alisin ng China ang vessels nila sa palibot ng isla. Pero nang tumapak ang mga sundalo natin dun, hinostage sila at ang China ngayon ang nagdedemand.

MATEO

Hinihingi ng mga Intsik na—

SONNY

Teka. Linawin lang natin para na rin sa ikaaayos ng ating pakikipagdayalogo. Jonathan, take note of this at pakitsek mo mamaya. Chinese is English, tama? Ayaw kong mao-offend ang mga kalaban nating Chinese. And besides, marami tayong kababayang may lahing Chinese. Rizal is half-Chinese, my mother is—

MATEO

Twenty-five percent Chinese lang si Rizal.

SONNY

My point is, General, sinabi mo kanina ang salitang intsik. That’s racist. That's not how we call those yellow people. Chinese. Tsino. I don't know if we refer to their women as Tsina sa Tagalog. Pero hangga't maaari, iwasan natin ang pagbanggit ng intsik. Narinig kong offensive daw 'yun. Jonathan, search mo rin para ma-double check. Maganda na rin 'yung nag-iingat tayo. Mr. Moderno, anong palagay mo rito?

CHRISTOPHER

Tama kayo, Mr. President. Medyo offensive nga para sa ilan ang matawag na Intsik.

MATEO

Dito sa atin. Cultural naman ‘yan. Kaya naging offensive sa mga Chinese na nandito sa’tin, it reminds them of the oppression by the Spaniards noong panahon ng Kastila.

CHRISTOPHER

That’s why we cannot call them intsik. Wala na tayo sa Spanish Era.

SONNY

See? Paano tayo lalaban nang patas kung mamaliitin natin ang kalaban sa pagtawag sa kanila sa maling terminolohiya? Now, let's continue. Mr. Moderno, kumusta ang usapan niyo ni Ambassador Uy?

CHRISTOPHER

Bumaligtad na po si Amba, Sir.

SONNY

What? Ang hitong ‘yun. Ano’ng nangyari?

CHRISTOPHER

Kumampi po siya sa China. Since half-Chinese siya, mas pinili niya ang lahi ng tatay niya.

SONNY

Ano ba ang lahi ng nanay niya?

CHRISTOPHER

Half-Chinese din po si Mrs. Rebecca Tan. Actually, kwestiyonable pa rin kung may dugong Pilipino talaga si Mrs. Tan. Nag-research kami at nalamang iligal ang pagpunta niya rito sa Pilipinas. Another thing, Mr. President. Kasama siyang nagsusunog ng bandila ng Pilipinas doon sa embassy natin sa Beijing.

SONNY

How could they burn our flag?! Made in China ‘yun!

MATEO

Hindi na siguro importante 'yan. Mr. President. Gaya ng sinasabi ko kanina, nakausap ko ang isa sa mga sundalo natin through our negotiator. Pinalilibutan sila ng mga “Chinese” sa isla. Wala tayong laban. We need to ask the Chinese government to free our soldiers or else, we will have to do a rescue operation.

SONNY

Magiging opensiba o depensiba ba ang rescue operation na 'yan? Kailangan malinaw, General.

CHRISTOPHER

I agree with you, Mr. President. Every step we make has to be clear. Sa Chapter 1 ng Art of War ni Sun Tzu, tinatalakay ang pagpaplano. Detailed assessment and planning.

SONNY
That's it. Kita niyo? We need to plan carefully. Lahat ng aksyon natin. Magandang libro 'yan a. Sino uli ang author? Jonatahan, ipag-download mo nga ako sa Kindle niyan.

JONATHAN

I have a copy here on my iPad, Sir.

SONNY

Excellent. Send as attachment kay Abby para makwento niya sa'kin.

JONATHAN

Ida-download ko na lang po sa iPad niyo.

MATEO

Bakit pababasa mo pa sa sekretarya mo? Sonny, I guess we don't have enough time for that. We have gathered all our intelligence. Alam na rin natin ang terrains ng Isla Waka Waka.

JONATHAN

Permission to speak, Sir! Nabasa ko na rin po ang Art of War. Pagkakatanda ko, mahalaga ang decision-making. Decision, whether the decision leads to victory or loss, should be made as early as possible. Siyempre kailangan ng maingat na analysis pero hangga’t wala kang ginagawa, walang mangyayari, makakausad ang kalaban habang tayo, nganga lang. Do you remember ‘yung sa video game na Dishonored?

