MICHELLE DELA ROSA

ST.MARK-10

Federigo's Falcon
By Giovanni Boccaccio
This story comes from Boccaccio's The Decameron (1353). This version was translated by Mark
Musa and Peter Bondanella.

There was once in Florence a young man named Federigo, the son of Messer Filippo Alberighi,
renowned above all other men in Tuscany for his prowess in arms and for his courtliness. As often
happens to most gentlemen, he fell in love with a lady named Monna Giovanna, in her day
considered to be one of the most beautiful and one of the most charming women that ever there
was in Florence; and in order to win her love, he participated in jousts and tournaments, organized
and gave feasts, and spent his money without restraint; but she, no less virtuous than beautiful,
cared little for these things done on her behalf, nor did she care for him who did them. Now, as
Federigo was spending far beyond his means and was taking nothing in, as easily happens he lost
his wealth and became poor, with nothing but his little farm to his name (from whose revenues he
lived very meagerly) and one falcon which was among the best in the world.

More in love than ever, but knowing that he would never be able to live the way he wished to in
the city, he went to live at Campi, where his farm was. There he passed his time hawking whenever
he could, asked nothing of anyone, and endured his poverty patiently. Now, during the time that
Federigo was reduced to dire need, it happened that the husband of Monna Giovanna fell ill, and
realizing death was near, he made his last will. He was very rich, and he made his son, who was
growing up, his heir, and, since he had loved Monna Giovanna very much, he made her his heir
should his son die without a legitimate heir; and then he died.

Monna Giovanna was now a widow, and as is the custom among our women, she went to the
country with her son to spend a year on one of her possessions very close by to Federigo’s farm,
and it happened that this young boy became friends with Federigo and began to enjoy birds and
hunting dogs; and after he had seen Federigo’s falcon fly many times, it pleased him so much that
he very much wished it were his own, but he did not dare to ask for it, for he could see how dear
it was to Federigo. And during this time, it happened that the young boy took ill, and his mother
was much grieved, for he was her only child and she loved him enormously. She would spend the
entire day by his side, never ceasing to comfort him, and often asking him if there was anything
he desired, begging him to tell her what it might be, for if it were possible to obtain it, she would
certainly do everything possible to get it. After the young boy had heard her make this offer many
times, he said:

“Mother, if you can arrange for me to have Federigo’s falcon, I think I would be well very soon.”

When the lady heard this, she was taken aback for a moment, and she began to think what she
should do. She knew that Federigo had loved her for a long while, in spite of the fact that he never
received a single glance from her, and so, she said to herself:

“How can I send or go and ask for this falcon of his which is, as I have heard tell, the best that ever
flew, and besides this, his only means of support? And how can I be so insensitive as to wish to
take away from this gentleman the only pleasure which is left to him?”

And involved in these thoughts, knowing that she was certain to have the bird if she asked for it,
but not knowing what to say to her son, she stood there without answering him. Finally the love
she bore her son persuaded her that she should make him happy, and no matter what the
consequences might be, she would not send for the bird, but rather go herself for it and bring it
back to him; so she answered her son:

“My son, take comfort and think only of getting well, for I promise you that the first thing I shall
do tomorrow morning is to go for it and bring it back to you.”

The child was so happy that he showed some improvement that very day. The following morning,
the lady, accompanied by another woman, as if going for a stroll, went to Federigo’s modest house
and asked for him. Since it was not the season for it, Federigo had not been hawking for some days
and was in his orchard, attending to certain tasks. When he heard that Monna Giovanna was asking
for him at the door, he was very surprised and happy to run there. As she saw him coming, she
greeted him with feminine charm, and once Federigo had welcomed her courteously, she said:

“Greetings, Federigo!” Then she continued: “I have come to compensate you for the harm you
have suffered on my account by loving me more than you needed to; and the compensation is this:
I, along with this companion of mine, intend to dine with you—a simple meal—this very day.”

To this Federigo humbly replied: “Madonna, I never remember having suffered any harm because
of you. On the contrary, so much good have I received from you that if ever I have been worth
anything, it has been because of your merit and the love I bore for you; and your generous visit is
certainly so dear to me that I would spend all over again that which I spent in the past; but you
have come to a poor host.”

And having said this, he received her into his home humbly, and from there he led her into his
garden, and since he had no one there to keep her company, he said:
“My lady, since there is no one else, this good woman here, the wife of this workman, will keep
you company while I go to set the table.”

Though he was very poor, Federigo, until now, had never before realized to what extent he had
wasted his wealth; but this morning, the fact that he found nothing with which he could honor the
lady for the love of whom he had once entertained countless men in the past gave him cause to
reflect. In great anguish, he cursed himself and his fortune and, like a man beside himself, he
started running here and there, but could find neither money nor a pawnable object. The hour was
late and his desire to honor the gracious lady was great, but not wishing to turn for help to others
(not even to his own workman), he set his eyes upon his good falcon, perched in a small room; and
since he had nowhere else to turn, he took the bird, and finding it plump, he decided that it would
be a worthy food for such a lady. So, without further thought, he wrung its neck and quickly gave
it to his servant girl to pluck, prepare, and place on a spit to be roasted with care; and when he had
set the table with the whitest of tablecloths (a few of which he still had left), he returned, with a
cheerful face, to the lady in his garden, saying that the meal he was able to prepare for her was
ready.

The lady and her companion rose, went to the table together with Federigo, who waited upon them
with the greatest devotion, and they ate the good falcon without knowing what it was they were
eating. And having left the table and spent some time in pleasant conversation, the lady thought it
time now to say what she had come to say, and so she spoke these kind words to Federigo:

“Federigo, if you recall your past life and my virtue, which you perhaps mistook for harshness and
cruelty, I do not doubt at all that you will be amazed by my presumption when you hear what my
main reason for coming here is; but if you had children, through whom you might have experienced
the power of parental love, it seems certain to me that you would, at least in part, forgive me. But,
just as you have no child, I do have one, and I cannot escape the common laws of other mothers;
the force of such laws compels me to follow them, against my own will and against good manners
and duty, and to ask of you a gift which I know is most precious to you; and it is naturally so, since
your extreme condition has left you no other delight, no other pleasure, no other consolation; and
this gift is your falcon, which my son is so taken by that if I do not bring it to him, I fear his
sickness will grow so much worse that I may lose him. And therefore I beg you, not because of
the love that you bear for me, which does not oblige you in the least, but because of your own
nobility, which you have shown to be greater than that of all others in practicing courtliness, that
you be pleased to give it to me, so that I may say that I have saved the life of my son by means of
this gift, and because of it I have placed him in your debt forever.”

When he heard what the lady requested and knew that he could not oblige her since he had given
her the falcon to eat, Federigo began to weep in her presence, for he could not utter a word in reply.
The lady, at first, thought his tears were caused more by the sorrow of having to part with the good
falcon than by anything else, and she was on the verge of telling him she no longer wished it, but
she held back and waited for Federigo’s reply after he stopped weeping. And he said:
“My lady, ever since it pleased God for me to place my love in you, I have felt that Fortune has
been hostile to me in many things, and I have complained of her, but all this is nothing compared
to what she has just done to me, and I must never be at peace with her again, thinking about how
you have come here to my poor home where, while it was rich, you never deigned to come, and
you requested a small gift, and Fortune worked to make it impossible for me to give it to you; and
why this is so I shall tell you briefly. When I heard that you, out of your kindness, wished to dine
with me, I considered it fitting and right, taking into account your excellence and your worthiness,
that I should honor you, according to my possibilities, with a more precious food than that which
I usually serve to other people; therefore, remembering the falcon that you requested and its value,
I judged it a food worthy of you, and this very day you had it roasted and served to you as best I
could; but seeing now that you desired it in another way, my sorrow in not being able to serve you
is so great that I shall never be able to console myself again.”

