THE MATS

By Francisco Arcellana

GE 117 PHILIPPINE LITERATURE

2nd Semester, S.Y. 2023-2024
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SCENE 1: THE END OF BEGINNING

FADE IN:

EXT. PARK OR CEMETERY. LATE AFTERNOON.

Wide shot view of the scenery. Scene of opening mats from oldest to second youngest,
but only the action was caught. Focused shot on the mat of Alfonso being open, but the
name is hidden.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. ANGELES’ FAMILY HOUSE. DAY/NIGHT

Wide shot of the Angeles’ house. Emilia and Jaime just arrived with their belongings
while Emilia is pregnant with their first child. The couple is walking towards their new
home while talking and laughing. They are happy and seem truly in love with each other.

ALFONSO (V.O.)
Mama and Papa started the family in this humble
abode.

CUT TO:

Memories of the past of Angeles’ family where we witness the loving family as the
children grew and have good bonds with each other and eat dinner together, children
playing, children fighting where Emilia has to intervene. Shot of a scene where Emilia is
crying beside the mat when one of their children died.

ALFONSO (V.O.)
From the first child to the last, the house became the
witness of joy, happiness, as well as sorrow and
tragedy our family experiences.

FADE OUT.
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SCENE 2: A NEW BEGINNING

FADE IN:

INT. ANGELES’ FAMILY HOUSE. DAY

Mr. Angeles is preparing for work. Emilia is helping him get ready. Before leaving the
house, Mr. Angeles bid farewell to his children. The children with Emilia wave their
hands as their father leaves for work.

ALFONSO (V.O.)
Papa was working as an inspector engineer. He
inspected new telegraph lines for the government.
He has been to many trips around the Philippines.
His homecoming from his periodic inspection trips
was always an occasion for celebration. But his
homecoming, from a trip to the South, was fated to
be more memorable than, say, of the others.

FADE OUT.

SCENE 3: THE LETTER ARRIVES

FADE IN:

EXT. ANGELES’ FAMILY HOUSE. EARLY MORNING

Emilia sweeps the leaves in the backyard when a mailman arrives. Standing outside the
fence, the mailman calls for Emilia. Upon receiving the letter, she leaves the broomstick
near the tree and goes inside the house immediately to read it.

MAILMAN
Mrs. Emilia Angeles?

EMILIA
Yes? That’s me.

MAILMAN
(gives the letter)
A letter for you from Mr. Jaime Angeles.
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EMILIA
(accepts the letter)
Thank you very much.

CUT TO:

INT. ANGELES’ FAMILY HOUSE, EARLY MORNING

Emilia gets the letter opener on the shelf and reads the letter on the dinner table. She is so
excited that her happiness is visible on her face. While reading the letter, a scene of Mr.
Angeles writing it is shown. Scenes of the matweaver weaving different mats are shown.
After reading the letter, she hugs it.

MR. ANGELES (V.O.)

I have just met a marvelous matweaver, a real artist,
and I shall have a surprise for you. I asked him to
weave a sleeping-mat for every one of the family.
He is using many different colors and for each mat
the dominant color is that of our respective
birthstones. I am sure that the children will be very
pleased. I know you will be. I can hardly wait to
show them to you.

CUT TO:

Emilia just went out of the kitchen. She inhales deeply as she reaches the letter in her
pocket, sits on the dinner table, and reads the letter again. The same thing is happening
over again at different time intervals. Shots of the wall clock can be shown the time
lapses. The last time she reads the letter is when it's almost dinner time.

FADE OUT.

SCENE 4: DINNER TIME

FADE IN:

INT. ANGELES’ FAMILY HOUSE. EVENING.

The children are playing and bickering in the living room. Subtle, but focus shot on
Alfonso. Shot on the dinner table. Marcelina and Antonia are setting up the table. Sound
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of plates and utensils cluttering can be heard. Emilia, followed by Jose, left the kitchen
with the food.

EMILIA
Children, it's time to eat!

The children are rushing to their respective seats. The dinner table is lively. Before
eating, they pray first. After doing so, they started eating.