SONNY

Well, of course. I love Dishonored!

JONATHAN

Every action, may reaction, may consequence. Isang mapatay mong sundalo, kahit gaano pa karami, it would matter to the future of the kingdom.

SONNY

Ganun nga ang nangyari sa’kin. Akala ko basta kapag pinatay mo ang mga kalaban, okay na, panalo ka na. Pero hindi pala. It really matters to the world of that video game. That’s it! Kita niyo na? Well, very well. That’s brilliant. Salamat, Jonathan. Sabi ko na. Kita niyo? Tama akong isama si Jonathan sa meeting na ‘to. We need more minds like his. Fresh ideas.

JONATHAN

Thank you, Mr. President.

MATEO

And what do you suggest, Jonathan?

SONNY

O, maryosep naman. He just gave the most brilliant suggestion. If I may, General, ano bang video game ang nalalaro mo?

MATEO
Pardon, Mr. President?

SONNY

Let me paraphrase. Rephrase if you will. Check mo rin, Jonathan kung alin nga ba ang mas dapat, Rephrase o paraphrase. Nakakahiya kapag mali ang masabi ko sa harap ng mga tao. Gaya nung isang araw, yung speech ko sa Mindoro. Nakakahiya ang nangyari, hindi ba, Jo?

JOLLYPIT

Pinagpipiyestahan pa nga rin po ng media at netizens.

SONNY

How could they do that? The press used to love me. Sila ang dahilan kung bakit naluklok ako rito. Ano bang magagawa natin diyan? San nga ba ko nagkamali, sa paglingon ko mula kaliwa pakanan o sa pagkindat?

JOLLYPIT

Sa pag-pronounce. Because of that, naungusan po kayo ni Vice sa SWS popularity survey. You’re 40 percent behind him.

SONNY

At ilang percent ako?

JOLLYPIT

28 percent, Sir.

SONNY

Masama ito. Isa lang ang ibig sabihin niyan: 68 percent ang nakuha ni Vice. Tama ba, Jonathan?

JOLLYPIT

100 percent correct, sir. Wala naman pong dudang mas lamang kayo sa kanya sa arithmetic.

JONATHAN

At sa kulay.

SONNY

Nevertheless, nakalalamang siya sa popularidad. Ano nga ba ang sinabi kong salita nun?

JOLLYPIT

Asal, Sir.

SONNY

Asal. A-S-A-L. It reminds me of inasal. Asal.

MAX

Aaaaasaaaaal.

SONNY

Asal.

JONATHAN

Asal. Aaaaasaaaaal.

SONNY

Asal. General Meraño?

MIGUEL
Sir. Aaaaasaaaaal, Sir!

SONNY

Mr. Moderno? A. . .

CHRISTOPHER

Aaaaasaaaaal.

SONNY

General Guinigundo, please help me with this.

MATEO

Ano?

SONNY

Asal.

MATEO

Aaaaasaaaaal.

SONNY

Thank you, gentlemen. Nakuha ko na. Dapat pala mabagal lang. Aaaaasaaaaal.

MAX

That's better.

SONNY

Ginutom ako run a. Mabalik tayo. General Guinigundo?

MATEO

Aaaaasaaaaal.

SONNY

Please, General. As Defense Secretary, kailangang-kailangan ang presence of mind. Sinusubukan ko lang kung malilito ka. Parang kung ito ang target, nawala ka na nang dahil dun. I hope it's just a mild case of distraction or else you'll lead us to destruction. Wow, I like that. Jollypitt, paalala mo sa'kin ‘yun at kung paano ko magagamit.

JOLLYPITT

Yes, Sir. Distraction. Destruction. Gawan ko rin po ng Twit sa account niyo.

SONNY

Sige. Salamat, Jo. Nasaan na tayo? Yes, Dishonored. General Guinigundo, anong video o kahit hindi video na mga laro ang nilalaro mo?

JOLLYPITT

Sir, we can improve that sentence. Anong video games o kahit anong libangan ang nilalaro niyo?