And after he had said this, he laid the feathers, the feet, and the beak of the bird before her as proof.
When the lady heard and saw this, she first reproached him for having killed such a falcon to serve
as a meal to a woman; but then to herself she commended the greatness of his spirit, which no
poverty was able or would be able to diminish; then, having lost all hope of getting the falcon and,
perhaps because of this, of improving the health of her son as well, she thanked Federigo both for
the honor paid to her and for his good will, and she left in grief, and returned to her son. To his
mother’s extreme sorrow, either because of his disappointment that he could not have the falcon,
or because his illness must have necessarily led to it, the boy passed from this life only a few days
later.

After the period of her mourning and bitterness had passed, the lady was repeatedly urged by her
brothers to remarry, since she was very rich and was still young; and although she did not wish to
do so, they became so insistent that she remembered the merits of Federigo and his last act of
generosity—that is, to have killed such a falcon to do her honor—and she said to her brothers:

“I would prefer to remain a widow, if that would please you; but if you wish me to take a husband,
you may rest assured that I shall take no man but Federigo degli Alberighi.”

In answer to this, making fun of her, her brothers replied:

“You foolish woman, what are you saying? How can you want him; he hasn’t a penny to his
name?”

To this she replied: “My brothers, I am well aware of what you say, but I would rather have a man
who needs money than money that needs a man.”

Her brothers, seeing that she was determined and knowing Federigo to be of noble birth, no matter
how poor he was, accepted her wishes and gave her in marriage to him with all her riches. When
he found himself the husband of such a great lady, whom he had loved so much and who was so
wealthy besides, he managed his financial affairs with more prudence than in the past and lived
with her happily the rest of his days.

The World Is an Apple

By: Alberto S. Florentino

SUMMARY
It is a story about a man, named Mario, who suffered in extreme poverty, so, he walked through
the sinful road. He steals with his friends to experience pleasures. He gained a lot of money from
it. However, he changed when he met Gloria who is a pious woman and he became his husband.
Gloria, despite of Mario’s past, she accepted him because she believed that Mario will change.
Indeed, Mario had changed. He chose a legal job. For four years, his family suffered in poverty
but, Mario never went back to the life he had before, because he knew that his wife will get angry,
until such time God tested his faith. His daughter, Tita, fell ill because she has not eaten anything
nutritious. And because of this, he was forced to steal an apple for when he took his daughter for
a walk, they passed a grocery store that sold delicious apple as they’re on their way home. His
daughter wanted him to buy one but he couldn’t because he has no enough money that time. What
he did is he buys her one of small green apples they sell on the sidewalk, but she just threw it away,
saying it was not a real apple. And for an apple, he lost his job. He did not inform his wife about
it because he wanted her not to worry. He looked for another job but he never found one, so, he
approached his friend, Pablo, and told him that he will join their group again. He was tired to do
good things. He wanted his family to have a beautiful life, so, he chooses to return to the life he
had before, the stealing. One day, he arrived home. His wife slips her finger to take some money
to buy Tita a biscuit, but Mario was annoyed and moved away from his wife. Then, they began to
quarrel. Gloria was asking some of the money from his pay but Mario insisted that he has none.
Mario told her that he spent it all for a woman and a drinks but Gloria didn’t believe in it. So,
Mario told her everything. Gloria got angry after hearing it. But, Mario told her that he had found
a good job and his going to meet someone. Gloria then became glad after hearing it, not until Pablo
showed up. She hated Pablo because Pablo was one of Mario’s friends who do illegal things. Pablo
offered some money to Gloria but, Gloria did not accept it. Pablo came to their house to fetch
Mario because he thought that Mario would change his mind. He even told Gloria about Mario
willing to work with him. Gloria was shocked and she insisted that Mario wouldn’t do such things
like that because she knew that Mario knew anything that makes her angry. But, Mario confirmed
it to her that what she heard is true and that he only wanted what is good to his family. Gloria
convinced him not to go and reminded him of God. But, Mario never listens to her. He told her to
take good care of herself and that he will be home safely. Gloria was then left crying with her
daughter.

Characters:
Mario
Gloria
Pablo
Time: Late afternoon
Scene: A small and poor home behind a portion of the Intramuros walls. There are two wooden
boxes on either side of the doorway. At left is an Acacia tree with a wooden bench under it.
Mario enters from the street at the left. He is in his late twenties, dressed in old and worn out
and with hair that seems to have been uncut for weeks. He puts his lunch bag on the bench, sits
down, removes his shoes and puts them beside his lunch bag.