EMILIA
(leads the prayer)
Okay, let’s start eating now. In the name of the
Father…

CUT TO:

A scene revolving around the dinner table.

EMILIA (CONT.)
Amen!

CHILDREN
Amen!

EMILIA
Let’s eat. Marcelina, kindly pass the rice.

CUT TO:

A shot revolving around the dinner table again. Dinner is finished. Emilia remembers the
letter and she lets Jose, one who sits in front of her, reads it for everyone.

EMILIA
(contained excitement)
Oh! Before I forget, I received a letter from your
papa!

ALFONSO
(stands up, excited)
From papa?!
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EMILIA
(chuckle) Yes, yes. Please sit down, Alfonso. Jose,
please read the letter out loud.

JOSE
(accepts the letter)
(smiling) I will, mother.

Jose reads the letter. The children are very excited, clapping, and some can be seen
jumping. Emilia, witnessing the scene, just shakes her head and enjoys what is happening
at the dinner table.

ALFONSO (V.O.)
That night, as my brother Jose read the letter, the
dinner table erupted with cheers. Everyone can’t
wait for papa to arrive. I can’t even remember what
was written in the letter, but I can’t forget the
excitement and joy that we felt that night.

FADE OUT.

SCENE 5: THE REPLY

FADE IN:

INT. ANGELES’ RESIDENCE. NIGHT.

The children became very much excited about the mats and talked about them until the
next day. They were shocked to see that the sun was already rising, peeking through the
window. The children just laugh about it.

ALFONSO (V.O.)
Everyone can’t seem to stop talking with the mats
the papa is going to bring. We didn’t even get to
sleep that night! The next moment, it's already
morning.

CUT TO:
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INT. ANGELES’ RESIDENCE. WHOLE DAY.

Emilia wrote a reply to her husband. For days after that, the mats continued to be the
chief topic of conversation among the children. Morning, afternoon, or evening, they
always took a peek at their gate, waiting for their father to magically appear with their
respective mats. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, the topics are just mats. Everyone is very
excited.

ALFONSO (V.O.)
Each time we have a chance, we always take a peek
outside. Everytime we see each other do the same,
we get embarrassed and just chuckle, pretending
like nothing happened. The topic about the mats
followed us each meal, that it's only the most
important thing to us right now.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT/INT. ANGELES’ RESIDENCE. 11 AM.

First POV shot of Emilia sewing. Then, when Alfonso looks outside, it can be seen that a
mailman is slowly approaching with a letter in hand. Upon seeing this, Alfonos calls for
his mother. Emilia then went outside to receive the letter and waved it at Alfonso,
smiling. Then Alfonso ran inside excitedly to inform his siblings about the good news. It
can be seen that the children are very excited.

ALFONSO (V.O.)
One morning, while I’m studying beside my mother
who was sewing, I glanced outside. There, I saw a
man approaching our residence, carrying a sling bag
while holding something. I hurriedly informed my
mother that a person was approaching our house.
She stops what she’s doing and walks towards the
man. After the conversation, she looks back at me,
smiling and waving something on her hand. A
letter! It is really the mailman! The next thing I
knew, I ran inside to inform my siblings about the
good news.

CUT TO:
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A shot at the dinner table where it's time for lunch. A scene of everyone that is eager to
start eating and keep looking at their mother, anticipating their father’s reply. The
children finish their lunch at a short time so they can already know what is written in the
letter. During lunch time, it was VOd by Alfonso. Upon seeing this, Emilia just chuckles
and reaches for the letter in her pocket.

ALFONSO (V.O.)
Everyone cannot wait for Nana to read the letter
that they finished eating at a lightning speed.

EMILIA
(hands the letter to Jose)
(Chuckles) Alright. It seems everyone can’t wait to
hear for papa’s reply. Jose, please.

JOSE
(receives and reads the letter excitedly)
I am taking the Bicol Express tomorrow. I have the
mats with me, and they are beautiful. God willing, I
shall be home to join you at dinner.

ANTONIO
I like the smell of new mats!

SUSANNA
Oh, but these mats are different. They have our
names woven into them, and in our ascribed colors,
too!