SONNY

Ayos lang ba ang libangan? Medyo alangan ako run. Kasi kahit ano naman, pwedeng libangan kahit hindi ito isang laro. Halimbawa, nalilibang ako kapag hindi na ako nag-iisip. Napapahinga ang utak ko at the same time, nalilibang ako.

JONATHAN

Sir, sabi niyo napapahinga ang utak niyo pag naglalaro kayo ng video games.

SONNY

Yes, that's my coping mechanism sa stress.

MAX

Teka lang. Gaya ng napag-usapan kanina, kailangang linawin natin. Sa Cebuano kasi, ang ibig sabihin ng libang ay tumatae.

(Matatawa ang lahat pwera kina Miguel at Mateo.)

SONNY

That’s so funny. Well, especially pag tumatae ako, nalilibang ako.

JOLLYPIT

Sir, Tagalog naman ang context ng usapan. Kahit kung magbibigay kayo ng speech, sa Tagalog naman maiintindihan ang salita.

SONNY

Okay, sige, I accept that word at gusto ko ‘yung pagkakaroon nito ng ibang kahulugan. Salamat, Max and Jo. General?

MATEO

If I may, Jollibeet—

JOLLYPITT

Jollypitt po, Sir.

MATEO

Matanong ko lang. Are you an English major?

JOLLYPITT

My undergrad course was Microbiology and my Masteral is Arts Studies. I’ve got six units of translation, a unit in psychology with a thesis in phrenology and behavioral psychology, and, with my background in Humanities, I know a lot of things about gestures, costume design, speech writing, media relations, and almost everything an Image Consultant needs to know.

MATEO

How ostentatious!

SONNY

That’s enough. General Guinigundo, I was asking you a question.

MATEO

Hindi ako naglalaro ng video games. Wala akong panahon para sa mga 'yan.

SONNY

Seryoso ka ba, General? Kahit Super Mario noon?

MATEO

Hindi ko na naabutan 'yun, at isa pa, madalas ako noon sa gitna ng labanan. Naaalala ko nung dumating sina General MacArthur—

SONNY

Sorry, General, I have to cut you there. General Meraño, kanina ka pa ata walang kibo?

MIGUEL

Inaabangan ko rin ang sagot ni General Guinigundo.

SONNY

Sumagot na siya. General, do you mean, wala kang nilaro kahit ano?

MATEO

Ahedres lang at Games of the General ang nalaro ko.

SONNY

'Yan ang hirap, General. Ahedres? Games of the General? Hindi nangyayari sa tunay na buhay 'yun. Marami na pala kayong namimiss. Kung makita niyo lang ang graphics ng Dishonored. Kahit nga 'yung Call of Duty. Ayun. Christopher, ano nga ba 'yung pamagat ng librong binanggit mo kanina?

CHRISTOPHER

Art of War by Sun Tzu.

SONNY

Sun Tzu. S-U-N?

CHRISTOPHER

S-U-N T-Z-U.

SONNY

Take note of that, Jonathan.

JONATHAN

Opo, Sir. May kopya po ako sa iPad.

SONNY

Sabi mo nga kanina.

CHRISTOPHER

Mr. President, counted ba ang Candy Crush Saga at Empires and Allies?

SONNY

Of course. Especially Empires and Allies. See, General Guinigundo? Even Mr. Moderno is aware of gaming.

MATEO

All right, magpapaturo ako sa apo ko. Pwede na ba tayong magpatuloy?

SONNY

Too late.

CHRISTOPHER

May Facebook pala kayo, hindi kayo nagsasabi.

MATEO

Facebook?

JONATHAN

You need to have a Facebook account para makapaglaro ng Empires and Allies, Sir.

MATEO

Ang kumplikado pala niyan.

SONNY

All right, mabalik tayo. Napakahalaga nito, ano. Nasa hukay ang isang paa ng mga sundalo natin sa Waka Waka, and we are at the blink of war.

JOLLYPITT

Sir, kailangan pong ayusin 'yun.

MATEO

Not again.

SONNY

Titingala ba dapat ako pag sinasabi ko 'yun?

JOLLYPITT

Grammar and syntax, Sir.

SONNY

Okay. Wala tayong oras para ayusin 'yan ngayon. Thank you for reminding me, Jo. Ibahin ko na lang. Teka.

