VOICE TAPE - GROUP 1 SCRIPT

CHARACTERS:
Peter Rosales as DANTE
Ronnie Bucag as ANGKEL ATO
Angela Geneta as NANANG and PRINCESS
Monica Visda as MAGDALENA
Gene Guevarra as TATANG and BUS CONDUCTOR
Anthony Ang as ANGKEL MULONG and DELIVERY MAN
Juan Miguel Cheng as BOYING and RANDOM PERSON

[scene 1]

BUS CONDUCTOR: Oh nandito na tayo sa bayan ng Santa Teresita may

bababa ba, may bababa ba?

SFX: bus stopping, bus opening then closing, then footsteps, then
knocking on door, door opening

NANANG: Anak nandito ka na! Pasok ka na pasok ka na!

SFX: footsteps, then closing door

DANTE: Nang mano po. Nanang, alam mo po ba kung saan nakatago

yung mga certificates ko nung elementary ako? Gagamitin ko po
sana para ma-promote sa aking trabaho.
NANANG: Ay, nandyan ata sa aparador ko nilagay. Teka, tulungan
kita hanapin natin.

SFX: Nanang and Dante rummaging through the cabinet

DANTE: Huh? Ano ito? For my one and only lab, Ato?
NANANG: Oh ano anak nahanap mo na ba?
DANTE: Ito po yung nahanap ko, ano po ito Nanang?...

[scene 2]

SFX: cinematic background music, fade in to dialogue

DANTE [NARRATION]: It was a sunny Monday morning, as I took a

glance at the watch, I saw that I was running late but I did not
mind that much. So I decided to stay under the tree across from
my school, then suddenly……

SFX: crashing sounds

RANDOM PERSON: May nabangga! May nabangga!

DANTE [NARRATION]: After hearing that, my mind went blank. My

heart dropped to my stomach as I wondered who could’ve been hit
in this accident. Without thinking of anything else, I rushed
back home to my Nanang to deliver the news.

DANTE: Nanang! Nanang! May nabangga may nabangga! Parang… parang

si….

SFX: intense background music, heart beating sounds, running

sounds

NANANG: Ato? Ato! Kapatid ko! Ato gumising ka! Jusko po, Ato!

[scene 3]

SFX: cinematic background music

DANTE [NARRATION]: The days after that incident felt like a blur.
The atmosphere felt heavy as everyone was all carrying the sorrow
of the loss of our Angkel Ato. The mood was especially depressing
in the house of Angkel Ato where his funeral was held.

SFX: indistinct chatter

ANGKEL MULONG: Mamaya niyo na nga atupagin ‘yang mga baraha na

‘yan. Respeto naman sa namayapa kong kapatid.
NANANG: Ato! Bakit ka naman pumanaw nang hindi nagpapaalam. Sino
na ngayon mag-aalaga sa iyong mga anak? Ang asawa mo naman hindi
maka-uwi mula sa Abu Dhabi.
TATANG: Heto, tubig. Huminahon ka muna.

DANTE [NARRATION]: I was on the verge of tears. I felt like any

second from now, the rice and daing na bangus I had for lunch
will come out from my stomach. So I approached Angkel Mulong and
asked him for money to buy softdrinks. Angkel Mulong was very
generous when it comes to giving money, unlike Angkel Ato. From
what I recall, he’s usually the one who asks me for favors.

[scene 4]

ANGKEL ATO: Dante, tulungan mo ko, gumawa tayo ng sulat para sa

Tiya mo.
DANTE: Ah, sige po.

ANGKEL ATO [READING THE LETTER]:

Dear Mahal, Kumusta ka na diyan? Hindi ka ba nahilo noong sumakay
ka ng bus, saka sa eroplano? Ano, kumusta ang amo mo? Sira ulo
ba? ’Wag siyang loloko-loko kung ayaw niya ng gulo. Kumusta naman
ang pagkain mo? Siya, kung di mo kaya ang hirap diyan, umuwi ka
na’t magkasama tayong magtitiyagang makaahon. Alagaan mong mabuti
ang sarili mo. ‘Wag mong alalahanin ang mga bata dahil ang
tatlong lalaki, kaya na nilang magsaing, magpastol at mag-ayos ng
bahay. Panay ang hiling nina inang (ang biyenan niyang babae) na
doon muna sa kanila titira si Princess. Pero di ba’t napag-usapan
na natin ’yan noon? Na ako ang magiging ama’t ina nila? Dahil si
Princess nga naman ang pumapawi sa pangungulila ko sa ’yo. Sa
bawat araw na lumipas, lalo kitang nakikita sa kanyang mukha at
kilos…
…’Wag mo munang alalahanin ang pagpapadala mo dahil sabi naman ng
ate na banggitin ko lang sa kanila kung may kailangan kami.
Itong mahal mo na laging nangungulila sa iyo, Ato
P.S. Si Dante ang pinagsulat ko para mas maliwanag mong mabasa.

DANTE [NARRATION]: I was the one who wrote the last part, in
hopes that Tiya will give me some souvenirs when she comes back.
We wrote about three letters in total. They were short, and
Angkel’s voice were sharp and loud. Which reminded me of that
time when he told Nanang about his carabao being stolen. He was
really mad about it.

[scene 5]

SFX: voice tape clicking transition sound

ANGKEL ATO: *shouting* Makakapatay ako!

DANTE [NARRATION]: He later on went to Ilocos to visit our

relatives there and he came back home shortly but something was
off. Why did he told us to shut our windows and doors during the
middle of the afternoon?
SFX: Angkel Ato rummaging through the things

ANGKEL ATO: Asaan yung baril ko!?... Ah eto.

NANANG: Jusko naman Ato! Isipin mo naman ang pamilya mo parang
awa mo na.

DANTE [NARRATION]: Good thing we never heard any bad news after
that incident. But in fact, before that happened, Angkel Ato had
an encounter with the CHDF member right in the middle of the
narrow alley. We never knew what happened but the CHDF member was
reported dead.

[scene 6]

SFX: voice tape clicking transition sound cinematic background

music

ANGKEL ATO: (calm) Ate, may sasabihin ako… Napagdesisyonan na

namin ni Magdalena na magpakasal na.

[SFX fades]

NANANG: Ano? Pag-isipan ninyo ng mabuti ‘yan. Diseotso ka pa

lamang. May napagsimulan na ba kayo?
ANGKEL ATO: Langgam nga, kaya pang mabuhay.

DANTE [NARRATION]: The wedding did proceed. It was decent, there

were loud music, lots of gifts, and the barangay captains were
there. They really had fun. Aften then, they decided to build
their own house.
NANANG: Oh anak, maghagis ka ng barya riyan sa hukay na
pagtatayuan ng bahay.
DANTE: Eh? Bakit naman po nang?
NANANG: Ginagawa iyon upang maging maginhawa ang buhay nila.

DANTE [NARRATION]: Their house was done but life was still hard
for them that is why his wife, Tiya Magdalena decided to fly to
Abu Dhabi and help them ease their situation.

[scene 7]

SFX : voice tape clicking transition sound, indistinct chatters

during the funeral

DANTE [NARRATING]: During the funeral, the elderly women forbade

us to sweep the floors, they said that if we did, our heads would
be pestered with lice. I did not believe them, and I couldn’t
take the disgust of the dirt under the table, so I secretly swept
the kitchen. After a few days, my head began feeling itchy so I
kept scratching it.

NANANG: Huwag kang kamot ng kamot ng ulo mo, masama. Ay nako,

halika nga suyuran kita.

SFX: combing hair sounds

NANANG: Iyan! Ang tigas kasi ng ulo ng batang ito. Sa susunod

makikinig ka sa akin ha.

[scene 8]
SFX : voice tape clicking transition sounds cinematic background
music

DANTE [NARRATING]: I never felt the presence of those so-called

ghosts until Angkel Ato’s death. I was packing my clothes then
suddenly our pet dog barked, weirdly in the direction where
Angkel Ato used to sit when he wrote letters. Nobody was there.
Nanang also said that she smelled candles during Angkel Ato’s
death anniversary.

[SFX fades]

NANANG: Anak halika, dalhin mo itong mga voice tapes ng iyong

Angkel sa sementeryo.
DANTE: Sige ho, nang.