Gloria: (calls from inside) Mario! (No answer) Mario, is that you?
Mario: Yes.
(Gloria, a small woman of Mario's age, with long hair and a thin body, comes out wiping her
hands on her dress.)
Gloria: I'm glad you're home early.
Mario: How is Tita? (Without waiting for an answer, he enters the dwelling.)
Gloria: (crosses to bench) don’t wake her up, Mario. She's tired; she's been crying all day.
Mario: (reappears and crosses to bench and sits on one end) has she been eating well?
Gloria: She wouldn't eat even a mouthful of lugao. I'll buy her some biscuits. Maybe she'll eat
them. (She slips her fingers into his breast pocket.) I'll take some money—
Mario: (rises, annoyed) Gloria! Wait a minute!
Gloria: (surprised) Hey, what's the matter? Why are you suddenly so touchy?
Mario: Who wouldn't be? I'm talking to you about the child and you bother me by searching my
pockets! I wish you'd think more of our daughter!
Gloria: (crosses to center) My God! Wasn't I think of her? Why do you think I need some
money? To buy me a pretty dress? Or see a movie?
Mario: Lower your voice. You'll wake the child up.
Gloria: (low, but intense) All I want is a little money to buy her something to eat! She hasn't
eaten anything all day! That's why I was “bothering” you!
Mario: (apologetic) I'm sorry, Gloria…(Grips her arm and turns away.)
Gloria: It's all right, Mario. Now, may I have some of the money?
Mario: (turns to her) Money? I…I don't have any, not right now.
Gloria: Today is payday, Mario.
Mario: Yes, but-
Gloria: But what? Where's your pay for the week?
Mario: I don't have it.
Gloria: What? I waited for you the whole day and you tell me—
Mario: (angry) —that I have nothing! Nothing! What do you want me to do, steal?
Gloria: I'm not asking you to do a thing like that! All I want to know is what you did with your
pay.
Mario: (sits on the bench) nothing is left of it.
Gloria: What happened?
Mario: Oh, I had a few drinks with my friends. Before I knew it, I had spent every centavo of it.
Gloria: (eying him closely) Mario, do you think you can make a fool of me? Haven't I seen you
drunk before, crawling home like a wounded snake and smelling of alcohol like a hospital? You
don't smell or look drunk.
Mario: All right, so I didn't go drinking.
Gloria: But your pay, what happened to it?
Mario: It's better if you don't know, Gloria.
Gloria: Look, Mario, I'm your wife. I have the right to half of everything you get. If I can't have
my share, I have the right to know at least where it went!
Mario: All right (rises). I spent it all on another woman.
Gloria: Another woman? I don't believe it. I know you wouldn't do such a thing.
Mario: I didn't know you had so much faith in me.
Gloria: No, Mario! What I mean is, you wouldn't spend all your money when you know your
daughter may need some of it. You love her too much to do that.
(Mario sits down and buries his head in his hands. Gloria crosses to him and lays a hand on his
shoulder.)
Gloria: What's wrong, Mario?
Mario: (turns his face away) Nothing, Gloria, nothing.
Gloria: (sits beside him) I know something is wrong, Mario. I can feel it. Tell me what it is.
Mario: (stares at the ground) Gloria, I've lost my job.
Gloria: (rises, surprised) Oh, no!
Mario: (looks up at her) It's true, Gloria.
Gloria: What about your pay for the whole week?
Mario: I lost my job a week ago.
Gloria: And you never told me!
Mario: I thought I could get another without worrying you.
Gloria: Did you think you could get another job so quickly? It took you five months to get that
one.
Mario: It won't take me so long to get another.
Gloria: But how did you lose it?
Mario: (rises and turns away) what’s the use of talking about it? That won't bring it back.
Gloria: (suddenly, in an agonized voice) Mario!
Mario: (turns around) yes?
Gloria: Have your sinful fingers gotten you into trouble again?
Mario: Now, now, Gloria! Don't try to accuse me, as they did!
Gloria: What did they accuse you of?
Mario: Just what you meant to say. Pilfering, they call it.
Gloria: What else would you call it? What, according to them, did you steal?
Mario: (low) It was nothing much, really nothing at all.
Gloria: What was it?
Mario: It was a…an apple.
Gloria: An apple! You mean-
Mario: An apple! Don't you know what an apple is?
Gloria: You mean, you took one apple?
Mario: Yes, and they kicked me out for it. For taking one, single apple, not a dozen, not a crate.
Gloria: That's what you get for not stopping to think before you do something.
Mario: (sits down) could I have guessed they would do that for one apple, when there were
millions of them? We were taking them to the warehouse. I saw one roll out of a broken crate. It
was that big. (Demonstrates) It looked so delicious. Suddenly I found myself putting it in my
lunch bag.
Gloria: That's the trouble with you. When you think of your own stomach, you think of nothing
else.
Mario: (rises) I was not thinking of myself!
Gloria: Who were you thinking of, me? Did I ever ask you to bring home apples? I am not as
crazy as that.
Mario: I was thinking of our child.
Gloria: Tita? Why? Did she ever ask for apples?
Mario: Yes, she did. Do you remember that day I took her out for a walk? On our way home we
passed a grocery store that sold “Delicious” apples at seventy centavos each. She wanted one
apple but I could not buy it for her. I did not have seventy centavos. I felt terrible. I bought her
one of those green apples sold on the sidewalk, but she threw it away. She said they were not
“real” apples. Then she cried. So, when I saw that apple roll out of the broken crate, I thought
that Tita would love to have it.
Gloria: You should have tried to bring home pandesal, rice, or milk and not those “Delicious”
apples. We're not rich. We can live without apples.
Mario: Why? Did God create apple trees to bear fruit for the rich alone? Didn't He create the
whole world for everyone? That's why I tried to bring the apple home for Tita. When we brought
her into this world, we promised her everything. She has the right to have everything in life.
Gloria: So, for just an apple, you lost a job you need so much?
Mario: I wouldn't mind losing a thousand jobs for an apple for my daughter!
Gloria: Where is the apple you valued so much? It is here? (Crosses to the bench to get the
lunch bag)
Mario: No, it isn't here. They kept it as evidence. (Sits down)
Gloria: See? You lost your job trying to steal an apple and you also lost the apple!
(Gloria puts away the shoes and the lunch bag. She sits on the steps and remains silent for a
time.)
Gloria: (rises) Stealing an apple—that's too small a reason to kick a poor man out of work. You
should ask them to give you a second chance Mario.
Mario: They won't do that.
Gloria: Why not?
Mario: (rises) can’t you see they had been waiting for me to make a slip like that? They've
wanted to throw me out for any reason so they can bring in their own men.
Gloria: You should complain-
Mario: Suppose I did? What would they do? They would dig up my police record.
Gloria: (crosses to him) But Mario that was so long ago! Why would they dig that up?
Mario: They'll do anything to keep me out! (Holds her by the arm.) But don't worry, I'll find
another job. It isn't really so hard to look for a job nowadays. (From this point he avoids her
eyes.) You know, I've been job-hunting for a week now, and I think I have found a good job.
Gloria: There you go lying again.
Mario: Believe me! I'm not lying this time.
Gloria: (crosses to center) You're always lying; I can't tell when you're telling the truth.
Mario: In fact, I'll see someone tonight who knows of a company that needs a night watchman.
Gloria: (holds his arm) Are you only trying to make me feel better, Mario?
Mario: No, Gloria.
Gloria: Honest?
Mario: (avoids her eyes) Honest! (sits down)
Gloria: (sighs happily, looks up) I knew God wouldn't let us down. I'll pray tonight and ask Him