JESUS
I can't wait for papa to come home!

MARCELINE
Calm down you guys, I know papa is coming home
so lets prepare through cleaning the house.

JUAN
(whining) Not again! Papa won’t even notice it! Am
I right, Alfonso?
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ALFONSO
(smiling) Lets just listen to ate Marceline, I’m sure
papa will like it.

CUT TO:

A shot at the dinner table while everyone is excitedly talking. Emilia is enjoying
watching the children. It can be seen that Emilia is encouraging everyone to finish eating
so they can clean the dining table. Insert different scenes of children doing chores or
playing but still talking about the mats while Alfonso is narrating in the background.

ALFONSO (V.O.)
After lunch, the same cycle is happening again.
Everyone is just talking about the mats. No matter
what each of us is doing, every topic will shift to the
mats that Papa is bringing home. No one can deny
that we are very excited to receive our mat.

FADE OUT.

SCENE 6: EMILIA Y JAIME RECUERDO (THE FAMILY MAT)

FADE IN.

INT. WEDDING HALL. FLASHBACK.

Clips of the mat are shown. Zooming in on the details and the entire mat.

ALFONSO (V.O.)
Everyone was so excited about their respective
mats. After all, we had such a mat in the house, a
mat older than any of us. A mat that is seldom used.

DISSOLVE TO:

Scenes of the wedding day where a mat had been given to Nana Emilia by her mother.
Emilia was so happy with the gift that she felt like crying. She hugs her mother.
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ALFONSO (V.O.)
This mat was given to Nana Emilia by my
grandmother during my parents' wedding. It had
been with them ever since. The mat was first used
on their wedding night.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. ANGELES’ RESIDENCE. FLASHBACK.

A scene of Emilia getting the mat from the trunk. She unfolds it and lays it down on the
floor. On a corner, it can be seen that the young Marcelina was watching her mother
while unfolding the mat. Upon seeing this, Emilia waves her hand to let the young
Marcelina watch her up-close. She carries the child on her lap and lets the child touch the
mat.

ALFONSO (V.O.)
Nana always kept the mat in her trunk. It was a very
beautiful mat after all, not really meant to be
ordinarily used.

CUT TO:

A scene of Emilia unfolding the mat on the floor. Upon unfolding, the Marcelina can be
seen. Smooth transition to a scene where the number of children watching increased. The
youngest child, Jesus or Susanna, was sick. After finishing unfolding the mat, Marcelina
walked out to the frame while carrying the sick sibling. She slowly puts down the sick
sibling on the mat. It can be seen that Emilia was worried. The children are helping their
mother by bringing medication, a wet towel with warm water, drinking water, etc. After
Emilia receives them, the children leave as Emilia attends the sick child

ALFONSO (V.O.)
When any of the family members was ill, the mat
was brought out and the patient slept on it, had it all
to himself.

CUT TO:

Scene of a celebration. The family was eating at the dinner table. During the evening,
Emilia laid the mat on the floor. The children watched her do so with amazement. As they
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settled down, they marveled at the intricate designs woven at the mat. The children were
captivated by the mat that all of them were just looking down. Emilia caught their
attention and they laid down side by side and went to sleep.

ALFONSO (V.O.)
We only used that mat during special occasions.
Every time the mat unfolded, its beauty would
always capture our breath. It seems new and has
never been used. They were seldom creases and
folds found in the mat. It always smells new. Every
one of us had some time in our lives to sleep on it;
not a few had slept on it more than once.

CUT TO:

A scene where one of their children died with sad music in the background. A shot where
Emilia was crying while hugging one of her children. Jaime was consoling Emilia,
hugging her at her back. The children were crying too at the side, watching the scene
unfold between their eyes.

ALFONSO (V.O.)
The spreading out that mat has become a kind of
ritual. The process is even associated with illness.
Illness in the family had not been infrequent. There
also had been deaths…

FADE OUT.

SCENE 7: MR. ANGELES ARRIVAL

FADE IN.

INT. ANGELES’ RESIDENCE. DINNER TIME.