DANTE [NARRATING]: I was out of my mind that time, it feels like

I need to find an answer. Angkel’s wife really didn’t get to come
home for her husband anymore. It made me really pissed at the
thought of going abroad. Is money really that important that you
can’t even come back to see your husband for one last time?

[scene 9]

SFX: Bumping and struggling sounds

DANTE [NARRATING]: When it was time to bury Angkel Ato’s body,

they struggled to fit the coffin through the window.

RANDOM PERSON: Mukhang hinihintay pa ang asawa, ayaw magpalabas.

ANGKEL MULONG: Pugutan na kasi ang manok! Para wala nang sumunod.
DANTE [NARRATING]: There was no choice left but to cut the
window. Right after the mass ended, they talked to Fr. Ed who
said that his concern is Angkel Ato’s kids. He wishes for them to
not be separated from each other especially during this trying
times. And so, my cousins stayed at Angkel’s mother-in-law’s
place.

[scene 10]

SFX: voice tape clicking transition sounds

NANANG: Ano ba naman ito. Nakakailang balik nako sa husgado.

Kailan ba mabibigyan ng hustisya ang kapatid ko.

DANTE [NARRATION]: But everything changed as soon as I heard a

one short statement…

BOYING: Uy pre, balita ko kusang nagpabangga ang tiyo mo ah.

Totoo ba ‘yon?

DANTE [NARRATION]: Words failed to escape my mouth when he said

that. How would I respond? Should I even respond to that or not?
The noon before the accident flashed back in my mind. Angkel was
acting weird, he was bare and his mind was flying as if he wasn’t
there.

BOYING: Uy pre, ‘nu masasabi mo? ‘Lam mo ba, ang balita, maaga
daw nakatayo duon ang tiyo mo tapos may mga nakakita sa sadya
niyang pagtalon sa harap ng bus.

DANTE [NARRATION]: I visited the location of the accident. It

then dawned upon me the realization that why was Angkel Ato
heading and crossing to the north when the path to our house is
going south? I told Nanang about what my friend said.

NANANG: Wala na ba talagang alam gawin ang mga tao kundi

magchismis, chismis, chismis!
TATANG: Huwag kang magpaapekto kung hindi ito totoo.

[scene 11]

SFX: voice tape clicking transition sound, cinematic and dramatic

sound effect

NANANG: Anak, ang voice tape. Nasa ilalim ng unan ng iyong Tiyo.
Tanging kami lamang ng iyong Tatang, Angkel Ato, at ang kaniyang
asawa ang nakaaalam ng laman nito. Alam kong may sapat ka ng pag-
iisip.

DANTE [NARRATION]: I was the fifth to know.

MAGDALENA [VOICE TAPE] : “Patawarin mo ako, Mahal. Di ko ginusto.
Papatayin ako kapag lumaban ako. Isipin mo na lang na makakamtan
na rin natin ang hinahangad mong magandang kinabukasan para sa
mga anak natin... Matatapos din ang kontrata ko…”

SFX: static noises

[scene 12]

SFX: voice tape clicking transition sounds, melancholy background

music

DANTE [NARRATION]: The following months after Angkel’s death just

got worse and worse. No, it was actual hell. It was extremely
difficult for their kids. They had to drop out of school because
not only was it hard for them to stay focused in studying, they
were also struggling financially.

PRINCESS: *crying, screaming* Papaaaa! Asan na si papa! Si

mamaaaa bakit wala pa rin? Gusto ko sila gusto ko sila asan na
silaaaaa!

DANTE [NARRATION]: And I can’t even begin to imagine how

difficult it was for Tiya Magdalena. She continued being abused
and harassed in Abu Dhabi, and it just got worse. She couldn’t
dare to speak up about it, nor could she cry out to anyone for
help.

MAGDALENA: *crying* Please stop po! Stop please, I’m hurting

please, it hurts po!

DANTE [NARRATION]: Angkel Ato couldn’t bear to let his family

suffer. He felt sick thinking this all happened because he left
them. And so, around this time, he woke up.