to let you have that job. (Looks at Mario.) But, Mario, would it mean that you'd have to stay out
all night?
Mario: That would be all right. I can always sleep during the day.
Gloria: (brushes against him like a cat) What I mean is it will be different when you aren't by
my side at night. (Walks away from him.) Oh, but I think I'll get used to it. (Crosses to center,
turns around.) Why don't you go see this man right now? Anyway you don't have anything to do
tonight. Don't you think it's wise to see him as early as you can?
Mario: (after a pause) Yes, I think I'll do that.
(Gloria crosses to the steps to get his shoes, followed by Mario.)
Gloria: (hands him his shoes) Here Mario, put these on and go. I'll stay up and wait for you.
(Sits on the steps and watches him.)
Mario: (putting on the shoes) No, Gloria, you must not wait for me. I may be back quite late.
Gloria: All right, but I doubt if I sleep a wink until you return. (Gloria comes up to him after he
finishes and tries to hug him but he pushes her away. Suddenly confused, he sits on the steps.
Gloria sits beside him and holds his hands.)
Gloria: Mother was wrong about you. You know, before we got married, she used to tell
me,“Gloria, you'll commit the greatest mistake of your life if you marry that good-for-nothing
loafer! You can't make him any straighter than you could a crooked wire with your bare hands.”
Oh, I wish she were alive now, she would have seen how much you've changed! (She sees
someone behind the tree; Pablo. He has been watching them for a time. He is older than Mario,
evil-looking, and well dressed.)
Pablo: (sarcastic) Hmmm…How romantic!
Mario: (rises) Pablo!
(Suddenly weakened, Mario starts to fidget. There is an uncomfortable silence as Gloria rises and
walks to center, her eyes burning with hate. Pablo lights a cigarette, never taking his eyes off
her.)
Pablo: You're not glad to see me, are you? (Puts a foot on the bench.)
Gloria: (angry) what are you doing here? What do you want?
Pablo: S-a-a-y…is that the way to receive a friend who has come to visit?
Gloria: We don't care for your visits!
Pablo: You haven't changed a bit, Gloria, not a bit.
Gloria: Neither have you, I can see!
Pablo: You're still that same woman who cursed me to hell because I happened to be Mario's
friend, even long before you met him. Time has not made you any kinder to me. You still hate
me, don't you?
Gloria: Yes! And I'll not stop hating you, not until you stay away from us!
Pablo: Am I not staying away from you?
Gloria: Then why are you here?
Pablo: God! Can't I come to see you now and then to see if life has been kind to you?
Gloria: (scornfully) we were doing well until you showed up!
Pablo: Your daughter…she was that high when I last saw her…how is she?
Gloria: (quickly) she’s all right!
Pablo: Oh, I thought she had not been very well.
Gloria: (suspicious) How did you know? (To Mario.) Did you tell him?
Mario: (stammering) I…no…how could I? I haven't seen him in a long, long time (sits down)
until now of course.
Pablo: What is she sick with?
Gloria: We don't know.
Pablo: Don't you think you should take her to a doctor? (Puts his foot down and pulls out his
wallet.) Here, I'll loan you a few pesos. It may help your daughter get well.
Gloria: (scornfully) we need it all right but, no thank you!
Pablo: Why don't you take it?
Gloria: Paying you back will only mean seeing your face again.
Pablo: Well, if you hate to see my face so much, you don't have to pay me back. Take it as a
gift.
Gloria: The more I should refuse it!
Pablo: All right, if that's how you want it. (Sits down and plays with the wallet.)
Gloria: Mario has stopped depending on you since the day I took him away from your bad
influence!
Pablo: Haven't you realized yet that it was a terrible mistake—taking him away from me?
Gloria: I have no regrets.
Pablo: How about Mario? Has he no regrets, either?
Gloria: He has none.
Pablo: How can you be so sure? When he and I were pals we could go to first-class, air-
conditioned movie houses every other day. I'll bet all the money I have here now (showing his
wallet) that he has not been to one since you “liberated” him from me. And that was almost four
years ago.
Gloria: One cannot expect too much from honest money, and we don't.
Pablo: (rises and walks about) what is honest money? Does it look better than dishonest money?
Does it buy more? And honesty? What is it? Dressing like that? Staying in this dungeon you call
a house? Is that what you so beautifully call honesty?
Mario: (rises) Pablo…
Pablo: (mockingly) see what happened to your daughter? That is what honesty has done to her.
And how can honesty help her now? She's not sick and she needs no medicine. You know that.
You know very well what she needs: good food! She's undernourished, isn't she?
Mario: Pablo!
Gloria: I know you have come to lead him back to you dishonest ways, but you can't. He won't
listen to you now! We have gone this far and we can go on living without your help!
Pablo: (sarcastic) you call this living? This, Gloria, is what you call dying, dying
slowly…minute by minute. (Laughs)
Mario: (crosses to him and shakes him) Pablo, stop it! (Pablo stops.) You shouldn't have come.
Pablo: (brushes him off) I got tired of waiting for you!
Gloria: So you have been seeing each other! I was afraid so!
Pablo: He came to the house yesterday-
Mario: Pablo, don't-
Pablo: (ignoring Mario) -he said he would be back this noon. But he didn't show up. I came
because I was afraid his conscience was bothering him.
Mario: Pablo, I told you she should not know!
Pablo: It's all right, Mario, you'd better tell her everything. She's bound to know later. Tell her
what you told me: that you don't believe any more in the way she wanted you to live. Tell her.
(Mario turns his back on them.)
Gloria: (crosses to Mario) Mario! Is this what you meant by another job! Oh, Mario! You
promised me you were through with him. You said you'd go straight and never go back to that
kind of life.
Mario: (turns around and holds her arm, stammering) Gloria, you…you must try to
understand…I tried long and hard, but I could not get us out of this kind of life.
Gloria: (crosses to center and shouts at Pablo) you’re to blame for this, you son-of-the-Devil!
You've come to him when you know he's down-
Pablo: He came to me first!
Gloria: -when you know he'll cling to anything and do anything! Even return to the life he hates!
(Crosses to him and strikes him.) Get out of our sight! Get out!
Pablo: (easily wards off her fists) All right, all right…I'll leave just as soon as Mario is ready to
go.
Gloria: He's not going with you! (Crosses to center.)
Pablo: Is that so? Why don't you ask him? (Sits on the bench, grinning.)
Gloria: (shouts) I said he's not going!
Pablo: (points to Mario) go on, ask him.
Gloria: (turns to Mario) you’re not going with him, are you Mario? Tell that crook you're not
going with him anywhere! Tell him to leave us and never come back! Tell him to go, please
Mario, please!
Mario: (holds her arm) Gloria…I…
Gloria: Mario, I know he has talked to you and tried to poison your mind again, but don't go
with him. This is still the better way of life. If things have not been turning out well, you must
know that God is not letting us down. He is only trying us.
Mario: (holds her) Gloria…I…
Gloria: (pulls away from him) you’re going! I can see that you want to go with him! Ohhhh…
(Cries) you'll leave me here again wondering whether you'll be…shot in the heart or sent to jail!
Pablo: (behind the tree) don’t worry about him, Gloria, he's safe with me. He won't come
anywhere near jail. I've got connections.
Gloria: (rushes madly at him and claws his face) you hideous beast! You—get out!
Mario: (pulls her away) you stay there, Pablo. I'll be with you in a minute.
(Leads her to the steps.)
(Pablo fixes his clothes, cursing)
Mario: (firmly) Gloria. I'm going with him.