MATEO

We are on the brink of war.

SONNY

Tama, General. ‘Yun nga pala ‘yun. Ayan, pinapawisan na ang kili-kili ko.

JOLLYPITT

Sir, kailangan niyo pong magpalit ng barong bago humarap sa press mamaya.

SONNY

Problema talaga 'to. Kung hindi noo, kili-kili.

JOLLYPITT

Titingnan nila ‘yan bilang sign of weakness.

MATEO

Noong panahon namin, nakikipaglaban kami, pawisan, basang-basa ang aming mga kili-kili, basang-basa pati mga singit namin. Naliligo kami sa pawis at ang pawis ang senyales ng aming katapangan.

SONNY

General Meraño, do you agree with General Guinigundo?

MIGUEL

In combat and in training, Sir. Common sense po na papawisan talaga kami at walang pagkakataon para magpunas. Kailangan naming umaksyon agad.

SONNY

Yes, I see. Parang mga characters sa game na Modern Warfare, Dead Space 2, Condemned. Galing. Very detailed pati dugo at pawis, minsan tumatalsik pa sa screen. Nangangati ang kamay ko, gusto ko nang maglaro. Pero nasa combat ‘yun. Ako nasa airconditioned room na puno ng media at panonoorin ako ng buong bansa. Baka nga nandiyan pa ang BBC, CNN, Bloomberg. Nakakahiya.

JOLLYPITT

Sir, nakausap ko na po si Dra. Vicky Belo, pwede na tayong magpa-schedule ng surgery para sa sweat glands niyo sa kili-kili anytime.

SONNY

Tingnan natin kung maisingit natin mamaya bago ang presscon. Or after. Pero sana nga bago ang presscon ano? Nakakahiya sa buong mundo kung makikitang ang Pangulo ng Republika ng Pilipinas, magsasalita sa bilyong manonood sa telebisyon, idinedeklara ang pagsulong ng pagtatanggol ng pamahalaan sa teritoryong pagmamay-ari ng malayang Pilipinas.

(May tutunog na ring ng cellphone. Kukunin ni Jonathan ang iPhone sa kanyang bulsa.)

JONATHAN (sa iPhone)

Oh, Priscilla . . . Yes . . . yes . . . Nasa meeting kami . . . Siya nga ang nagpe-preside . . . Sige, send mo lang email mo . . . Salamat . . . Sige, sasabihin ko.

MATEO (habang abala si Jonathan sa kausap sa cellphone)

Well, I guess you’ve made a decision, Mr. President.

SONNY

Yes, General. Kailangang mawala silang lahat.

MATEO

So, ihahanda ko na ang mga bata? I think the marines are more capable of—

SONNY

Ano yun, General? I did not say anything about an attack.

MATEO

Kasasabi mo lang na idedeklara mo ang pagsulong ng pagtatanggol ng pamahalaan sa teritoryong pagmamay-ari ng malayang Pilipinas.

SONNY
And I was saying na kailangang mawala lahat ng sweat glands sa kili-kili ko.

JONATHAN

Sorry, I didn’t get that. Sir, that was Priscilla. Tinatanong kung—(titingin sa mga kasama sa loob ng kwarto.) Tinatanong niya kung tuloy daw po ang interview meeting ninyo mamayang gabi.

SONNY
Priscilla?

JONATHAN

Sandali, Sir. (May ipapakita mula sa iPad.) Do you remember her?

SONNY
Ah, oo nga pala. ‘Di ba siya ‘yung nakilala natin nung isang linggo? ‘Yung malaki ang hinaharap?

JONATHAN

Yes, Sir. Tigasing babaeng napakahusay sa Resident Evil at Grand Theft Auto.

MAX

Siya nga? Priscilla pala pangalan niya. Nasa Facebook mo ba siya, Jonathan?

(Uubo si Miguel na parang naiinip.)

SONNY
Naka-add na agad nung oras na nakita namin sa Timezone sa Eastwood. (Tatawa). Mabilis magtrabaho ‘tong batang ‘to.

MAX

I-suggest friend mo nga sa FB ko.

CHRISTOPHER

Oy, huwag niyo kong kalimutan diyan. Patingin nga ng pic, Jonathan.