[scene 13]

ANGKEL ATO: *breathing deeply after waking up* Huh? Ano ‘yon? Ano
ba naman ‘yong panaginip na ‘yon! *crying* Ato, ba’t mo naman
ginawa ‘yon, bakit mo naman iniwan ang pamilya mo kung kailan ka
nila kailangang kailangan. *wiping tears* Hindi, hindi ko ‘yon
gagawin. Hinding hindi ko sila pababayaan…

SFX: knocking sounds, opening door

DELIVERY MAN: Hello po, sir Ato po? May padala po sa inyo galing
Abu Dhabi. Paki-pirma nalang po dito.

SFX: writing sounds

ANGKEL ATO: Sige, salamat

DELIVERY MAN: Salamat po.

SFX: box opening sound, voice tape clicking

MAGDALENA [VOICE TAPE] : Patawarin mo ako, Mahal. Di ko ginusto…

SFX: high pitch eerie sound

ANGKEL ATO: *crying* Totoo nga… totoo ang nangyari sa panaginip

ko. Jusko po, asawa ko *crying*

[scene 14]

SFX: cinematic background music transition

DANTE [NARRATING]: After receiving the voice tape, he went to

Nanang for help. She, too, broke into tears after hearing the
tragic news of what was happening to Tiya Magdalena abroad.

NANANG: *crying* Bakit naman nagkaganoon? Bakit naman sa ganong

amo pa siya napunta?
ANGKEL ATO: Ate, tulungan mo ko, paano natin mapapauwi si
Magdalena.
TATANG: Hindi ba’t mayroong embassy ang Pilipinas sa Abu Dhabi?
Bakit hindi tayo manghingi ng tulong sa kanila?
ANGKEL ATO: Baka namang mas lalo siyang pahirapan kapag nalaman
ng amo niyang nagsumbong siya.
TATANG: Siguro naman na may magagawa silang paraan upang ligtas
na maiuwi si Magdalena. Siguro namang may iba na din silang
natulungang mga OFW sa Abu Dhabi na nakaranas din ng pag-aabuso.
Baka sa paraang ito, mapapakulong pa natin ang mga amo niya!
NANANG: Tama siya. Subukan natin ‘yon nang makulong ang mga hayop
na nagpahirap sa kanya.
ANGKEL ATO: *deep breath* sige

DANTE [NARRATING]: And so, they did call the Philippine Embassy
of Abu Dhabi. Thankfully, through their repatriation services,
they were able to safely bring back Tiya Magdalena. We were also
able to press charges against her employers who abused and
mistreated her.

[scene 15]

SFX: airplane landing sound

MAGDALENA: *crying* Ato?

ANGKEL ATO: Magdalena!

SFX: running sounds

ANGKEL ATO: *crying* Asawa ko! Jusko po, sorry, sorry napabayaan
kita sorry naranasan mo ‘yon sorry…
MAGDALENA: Andito na ako ‘wag ka na mag-alala. Ligtas na ako.
*wiping tears* paano na tayo ngayon? Paano na tayo kikita ng
pera? Paano na ang mga anak natin?
ANGKEL ATO: Shh tahan na, ‘wag ka mag-alala. Kakayanin natin ‘yan
makakagawa tayo ng paraan. Ang mahalaga ay nandito ka at ligtas
ka.

DANTE [NARRATING]: I would be lying if I said their life started

getting easier when Tiya Magdalena came back home. No, it was
extremely hard to get by. They were struggling to earn money to
sustain their family’s needs.

MAGDALENA: Paano na ‘to? Nauubusan na tayo ng pera para sa

pagkain. Kailangan na rin ng mga bata ng pera para sa school
nila. Payagan mo na kasi ako magtrabaho para matulungan kita.
Hindi tayo mabubuhay sa kakaunting naiipon mo.
ANGKEL ATO: Nag-aalala lang ako sa’yo. Baka wala ka pa sa tamang
kondisyon para mag-trabaho ulit. Baka pahirapan ka nanaman ng
trabaho mo tas wala nanaman akong magagawa ayoko na non.
MAGDALENA: Ato, nandito na ako. Hindi na ulit ‘yon mangyayari.
Huwag mo na ‘yon alalahanin. At saka ikaw ang dahilan kung bakit
ligtas ako ngayon, kaya ‘wag mong isiping pinabayaan mo lang ako.
Hayaan mo na akong tulungan ka para sa mga anak natin.