Gloria: Don't, Mario, don't!

Mario: You can't make me stop now, I've been thinking about this since last week.
Gloria: Mario… (Holds fast to him)
Mario: (loosens her hold) you take care of yourself and our child and I'll take care of myself.
Don't wait up for me. (Mario walks away with Pablo. Gloria stares dumbly at them, then shouts.)
Gloria: Mario!
(She covers her face with her dress and cries into it. The daughter, from inside, joins her in
crying as the curtain falls.)

The New Yorker in Tondo

A satirical play written by Marcelino Agana Jr.

"New Yorker in Tondo" is a classic Filipino Play by Marcelino Agana, Jr. It is a satire written in
the 50's. It is a story about a girl named Kikay who goes to New York and fell in love with it.
She acquires all the New Yorkish things - style, looks, language and manners. These things are
very obvious when she arrives in the Philippines specifically in Tondo.

Aling Atang, mother of Kikay, has been carried away by her daughters way of living. She tries to
converse with everybody in broken English.

Tony, childhood sweetheart of Kikay, decides to visit and catch things up with her friend. He is a
simple guy who got secretly engaged with their other childhood friend, Nena.

Nena is a tomboyish type of girl. On her visit in Kikay's house, she finds her friend different and
weird. She gets irritated and even imitates Kikay's ways.

Totoy, the Tondo "canto boy" is their other friend who is funny and has a secret love for Nenan
which has only been revealded when the two females had a clash.

Near the end, the secret love of the characters in the story is revealded. And the two pairs end up
in each other's arms. Kikay is back to her old self -- simple and kind. Most of all, the Filipino
value learned by the protagonist which is "there is no place like home", is a lesson on love of
country and its culture.

In New York

KIKAY (Kikay is reading a letter from her Mother with Honey and Arlene ) Dear Kikay, I miss
you na, and super like to be see of your view. Because it’s very sad here in Tondo, please
go home na, coz I am very lonely. Love, Your mommy dear, Atang.
I told her to call herself Mrs. Mendoza! Oh well, I needed to go back to Tondo!
MARISSA (Enters) Tondo? Why are you going there? (Going to a book shelf and scribble one thick
book)
ARIANNE (Enters) Too bad, I’m gonna miss you, Darling!
KIKAY I know, imagine dati, I’m just a newbie who wants to study Hair Culture and Beauty
Science, Then, now, I’m going back na…
JAMIE Whaaat? Who’s going back to their stupid country?
KIKAY Me…
JAMIE You? OMG! It’s super stupidity!
KIKAY I know.. And surely, I’ll be the hottest girl there…
ARIANNE Isn’t Tondo too hot for you?
MARISSA Hey Francesca, Look at this! This says, Tondo is established with a church, but the
church is famous for its bangketa or a cheaper bazaar.
ARLENE Hmm… It is very unusual for you to go there…
KIKAY I know, And I don’t think you could survive…
HONEY So, is this a goodbye for the OFW’ees?
KIKAY No, I’m not gonna stay there, as if. I don’t like it there.
JAMIE But before you go, let’s have a bye bye bye….
HONEY Bye Bye Party!
MARISSA Of course, what were we gonna do here? Stay and bathe in tears?
KIKAY You really love me guys!
ARLENE And we love you, too, right, guys?
ARIANNE So, let’s start the party? (Pushes Casette Button ; Plays HOT N’ COLD by Katy Perry)
The song continues and Lights Dim, then on again…
The song becomes louder and plays for 15 seconds. The stage is still empty until Mrs. Mendoza comes in,
dress in leggings and off shoulder dress, high heels and a crazy haircut. She carries a big bag full of make
ups and stuffs.