JONATHAN (lalapit kay Christopher)

Eto, Sir. Ganda ‘di ba?

MATEO
My goodness! My fucking goddamned goodness! We are in the middle of a very important meeting. Mga bastos kayo. Binabastos niyo ang sovereignty. Para kayong mga Intsik na niluluraan at sinusunog ang bandila ng Pilipinas. Our soldiers are in danger, captured by the Chinese in fucking Waka Waka and you are talking about some fucking bitch?!

JONATHAN (mapapaupo)

Sorry, Sir.

SONNY

General Guinigundo!

MATEO

Stop that! Stop playing games. We are at war. We are fucking at war.

SONNY

General, please. Humihahon kayo. That’s the problem with you. You are not with us. You are not cooperating. At sinabi ko na kaninang maging maingat sa paggamit ng intsik. If it wasn't for my mother, I would not have appointed you. Did you put me in the office? No. Mga tao ang naghalal sa akin dito. Sila ang boss ko. Wala kayong karapatang sabihin kung ano ang dapat kong gawin. I appointed you and that does not give you the right to dictate what I should do. At wala kayong karapatang magmura-mura dito sa Yellow Room. This secret room is as sacred as the constitution of the Republic of the Philippines. Kayo ang sumisira sa sacredness ng bawa’t boto, ng silid na ito, ng panguluhan.

MATEO

I’m sorry, Mr. President. I just couldn’t take it anymore.

SONNY

You are so selfish, General. Wala tayong patutunguhan kung sarili lang natin ang iniisip natin.

MATEO

I’m so sorry, Sonny. Mr. President.

SONNY

I cannot tolerate such immorality. Nakasusulasok makarinig ng mura.

MATEO

Pasensya na. Matanda na nga ako. I guess this is not a country for old men.

SONNY

Huwag niyong ikumpara sarili niyo kay Clint Eastwood.

MATEO

What?

SONNY

White guy, western elitism. Napakaelitista ninyo. (Patlang.) Okay. Let’s go back to business. General Meraño, hindi ba’t nagpadala tayo ng spies sa Isla Waka Waka?

MIGUEL
Affirmative, Sir.

SONNY

Nasaan sila ngayon?

MIGUEL
We gave directives to spy on the island. That was two months ago.

SONNY

Ano’ng nangyari sa kanila?

MIGUEL

Kasama sila sa mga nanghostage sa mga sundalo natin, Sir. Ostensibly, they sympathized with China. Lumabas sa findings namin na Chinese din pala sila.

SONNY

What? Bakit puro Chinese ang sundalo natin?

MIGUEL

Not all of them, Sir, just some of our men in the intelligence division. In my analysis, mukhang matagal na nilang naplano ‘to. Years ago, they sent some of their men to apply in our schools. Nag-aral sila ng English at nagpakabihasa sa Tagalog, tumira nang matagal dito, nameke ng mga papeles at nag-apply sa AFP. The Armed Forces hired them because we needed men who could understand Chinese.

SONNY

At walang nakaalam kung ano ang background nila? Ni hindi napansing naniningkit ang mga mata nila? General Guinigundo, you were in the ranks back then.

MATEO

I was not aware—

SONNY

Everybody was not aware. Talamak na talamak ang kurapsyon ng nakaraang administrasyon. And nobody knows anything. Nagbubulag-bulagan hanggang ngayon. Palibhasa, lahat nabayaran ng administrasyon bago ako. Kasalanan nila kung bakit lumaki ang ulo ng mga Chinese dahil sa maanomalyang transaksyon sa mga negosyante sa China. Max, tumawag ka mamaya sa DOJ, sabihin mong bilisan ang pagdedesisyon sa kaso ng mga Agoyo sa Chinchintabiru Deal.

CHRISTOPHER

Sir, isama na natin ang isyu tungkol sa Tauwaya Island. Pinaniwala ni Mrs. Agoyo ang Sultan ng Sulu na kanila ang Tauwaya kaya inaangkin nila ngayon.

SONNY

Ano? Hindi ko alam ‘yan.

MAX

President Marcos crowned the Sultanate of Sulu and declared Tauwaya as their territory pero nanatili roon ang Malaysians. Nagbayad sila ng lease. That’s included in the MAPHILINDO. In the 2010 elections, isinama ni Mrs. Agoyo ang Sultan sa kanyang senatorial slate para makakuha ng boto ang partido nila sa Mindanao.