DANTE [NARRATION]: And so, Tiya Magdalena started working as a

helper in a family household. Luckily, this time, this family was
nice to her. They treated her properly, and gave her a decent
amount of salary. This helped their family to get by. Through the
small amount of money they saved up each day, they were able to
provide the needs of their children, and eventually, they were
able to see them graduate.

MAGDALENA: Grabe, akalain mo ‘yon. Naka-graduate na din si

Princess. Nakapagtapos na lahat ng mga anak natin. Nairaos din
natin salamat sa Diyos.
ANGKEL ATO: Kaya nga, laking pasasalamat ko sa Diyos na ikaw ang
naging asawa ko. Maraming salamat sa lahat ng sakripisyo mo para
sa pamilya natin.
MAGDALENA: Ano ka ba, hindi lang naman ako ang gumawa nito.
Nagtulungan tayo, kaya nakayanan natin.
ANGKEL ATO: Oo… *starts coughing* *coughing intensifies*
MAGDALENA: Ato? Ato anong nangyayari sa’yo okay ka lang ba Ato…

[scene 16]

SFX: voice tape clicking transition sound, melancholy background

music

DANTE [NARRATING]: Their story was finally reaching the part

where the characters are all living happily with no more worries.
But of course, like every other story, it had to reach an end at
some point. The initial tragic ending of the story where Angkel
Ato died, was delayed for 27 years, where he’s laying on his bed
with his wife holding on to his hand, never wanting to let go,
where he’s professing his love to his dearest person for the last
time before he took his last breath.

MAGDALENA: *crying* Ato… *sobbing* Ato…

[SFX fades]

[scene 17]

SFX: cinematic transition music, sentimental background music

DANTE: Today reminded me of this story of my Angkel Ato, as I
found another voice tape that was meant for him to hear. Tiya
Magdalena had recorded it during the times when Angkel was
battling for his life. However, the late Angkel never got to hear
it. Tiya Magdalena was holding on to her hope that Angkel Ato
would still be able to make it to their wedding anniversary,
where she was planning to give him the voice tape, but
unfortunately, Angkel Ato died a week before the said day. So
today, I decided to go to Angkel’s grave to let him listen to it.

SFX: voice tape clicking

MAGDALENA: Mahal kong asawa, ang pinakamamahal kong tao sa buong

mundo, kamusta na ang pakiramdam mo ngayon? Parang napaka-tangang
tanong ‘yon noh? Eh kitang kita ko naman kung gaano ka naghihirap
ngayon. Sorry mahal ah, wala akong magawa kundi ipagdasal ang
paggaling mo. Kung ako lang ang masusunod, bibigyan pa kita ng
marami pang taon para mabuhay, para makita mo ang mga magiging
apo mo sa mga anak mo. Pero mukhang gusto ka nang bawiin ng Diyos
sa akin. Maging malakas ka ka Ato ah? Lumaban ka pa, kagaya ng
paglaban mo para sa akin, paglaban mo sa panaginip mo na
kinuwento mo sa’kin. Salamat sa hindi mo pag-suko noong mga
panahong ‘yon, salamat sa pananatili dito sa tabi ko para sabay-
sabay nating malagpasan lahat ng paghihirap. Sobrang saya ‘ko na
ikaw ang kasama kong lumaban sa mga pagsubok na binigay sa atin
ng buhay. Sobrang saya ko sa lahat ng narating natin at ng ating
pamilya. Kaya lumaban ka lang ah, kasi marami pa akong gustong
makamit kasama ka, marami pa akong mga gustong pagkain na iluto
at ipatikim sa’yo, marami pa akong mga lugar na gustong puntahan
kasama ka, marami pa akong mga gustong kantang pakinggan habang
sinasayaw ka, marami pa akong mga ala-alang gustong buoin kasama
ka at ng mga anak natin. Mahal na mahal kita, higit pa sa sobra.
Hanggang sa kabilang buhay, hanggang sa susunod nating buhay,
ikaw pa rin ang gugustuhin kong makasama.
SFX: voice tape clicking sound

[END]