MRS. M (Shouting by window) Aling Ising, Aling Ising, maawa naman kayo sa mga kapitbahay
ninyo! Nagmula sa alas sinco ng umaga hanggang hatinggabi wala na kayong tinugotg
kung hindi iyang demonyong plakang iyan! Maski naman gaano kaganda niyang
damuhong Hot N’ Cold na iyan ay pinagsasawaan din… Aling Ising! Huuuy! Aba, mga
bingi yata ito a… Tama na iyang Hot N’ Cold na iyan… kung hindi babasagin ko sa mga
mukha ninyo iyan. Mariosep! (Stops music)
(A knock is heard) (As she walks toward the door) Visitors. Always visitors, nothing but
visitors all day long. Naku, I’m beginning to feel like a society mah-tron.
(She opens door. Tony steps in, carrying a bouqet. Tony is 26, dressed to kill, and is
suave type. Right now, however, he is feeling a trifle nervous. He starts slightly on seeing
Mrs. Mendoza.)
MRS. M Tony! I thought you were in the province.
TONY (Staring) But is that you, Aling Atang?
MRS. M (Laughing) Of course, it’s I , foolish boy. Who did you think it was... Carmen Rosales?
TONY You... you don’t look like Aling Atang.
MRS. M (Shyly touching her hair) I had my haircut. Do I look so horrible?
TONY Oh, no,no... you look just wonderful, aling atang. For a moment I thought you were your
own daughter. I thought you were Kikay.
MRS. M (Playfully slapping his cheek) Oh, you are so palikero as ever, tony. But come in, come.
(She moves toward furniture and Tony follows.) Here, have a seat. How is your mother?
TONY (As he sits down, still holding bouqet) Oh, poor mother is terribly homesick for Tondo,
Aling Atang. She wants to come back here at once.
MRS. M (Standing beside his chair, putting an apron) How long have you been away?
TONY Only Three months.
MRS. M Only three months? Three months is too long for Tondenia to be away from Tondo. Aie,
my poor kumare, how bored she must be out there!
TONY Well, Aling Atang, you know how it is for us engineers. We must go where our job calls
us. But as soon as I have finished with that bridge in Bulacan, mother and I are going
back to Tondo.
MRS. M Yes, you must bring her back as soon as possible. We miss her whenever we play
panguinge.
TONY (Laughing) That is what she misses of all.
MRS. M Now I understand what she feels! Your mother can never, neve rbecome a provinciana,
Tony. Once a Tondenia, always a Tondenia, I always say. (She pauses, struck by thought)
But I wonder if that’s true after all. Look at my Kikay ; she was there in America for a
whole year, and she says that she never felt homesick at all!
TONY (Becoming to look nervous again) When... when did Kikay arrive, Aling Atang?
MRS. M Last Monday.
TONY I didn’t know she had come until I read about it in the newspapers.
MRS. M (Plaintively) That girl only arrived last Monday and look what has happened to me!
When she first saw me, she was furious. She said that I needed a complete overhauling.
She dragged me off to the beauty parlor, and look what she has done to me! My hair was
cut, eyebrows shaved, nails manicured. And when I’m going to the market, I used
lipstick! All my kumare are laughing. People think I’m a...a...what you call that again? ...
loose woman. And at my age too! But what can I do. You know how impossible it is to
argue with Kikay. And she says that I must learn how to look and act like an Americana
because I have a daughter who has been to America. Dios mio, do I look like an
American?
TONY (Too worried to pay much attention) You look just wonderful Aling Atang. And... and
where is she now?
MRS. M (Who’s rather engrossed in her troubles too) Who?
TONY Kikay? Is she at home?
MRS. M Of course, she is at home! She’s still sleeping.
TONY (Glancing at his watch) Still sleeping!
MRS. M She says that in New York people do not wake up before Twelve o’clock noon.
TONY (Glancing at his watch once more) It’s only Ten O’clock now!
MRS. M Besides, she has been very, very busy. Uy, the life of that giurl since she came home!
Welcome parties here and welcome parties there, and visitors all day long! That girl has
been spinning around like top!
TONY (Rising disconsolately) Well, will you just tell her I called... to welcome her home. Oh,
and will you please give her these flowers?
MRS. M (Taking flowers) But surely, you’re not going yet, Tony?
TONY I want to see Kikay, Aling Atang, but if she doesn’t get up until twelve noon...
MRS. M (Firmly) She’s going to get up right now and see you, Tony. Why, you and she grew up
together! Sit right down again, Tony... I will go and wake her up.
TONY Oh, please don’t bother, Aling Atang. I can come back some other time.
MRS. M (Moving Away) You wait right there, Tony. She’ll be simply delighted to see her old
childhood friend. And she’ll want to thank you in person for these flowers. How beautiful
they are Tony... How expensive they must be!
TONY (Sitting down again) Oh, they’re nothing at all, Aling Atang.
MRS. M (Pausing already at center doorway) Oh, Tony...
TONY Yes, Aling Atang?
MRS. M You must not call me “Aling Atang”
TONY Why not?
MRS. M Kikay doesn’t like it. She says I must tell people to call me Mrs. Mendoza. She says it is
more civilized form of address. So... especially in front of Kikay... you must call me,
Mrs. Mendoza.
TONY Yes, Aling...I mean, yes, Mrs. Mendoza.
MRS. M (Turning to go) Well, wait just a minute and I’ll call Kikay.
TONY (To himself as he sits down) Hah!
MRS. M (Turning again) Oh and Tony...
TONY (Jumping up again) Yes, Aling... I mean, yes, Mrs. Mendoza?
MRS. M You must not call Kikay “Kikay”
TONY (Blankly) And what shall I call her?
MRS. M You must call her Francesca.
TONY Francisca?
MRS. M Not Francisca... Fran-Ces-Ca.
TONY But why Francesca?
MRS. M She says that in New York , she says that’s the way they pronounce he name, it sounds
like “chi-chi” so Italian, be sure to call her Francesca and not Kikay. Oh, how she hates
that name!

TONY (Limply sitting down again) Yes, Mrs. Mendoza

MRS. M (Turning to go again) Now, wait right here while I call Francesca…. (Someone’s
knocking at the door. She turns around again.) AIE DIOSMIO!!!
TONY (Jumping up once again)Never mind Mrs. Mendoza, I’ll answer it. (He goes to open the
door.)
MRS. M (as she exits) Just tell them to wait, Tony.
Tony opens door and Totoy steps in. Totoy is the same age as Tony. Both boys do their
secret handshake.)
TOTOY (Arms extending to hug Tony) Tony!
TONY Totoy! (Then they pund each other in the bellies)
TOTOY You old son of your father!
TONY You big carabao!
TOTOY Mayroon ba tayo dyan?
TONY You ask me that… and you look like a walking goldmine! How many depots have you
been looting, huh!!??
TOTOY Hey hey!! More slowly there.. It is you the police are looking for.
TONY Impossible! I’m a reformed character!
TOTOY (As, arms around each other’s shoulders, they march across the room.) Make way for the
Tondo boys... Bang! Bang!
TONY (Pushing Totoy away and producing a package of cigarettes) Good to see you old pal..
Here, have a smoke.
TOTOY I thought you were in Bulacan, partner.
TONY I am. I just came to say hello to Kikay.
TOTOY Tony. I’ve been hearing the most frightful things about that girl.
TONY (Sinking into chair) So have I.
TOTOY (Sitting down, too) People say she has gone crazy.
TONY No, she has only gone New York .
TOTOY What was she doing in New York anyway?
TONY Oh, studying.
TOTOY Studying what?
TONY Hair culture and Beauty Science. She got a diploma.
TOTOY Imagine that! Our dear old Kikay!
TONY Pardon me, she's not Kikay anymore,.. She's Fran-CeS-ca..
TOTOY Fran-CeS-ca??
TONY Miss Tondo has become Miss New York. Our dear Kikay is now an American.
TOTOY Don’t make me laugh! Why I knew that girl when she’s still selling rice cakes.. (Stands
up and Imitates a girl Puto Vendor) Puto kayo dyan!! Bili na kayo ng puto mga suki!!
TONY (Laughing) Remember when we pushed her into the canal.
TOTOY She chased us around the streets.
TONY She was dripping with mud!
TOTOY Naku! How that girl could fight!
TONY (Fondly) Dear Old Kikay!
(Knocking at door.) Totoy goes to open it. Enters Nena. Nena is a pretty young lady of
24)

NENA Why, it’s Totoy!