Mr Angeles had finally come home from his trip. Scenes of him walking slowly towards
their house. He had brought the usual things home with him. There were a lot of fruits, as
always. He knocks the door and Juan, who was near playing in the living room at that
time, opens the door. Upon seeing their father, Juan was shocked and happy as he called
everyone’s attention.
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JUAN
Everyone! Papa’s home!

ALFONSO
Papa, I’ve missed you so much!

MARCELINA
It's good to see you papa.

The children could not hide their excitement upon the arrival of their father. The children
were frenzied around their father as they walked closely towards the dinner table. Jose
helped his father set aside his luggage in the living room. Their exciting talks with their
father continued until Mr. Angeles stopped at the scene of her wife Emelia preparing for
the table and immediately locked eyes and then hugged each other. Their longing for each
other's presence made them realize how it's been a while they have seen each other.

MR. ANGELES
I missed you so much, my love.

EMELIA
You’re home now, darling.

Showcasing their love and affection. Their children teased them but Emelia just shushed
them and told them to sit and prepare to eat dinner. The dinner was a long affair. Mr.
Angeles was full of stories about his trip but would interrupt his tales. Scenes of Mr.
Angeles walking around the market and buying the mat.

MR. ANGELES
The market at Mariveles is full of life. It was
already lively at the break of dawn. When I was
walking around, I saw a store full of beautiful mats.
I asked the store owner and luckily she accepted the
customization of mats. (shakes head.) I could not
sleep nights thinking of the young ones. They
should never be allowed to play in the streets. And
you older ones should not stay out too late at night.

The stories petered out and dinner was over. Putting away the dishes and wiping the table
clean did not at all seem tedious. Yet Nana and the children, although they did not show
it, were all on edge about the mats.
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FADE OUT.

SCENE 8: THE MATS

FADE IN.

INT. ANGELES’ RESIDENCE. EVENING.

Finally, after a long time over his cigar, Mr. Angeles rose from his seat at the head of the
table and crossed the room to the corner where his luggage had been piled. From the heap
he disengaged a ponderous bundle. Taking it under one arm, he walked to the middle of
the room where the light was brightest. He dropped the bundle and, bending over and
balancing himself on his toes, he strained at the cord that bound it. It was strong, it would
not break, it would not give way. He tried working at the knots. His fingers were clumsy,
they had begun shaking.

MR. ANGELES
Alfonso, can you lend me some hand boy? Can you
bring me a scissor to cut this knot?

ALFONSO
Sure papa, here is the scissor.

SUSANNA
I can't wait for the mats to be open

ANTONIO
Me too!

Nana Emilia and her eldest girl who had long returned from the kitchen were watching
the proceedings quietly. One swift movement with the scissors, snip! and the bundle was
loose.

MR. ANGELES
These are the mats, Miling!

Mr. Angeles picked up the topmost mat in the bundle

MR. ANGELES (CONT’D)

This, I believe, is yours, Miling.
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Nana Emilia stepped forward to the light, wiping her still moist hands against the folds of
her skirt, and with a strange young shyness received the mat. The children watched the
spectacle silently and then broke into delighted, though a little self-conscious, laughter.
Nana Emilia unfolded the mat without a word. It was a beautiful mat: to her mind, even
more beautiful than the one she received from her mother on her wedding day.

EMELIA
It is beautiful, Jaime; it is beautiful!

MR. ANGELES
And this, I know, is my own. (As he open the mat
that is rather simple with the color of purple and
gold) And this is for you, Marcelina (He gives the
mat to the oldest child)

MARCELINA
(bewildered) How on earth did they weave all of the
letters of my name into my mat?

MR. ANGELES
And this is for you Jose, you are not to use this mat
until your internship.

JOSE
Thank you, papa!

MR. ANGELES
This is yours, Antonia.

ANTONIA
Wow! I like it, papa!

MR. ANGELES
This is yours, Juan.

JUAN
Thanks, papa.

MR. ANGELES
Jesus.
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JESUS
Thank you very much, papa!

MR. ANGELES
Sussana.