SONNY

I know that. Ang hindi ko alam, ‘yung tungkol sa ginagawa ng Sultan ngayon.

MATEO

Hindi ka ba nanonood ng balita?

SONNY

Hindi ko trabaho ‘yun. Anyway, ano na bang nangyari dun, Max?

MAX

Secretary Lamyerda took care of it.

SONNY

Mabuti naman.

(Magriring ang cellphone ni Mateo.)

MATEO (sa cellphone)

Hello? . . . Speaking… What? . . . Sige, tatawagan kita uli. (Ibababa ang cellphone.) Mr. President, naglabas ng statement ang Chinese soldiers. Papatayin daw nila ang dalawa sa mga sundalo natin kung hindi tayo susunod sa demands nila within twelve hours.

MIGUEL (mapapatayo at mapapatingin sa kanya si Mateo)

My men!

SONNY
Ano bang demands nila? General Meraño, kalma lang.

(Mauupo si Miguel.)

MATEO

Gusto nilang paalisin natin ang American vessels na nasa teritoryo ng PIlipinas.

SONNY

Ano? May mga US vessels bang nakapaligid sa’tin?

MAX

Yes, Sir. You signed a deal with them two years ago.

SONNY

Paano kung paalisin natin ang US vessels?

CHRISTOPHER

Mawawala ang tiwala ng US sa’tin, sasabihin nilang uto-uto tayo sa China at kaya tayong ma-bully.

SONNY

Hindi tayo tuta. Pwes, hindi tayo susunod sa gusto ng China.

MATEO

But what will happen to our soldiers? We need to rescue them.

SONNY

Dalawa lang sila kumpara sa milyon-milyong Pilipinong nangangailangan ng mahahaing pagkain sa hapag-kainan sa araw-araw. Resolbahin natin ang mga mas malalaking problema ng bansa.

JOLLYPITT

Sir, we need to have issues like the RH Bill again. Mas magandang kalaban ang simbahan ngayon, mas maraming naniniwala sa administration niyo. Kung mapatay ang mga sundalo sa Isla Waka Waka, kailangang mapalitan agad ng isa ring malaking isyu o mas malaki pa.

MATEO

Hindi pwedeng ganun. Para saan pa ang meeting na ito?

SONNY

Tama ka, Jollypitt. We need a spectacle to distract the people. Unahan na rin natin ang mga kritiko. Now, General Meraño, ilan ang sundalo natin sa Waka Waka? Mga bagitong sundalo lang ba ‘yun? Mapagtatakpan ba natin ito?

MIGUEL

Around fifty privates and two generals, Sir. Mga nakasama ko sila sa Mindanao.

JONATHAN

Remember the Call of Duty, Sir.

SONNY

Yes. Sa Call of Duty, may trayduran pero napagtatakpan. We have to be strong at ma-detach muna tayo at huwag isipin ang ating damdamin. We need to cover this up. Hindi natin kayang makipagbanggaan ngayon sa China at lalong hindi natin kayang banggain ang Amerika. Naiipit tayo sa dalawang nag-uumpugang malalaking pader.

MATEO
Our duty is to serve the people of this country.

SONNY
That’s why we are here, General.

MATEO
I don’t get you. I don’t get this. I am resigning as Defense Secretary.

MAX

Bakit naman, General? Ngayon ka namin kailangan. Kailangan ka rin ng mga sundalo. Mede-destabilize ang militar kung magbibitiw kayo.

SONNY

General, malaki ang utang na loob ng aming pamilya sa’yo. Please don’t do this.

(Patlang. Tatayo si Mateo.)

MATEO

Your father was a great man. I admired him and I extended that admiration to your mother. I thought you’d inherit your father’s wisdom.

(Lalayo si Mateo sa mesa, unti-unting maglalakad palabas ng entablado.)

SONNY (mangingilid ang luha)

Please, General. Huwag mong idamay ang magulang ko. They loved this country. Minahal din sila ng Pilipinas. Kaya ako nandito ngayon. Pero hindi ko ginusto ‘to. I just wanted a normal life. Oh, Mom. If only you were still alive. (Umiiyak.) Namimiss ko ang Mommy. I miss her calming presence. Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin.