TOTOY Nena, my own.
NENA (Brushing him aside as she walks into the room) And Tony, too.. What’s all this? A
Canto Boy Reunion ?
TONY (following behind her) We have come to greet the Lady from New York .
NENA So have I. Is she at home?
TONY Aling Atang is trying to wake her up.
NENA To wake her up?! Is she still sleeping??
MRS. M (Appearing) No, she’s awake already. She's dressing. Good morning Nena and Totoy.
(Totoy and Nena are staring speechless. Mrs. Mendoza is carrying a vase in which she
has arranged Tony’s flowers. She self-conciously walks into room and sets the vase on
the table amidst a silence broken only by Totoy’s helpless whistle)
MRS. M (Having set vase at the table) Well, Totoy? Nena? Why are you staring me like that?
NENA Is that you Aling Atang?
TOTOY Naka! It is Aling Atang! (He collapses into chair)
TONY To inform you, she now prefers to be called Mrs. Mendoza.
MRS.M Oh, Tony! It is not I but Kikay who prefers it. She was delighted with these flowers.
Nena, If you don’t stop gazing at me like that I will pinch you hard!
NENA When we were children you always used to do that to us...

MRS. M And I can do it yet, aba, kasi... you were always naughty when you were children, all of
you... especially this one... (indicating totoy)... this botarete ... (totoy laughs)... Always
going into our backyard to steal our mangoes.
TOTOY Is that Mango tree still there, aling Atang?
MRS. M Natural!
TOTOY Come on Nena, Let’s steal some Mangoes...
MRS. M Oy, oy no stealing of mangoes! Besides, if you do, I’ll chase you like I used to do... and
I’ll take your pants off...
TOTOY Aba, I’m big now, baka magulat po kayo... and besides, I wear suspenders..hehe...
MRS. M Oy, oy halika nga. You come with me to the kitchen.
TOTOY To take my pants off?
MRS. M Talagang salbahe ito, ah! I want you to help me prepare something.
NENA Oh never mind, Aling Atang, don’t prepare anything for us.
MRS. M Oh, It is Just some orange juice. You see, Kikay ... I mean Fran-Ces-ca, always tell me
that in New York they don’t eat breakfast they just drink Orange juice so... come on,
Totoy.
TOTOY Arya, Kumara!
NENA (Exits Mrs. Mendoza and Totoy ; Tony and Nena are silent for a moment.) Well, Tony?
TONY You shouldn’t have come today, Nena
NENA Oh, why not?
TONY I haven’t talked with Kikay Yet.
NENA You haven’t talked with Kikay Yet? But I thought you were coming here to tell her
everything last night!
TONY I lost my nerve, I didn’t come last night.
NENA Oh tony, Tony!
TONY (Irritated, Imitating her tone) Oh, Tony, tony ... use your head, Nena. Whoever heard of a
man breaking off his engagement just like that! It’s not easy!
NENA Are you inlove with Kikay or with me?
TONY Of course I’m in love with you. I’m engaged to you.
NENA Yes, and you’re engaged to Kikay too.
TONY But that was a year ago.
NENA Oh, you wolf!
TONY Nena, Nena you know I love only you!
NENA How could you have the nerve to propose to me when you were still engaged to
Kikay!
TONY I wish I had never told you that. This is what I get for being honest.
NENA Honest! You call yourself honest! Getting me to fall in love with you when you still
belonged to Kikay!
TONY I... I thought I didn’t belong to her anymore. It was only a secret engagement anyway.
NENA Secret!
TONY I proposed to her just before she left for America...
NENA O...?
TONY And she said we must keep our engagement a secret until she come back. But when she
had been there a couple of months she stopped answering my letters...
NENA Good...!
TONY So I considered my self a freeman again.
NENA That’s why you proposed to me?
TONY No!... I mean... Yes.
NENA And then asked me to keep our engagement a secret also!
TONY Because right afterwards, I found out that Kikay was coming back.
NENA Well, I’m tired of being secretly engaged to you; what fun is it being engaged if you
cannot ... kuan ... tell everybody.
TONY Just give me a chance to talk to Kikay and explain everything to her. Then you and I will
announce our engagement.
NENA Well, you’d better hurry. I’m getting impatient.
TONY The trouble is, how can I talk to Kikay now?
NENA Why not?
TONY Well, you are here... and Totoy is here. You don’t expect me to talk about it infront of
everybody, do you?
NENA You want me and Totoy to leave?
TONY No, just give me a chance to be alone with Kikay for a moment.
NENA Okay, I’ll take care of Totoy.
TONY That’s good.
NENA You just leave it to me. But settle this now and forever ha? (Totoy enters with glasses on
a tray)
TOTOY Puto kayo diyan... Bili na kayo ng puto...
(Mrs. Mendoza enters)
MRS. M Drink you orange juice and I’ll see if Kikay is ready. Listen, everybody... here comes
Kikay... But remember she prefers to be called Fran-Ces-ca!
(Kikay Appears, garved in a trailing gown trimmed with fur at the neck and hemline.
From one hand she dangles a large silk handkerchief which she keeps waving about as
she walks and talks. In the other hand she carries a cigarette. Kikay’s manner and
appearance are... to use a hollywood expression – “Chi-chi like mad.”)
KIKAY (Having paused a long moment in the doorway, hands uplifted in surprise and delight.)
Oh, hello, hello... you darling, darling people!
(She glides into the room. Everybody is too astonished to move.) Nena, My dear, but how
cute you’ve become! (Kisses Nena) And Tony, dear boy, how are you... (gives her hand
to Tony) And Totoy, why you look like a Tondo superproduction Totoy, how does one
say in Tagalog—In Technicolor! Halika dito. But sit down everybody... Do sit down and
let me look at you!
Oh, Mumsy, Mumsy!
MRS. M Oy, what’s the matter now?
KIKAY But how many times must I tell you, Mumsy dearest, never, never to serve fruit juice in
water glasses!
MRS. M Tsk, tsk, never mind. Water glasses or beverage glasses all the same, pareho!
KIKAY Oh my poor li’l mumsy... She is so clumsy, no? But never mind, Dearest, don’t break
your heart about it. Here, sit down.
MRS. M No, It’s time to go to market, aba!
KIKAY Oh really mumsy, don’t forget my celery. (to visitors) I can’t live without celery!
MRS. M Well, if you people excuse me... Tony, remember me to your mother, hane, and let me
know the pozo negro you are building in Pampanga is finished.
TONY Bridge, Aling Atang, In Bulacan.
MRS. M Ay, bredge nga naman! Oo, in Bulacan.
KIKAY And remember, Mumsy, oy... a little bloom on the lips, a little bloom on the cheeks.
MRS. M What, Kikay?
KIKAY Again Mumsy?
MRS. M Eh, Fran-Ces-Ca do I have to paint myself again?
KIKAY (Laughing) But how dreadfully she puts it! Oh, Mumsy, Mumsy ... What am I going to do
with you?
MRS. M (As she exits) I don’t know to you! You are the one... (Exit)
KIKAY (Still laughing) Poor Mumsy, she’s quite a problem (Waving her cigarette) Oh, does
anybody have a light?
TOTOY Here, I’ve got a lighter.
KIKAY Merci, Totoy.
TOTOY Ha?
KIKAY I said Merci. That means Thank you... in French.
TOTOY Merci.
NENA Oh, Tell us about New York, Kikay.
KIKAY (fervently) Ah New York, New York.
TONY How long did you stay there?
KIKAY (In a trance) 10 months, 4 days, 7 hours and 21 minutes!
TOTOY Bilang na bilang, ano?
KIKAY (With emotion checking her voice) Yes, I feel as if I were still there, as though I had
never left it, as though I had lived there all my life. But I look around me... ( looks at
guest )... and I realize that no, I’m not there... I’m not in New York ... I’m right here in
Tondo...
TOTOY Anong Tan-Doe?
NENA Tondo, buang!
KIKAY I’m home, they tell me. But this cannot be home, because my heart aches with
homesickness. I feel like an exile. My spirit aches for its true home across the sea. Ah,
New York, New York. My own dear New York. Listen! It’s springtime there now. Oh,
we have a funny custom. When spring comes around each year, we new Yorkers, we
make a sort of pilgrimage to an old tree growing down the Battery. Oh! We New Yorkers
call it “Our Tree” – In a way, that tree is our own symbol for New York.
(She is silent for a moment. Her visitors glance uneasily at each other. Kikay laughs and
makes an apologetic gesture.) But please forgive me! Here I am going sentimental and
just mooning away over things you have no idea about. No, you can’t understand this
emotion I feel for our own dear New York...
NENA Oh, but I do understand perfectly. I feel that way too, about our tree.
KIKAY (Blankly) What tree?
NENA Our mango tree, Kikay. Have you forgotten about it? Why you and I used to go climbing
up there everyday and gorging ourselves on green mangoes. How our stomachs ached
afterwards. And then these bad boys would come and start shaking the branches until we
fell down. (laughs)
TOTOY (laughing) Aling Atang once caught me climbing that tree and she grabbed my pants...
and off they came!
TONY (Laughing) I was up there in that tree at that time and I laughed so hard I fell down!
NENA (laughing) Yes, and Aling Atang chased you all around the yard with her broom, and
when she caught you... bang! She got you on the head with the broom and how you
screamed!
TOTOY But me, I could not come down the tree at all because I did not have my pants on! (laugh)
NENA And Kikay and Me ... we were rolling on the ground, simply hysterical with laughter.
And Totoy, you kept shouting: “Ang salawal ko! Ang salawal ko!”
(They are all shaking with laughter except Kikay who is staring blankly at all this.)
KIKAY But wait a minute, wait a minute... what is this tree you’re talking about?
NENA Our mango tree, Kikay. The mango tree there in the backyard
KIKAY (flatly) Oh, that tree.
TONY What’s the matter Kikay, don’t you feel the same emotion for that tree as you do for the
one in New York?
KIKAY (Tartly) Of Course Not!
TONY Why not?
KIKAY They... they’re completely different! I don’t feel any emotion for this silly old mango
tree... It doesn’t awaken any emotion for me at all!
NENA Well, it does for me. And such happy, happy memories. I really must run out to the
backyard to say hello to it. (Immitating Kikay’s tone and manner) You know, Kikay, over
here in Tondo, we have a funny custom. We make a sort of pilgrimage to a silly old
 mango tree growing in the backyard. And for us, here in Tondo, that tree is our tree. In a
way, It is a symbol...
KIKAY Don’t be silly, Nena.
TOTOY Anong sili?
KIKAY (In amused despair) Oh, you people can’t understand at all.
TONY Probably, we’ve never been to New York.
KIKAY (Earnestly) Exactly! Our tree in New York, doesn’t stand for Kidstuff and childhood
foolishness! It stands for a vivacious, more streamlined, a more daring way of life! In
short, it stand for higher and finer things! Oh, how I miss the Manhattan skyline, the
Coney Island in summer. The Madison Square Garden, the Bronx Zoo, The fifth avenue
and for all the darling dens in Greenwich village. Oh, its impossible for you to see.
TONY I still prefer a tree that grows in Tondo.
TOTOY And I second the motion.
NENA So do I.
KIKAY (Tolerantly) Oh you funny, funny children.
NENA (Kikay Manner) Well, I really must go and say hello to our tree. You don’t mind Kikay,
do you?
KIKAY Of course not, child. Do go.
NENA Totoy, will you come with me?
TOTOY To the ends of the earth!
NENA (Kikay manner) No, darling ... just to our sear little backyard.
TOTOY (Acting up too) Oh, the backyards of Tondo, the barung-barong of Maypaho, the street of
Sibukong ... !
NENA Listen, idiot, are you coming with me or not?
TOTOY Anywhere, dream girl!
(Exit Nena and Totoy)
KIKAY Well! Apparently, our Totoy still has a... terrific crush on Nena. (pause) Do wake up
Tony... what are you looking so miserable about?
TONY (Gathering courage) Kikay ... I don’t know how to begin...
KIKAY Just call me Fran-Ces-Ca... that’s good beginning.
TONY There is something I must tell you… something very important.
KIKAY Oh, Tony, can’t we just forget all about it?
TONY Forget??
KIKAY That’s the New York way, Tony. Forget, nothing must ever too serious; nothing must
drag on too long. Tonight, give all your heart, tomorrow, forget. And when you meet
again, smile, shake hands… just good sports..
TONY What are you talking about?
KIKAY Tony, I was only a child at that time.
TONY When?
KIKAY When you and I got engaged. I’ve changed so much since then, Tony.
TONY That was only a year ago.
KIKAY To me, it seems a century. So much had happened to me. More can happen to you in just
one year in New York .
TONY Listen, I don’t want to talk about New York … I want to talk about our engagement.
KIKAY And that’s what we cannot do Tony. Not anymore.
TONY Why not?
KIKAY Tony, you got engaged to a girl named Kikay. Well, that girl doesn’t exist anymore. She's
dead. The person you see before you is Francesca. Don’t you see, Tony, I’m a stranger to
you. I hate to hurt you, but surely you see that there can be no more talk of an
engagement between us. And as for marriage...(laughs) .... It would be a stark
miscegenation. Imagine, a New Yorker, marrying a Tondo Boy!!! It's so insane!!
TONY (Blazing) Now wait a minute...
KIKAY (Very Tolerantly) I’m sorry if I’ve hurt you Tony. But I wanted you to realize how
ridiculous it could be to think that I could still be engaged to you.
TONY I’m not going to stand here and be insulted!
KIKAY Hush, tony, Hush! Don’t shout! Don’t lose your temper... it’s so uncivilized. People in
New York don’t lose their temper. Not people of the Haute made anyway.
TONY What do you want me to do... smile and say thank you for insulting me?
KIKAY Yes, Tony, Be a Sport! Let’s smile and shake hands and just be friends. Be brave Tony...
forget, the New york Way. Find another girl... any girl you’ll find find... someone more
proper for you. More like a loser.
TONY If you weren’t a woman I’d...I’d...!
(Totoy and nena Appear)
TOTOY Hold it, tony... You must never, never hit a woman!
NENA What’s all this? Ano ba to?
KIKAY Nothing, nothing at all.
TOTOY What were you two quarelling about?
KIKAY We were not quarelling. Tony and I just decided to be good friends and nothing more.
NENA Tony, is this true?
TONY (shouting) Yes!
NENA Oh good! Now we can tell them.
KIKAY Tell us what?
TOTOY What’s going on here anyway?
NENA Tony and I are engaged.
KIKAY AND Engaged?
TOTOY
NENA Yes, we’ve been secretly engaged for a month.
KIKAY A month! (fiercely to Tony) why you... you!
TONY I did try to tell you Kikay... I was trying to tell you...
KIKAY You... You... you double-crosses! Two timer loser!
NENA Aba, careful there... your speaking to my fiance...
KIKAY He’s not your fiance!
NENA Oh, no?... why not?
KIKAY Because he was still engaged to me when he got engaged to you!

NENA Well, he's not engaged to you anymore, you just said it yourself.
KIKAY Ah, but I didn’t know about all this..
TONY Now remember, Kikay… it's so uncivilized to lose one’s temper, People in New York
don’t lose their temper.
KIKAY I’ve never felt so humiliated in all my life!! You beast, I’ll teach you!!
NENA I told you to leave him alone! He’s my fiance!
KIKAY And I tell you he's not!! He's engaged to me until I release him… and I haven’t release
him yet.
NENA You ought to be ashamed of yourself... laos ka na!
KIKAY You ought to be ashamed of yourself... you’re... you... you steal my boyfriend!
NENA What? What did you say!!??
TONY Totoy, pull them apart!
KIKAY (to Totoy) You keep out of this or I’ll knock your head off!
TOTOY Naku lumabas din ang pagka Tondo!
NENA Walanghiya ka. Kapal mukha!
KIKAY Walanghiya pala!
NENA Oh, you will ha? (pause) Here, take that! (slap)
KIKAY (Screams and faints)
TONY (furious) How dare you hit her!
NENA And why not? She hit me first!
TONY Look what you’ve done to her!
NENA Are you trying to defend her? You never defended me!
TONY Shut up!
NENA Oh, I hate you, I hate you!! (sobs)
TONY Shut up! Kung hindi ay babasagin ko yang mukha mo!
TOTOY Pare, don’t talk to Nena that way.
TONY You keep out of this!
NENA He’s more of a gentleman than you are, he defends me!
TOTOY (To tony) Take your hands off her!
TONY I told you to keep out of this!
TOTOY (spanks Tony on the face sends Tony sprawling. Meanwhile, Kikay woke up.)
NENA Oh, Totoy, you hit him for me. You saved my life. You’re my hero!
KIKAY Totoy, how dare you hit him! (rushed to Tony) Tony... Tony.. Open your eyes! (Tony
opens mouth) No, no, no, not your mouth, your eyes!
TONY Where am I?
NENA Totoy, take me away from here.
TOTOY Are you still engaged to him?
NENA I hate him! I never want to see him again in my life!
TOTOY Good! Come on, let’s go!
TONY Hey!
NENA Don’t you speak to me, you salawahan!
TONY I wasn’t talking to you!
TOTOY Don’t speak to me either. You have insulted the woman I love.
NENA Oh, Totoy... why... you never tell me.
TOTOY (shyly) Well... now you know how, and I’m telling you. Ano, pwede ba tayo?
NENA Basta ikaw Totoy, Vibs lang tayo.
TONY Congratulations!
NENA AND Tse!
TOTOY
(Exit Nena and Totoy)
TONY (to Kikay) Now, what you need is a good spanking.
KIKAY Don’t you come near to me, you... you canto boy!
TONY Don’t worry, I wouldn’t touch you with a 10 foot pole.
KIKAY And I wouldn’t touch you with a 20 foot pole.
TONY Just one year in New York and you forget all your friends.
KIKAY Just one year that I’m in New York … and what did you do? But when we got engaged,
you swore to be true, you promised to wait for me. And I believe you!! (cry) Oh, you’re a
fickle, fickle..
TONY What are you crying about? Be brave... forget... that’s the New York way.
KIKAY Oh, Tony, Please... please! Salawahan! Taksil! Mandedenggoy ka!
TONY Besides, we don’t speak the same language. Marriage between would be a stark misce...
misce...
KIKAY Miscegenation.
TONY Iyan na nga, imagine a New Yorker, marrying a Tondo boy!
KIKAY Oh, Tony, I’ve been such a fool. I’m so sorry Tony.
TONY Well, I’m not. I’m glad to found out what kind of person you are!
KIKAY Oh, Tony you’re wrong...wrong...! I’m not that kind of person at all.
TONY Oh, person is just a relative term, huh?
KIKAY Yes, Tony... that francesca saying all those silly things. But Francesca exists no more.
Tony, no more. The girl standing before you is kikay.
TONY In that silly dress?
KIKAY Oh, this? this is just a gift-wrapping. But deep down inside me I’m just a Tondo girl
inlove with a Tondo boy.
TONY Oh...?
KIKAY It’s true Tony. I’m kikay... remember me? I’ve come back.
TONY If, I remember, I was engaged to girl named Kikay.
KIKAY And yes, you’re still engaged to her, Tony.
TONY Welcome home, darling.
(Offstage, Mrs. Mendoza is heard calling “Francesca, Francesca” Tony and Kikay then
burst into laughter.)
MRS. M (Enter) Francesca... Oh Tony, you’re still here pala.
TONY Opo Aling Atang
MRS. M Francesca, I’m sorry I couldn’t find the celery you wanted.
KIKAY Oh, never mind Inay. Just give me the Old good Kangkong and some talbos ng Kamote
and I’ll be happy.
MRS. M But you said you can’t live without celery, hija?
TONY That was Francesca, Aling atang. Now, we’ve changed the program. The girl infront of
you is not Francesca.
MRS. M Eh Who? Eh who?
TONY It is Kikay.
MRS. M But Kikay is Francesca. (Looks at her)
KIKAY I’m not Francesca, Inay, I’m Kikay.
MRS. M Ay salamat. Eh di I can play pangguigue again... and I can call you Kikay once more.
KIKAY Yes, Inay.
MRS. M No more, United Stitch ?
KIKAY No more, Inay.
MRS. M (Goes to Francesca) And I can take off this girdle alreidi?
KIKAY Yes, Of course (laughs).
MRS. M Ayos! So you can ask your mother Tony to come right away to Tondo as soon as you
finish the cemetery you are building in Batangas.
KIKAY What cemetery Inay?
MRS. M The one that Tony is building in Zamboanga.
TONY It’s not a cemetery Aling Atang. It’s a bridge.
MRS. M In Bulacan, oh kita mo yan. And it has no name yet, ano Tony. Why don’t you call it
Francesca? Just for old time sake. (exit laughing) Francesca!
KIKAY Ang inay naman!
Music: Let the Love Begin
KIKAY That music, Tony. I remember the first nightclub I went to in New York... they were
playing that peace and I dreamed...
TONY Kikay, pag sinabi mong New york, babatukan kita...
KIKAY I dreamt of you. I dreamed we were dancing on and on... And I told you, I love you.
TONY Sweetheart, I love you too.
Music: Let The Love Begin Fades and Hot N’ Cold was played so loud
MRS. M (Enters Angry and Bursting) Aling Isiiiing! Talaga bang pinepeste niyo ako at niyang Hot
N’ Cold na ‘yan! Tugtugin niyo ulit yan at babasagin ko ang plaka niyo! Ang ingay niyo
talaga! Katandang tao iyan ang pinakikinggan! (Tony and Kikay Laughing)
VOICE Kayo ang tumigil diyan! Basagin niyo plato namin at babasagin ko mukha ninyo!