JOLLYPITT

That’s good, Sir. Magandang makita ng mga tao mamaya sa presscon na namumugto ang mata niyo. They would think you’ve been working so hard.

MAX

Makikita rin nila ang pag-aalala mo sa mga sundalo natin sa Isla Waka Waka.

JOLLYPITT
But I hope you’d never say those things in front of the cameras what you’ve said about your mom.

MATEO

Bahala na kayo. Walang pinatunguhan ang meeting na ‘to. Wala na kong pakialam kung mamatay ang mga sundalo natin sa Waka Waka. Sonny, remember this day. History will haunt you.

SONNY

General, bakit mo ako lalong sinasaktan? Ano bang kasalanan ko sa’yo? I trusted you kaya ikaw ang pinili kong maging Defense Secretary. Minahal ka ng aking mga magulang. Minahal ka naming magkakapatid.

MATEO

Ikaw ang elitista, Sonny Boy. Napaka-immature mo. You need to learn to love our country.

SONNY
The country loves us. We became a Yellow Republic because of us.

MATEO

No, Sonny. I hate to say this but this country became a Banana Republic nang maupo ka sa pwesto. Kaya puro ungguyan tayo rito.

MAX

General, please. Huminahon kayo. Maawa kayo sa Pangulo.

SONNY

I never wanted this. Mommy! Ibalik niyo ang Mommy ko.

(Patuloy na iiyak si Sonny na parang bata. Mapapatayo si Max at lalapit sa Pangulo. Kukunan ni Jonathan ng video ang nangyayari.)

MAX

Tingnan niyo ang ginawa niyo, General. Tsk. Jonathan, kumukuha ka ba ng video? Itigil mo ‘yan kung ayaw mong mawalan ng trabaho.

SONNY (yayakap kay Max)

Mommy ko.

MAX

Tahan na, Sonny Boy. Andito ang Kuya Max.

(Tatayo si Miguel at babarilin ang Pangulo. Magugulat ang lahat. Lalayo si Max. Lalapit si Mateo sa Pangulong napayuko ang ulo sa mesa.)

MATEO

He’s dead.

MIGUEL

Ang daming dada. Wala nang nangyari.

MAX

Are you out of your mind? General, you killed the President!

MIGUEL (mananatiling hawak ang baril at sa bawa’t kakausapin, itututok ito)

O, siya nga? Then install Vice Batirol as the President as the constitution states. He's a man of action.

MAX

But that’s a crime.

MIGUEL

Of course. Hayaan mong mabulok siya diyan na parang saging. Now, where are we? Oh, yes, the Waka Waka Island. We will be declaring war against Malaysia and the United States of America. Mr. Rosario, please tell the other cabinet members na patay na ang Pangulo at pwede na kayong mag-empake. Mr. Moderno, tell the Chinese government na kakampi sila ng pumalit na adminstrasyon at palayain nila ang mga sundalo natin. Do as I say because the new President will do the same.

CHRISTOPHER

But—

MIGUEL

Oh, right, you cannot do that. We’re going to arrest you. General Guinigundo, I hope you understand that this needs a cover up Vice Batirol needs to be installed as soon as possible so he can declare a war that does not need the approval of congress, and this time, we are with China. General, gumawa ka na rin ng draft ng kasunduang pagkatapos ng digmaan, hahayaan nila sa atin ang Isla Waka Waka at ibibigay natin sa kanila ang Malaysia pero sa atin din ang Tauwaya. Tawagan niyo rin ang kausap niyo kanina, tell him there’s no need to kill our men. General Merano, ihanda mo ang army at ipatatawag ang mga reserves. Sugurin ang Tauwaya, protektahan ang mga Pilipinong loyalista ng Sultan ng Sulu at atakihin ang US vessels na nasa teritoryo natin. Jollypitt, ayaw ko nang makikita ang pagmumukha mo. Jonatahan, magsama kayo ni Jollypitt at kahit anino mo, ayaw kong masisilayan. Any questions? (Patlang.) Ano pa ang hinihintay niyo? Get moving! This is our call of duty.

(Magpapaputok si Miguel. Mamamatay ang ilaw.)



Copyright 2013.