SUSANNA
I love it papa!

MR. ANGELES
And, Alfonso. This is for you.

ALFONSO
I can’t wait to use it papa!

MR. ANGELES
You are not to use these mats until you go to the
University.

Emilia noticed bewilderingly that there were some more mats remaining to be unfolded.
Wondering, with evident repudiation.

EMILIA
But Jaime, there are some more mats…

MR. ANGELES
Yes, Emilia, there are more mats to unfold. The
others who aren't here...

A puzzled, reminiscent look came into his eyes, superseding the deep and quiet delight
that had been briefly there. The atmosphere became tense. The self-centered talk of the
children also died. There was a silence as Mr. Angeles picked up the first of the
remaining mats and began slowly unfolding it. The mat was almost as austere in design
as Mr. Angeles' own, and it had a name. There was no symbol or device above the name;
only a blank space, emptiness. The children knew the name. But somehow the name, the
letters spelling the name, seemed strange to them.

EMILIA
You know, Jaime, you didn't have to.
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Mr. Angeles' voice had risen shrill, almost hysterical; it was also stern and sad, and
somehow vindictive. Mr. Angeles had spoken almost as if he were a stranger.

MR. ANGELES
(Holding his tears back, swift)
Do you think I’d forgotten? Do you think I had
forgotten them? Do you think I could forget them?

Mr. Angeles' brought the mat forward. He opens each mat as he mentions every name of
his dead children in front of their pictures.

MR. ANGELES (CONT’D)

(Emotional, sad voice)
This is for you, Josefina!
And this is for you, Victoria!
And this is for you, Concepcion.

EMILIA
Don't, Jaime, please don't.

MR. ANGELES
Is it fair to forget them? Would it be just to
disregard them? They were our children! They are
still our children even after death. And my heart
aches that we barely even talk about them! They
deserve love and to be remembered in this family.

EMILIA
(crying)
I’m sorry…

The children heard the words exploding in the silence. They wanted to turn away and not
see the face of their father. But they could neither move nor look away; his eyes held
them, his voice held them where they were. They seemed rooted to the spot. Mr. Angeles
then went out to take some fresh air and to gather all his thoughts and emotions of what
had just happened. Marcelina rushes her sibling to clean and take care of their own mats
but leaving the three mats unfolded. After the children went inside their rooms, Emilia
just stayed in the living room. She is waiting for Jaime while sobbing.
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ALFONSO (V.O.)
After papa went out, ate Marcelina rushed us to fold
our own mats and we went inside our room. I can
hear my mother’s soft cry. I hope I can do
something but I’m also afraid. After a few
moments, I can hear footsteps. Curious, I took a
peek at the gap in the door. Then, I saw my parents
hugging each other. I felt relieved that they had
reconciled.

FADE OUT.

SCENE 9: PRESENT TIME

EXT. CEMETERY. MORNING/AFTERNOON.

Shot of Alfonso standing alone in the field, his hair being blown by the wind. He was
reminiscing about the past, when Marcelina called his attention as he was falling behind
from the group. He ran towards her while bringing his mat. The two walk side-by-side as
they talk.

MARCELINA
Alfonso, what are you thinking so deeply that you
got left behind?

ALFONSO
Oh, I just remembered the day when we heard from
Nana that Papa is bringing home a mat customized
for each of us. The day when papa arrived and how
we can't wait for him to finish his speech at the
dining table so we could see our mats already.

MARCELINA
Ah! I remembered those days so vividly. After that
dinner, nana and papa had a fight. (Shivers) It's so
intense that I can't even move. Good thing they
reconciled after that! I thought we have to be
careful the next few days because of their fight.

The two slowly approach the other siblings who are already sitting down at their mats.
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JOSE
What are you guys talking about?

ALFONSO
We're just reminiscing about the past, especially the
day we received our mats.

Marcelina unfolds her mat and Alfonso sits beside her while holding his.

JOSE
I see. That day was memorable. I can recall it as if it
happened yesterday. Our parents also quarreled
after dinner. (Shakes head) Good old days.

Flashback. Scenes of the past where they prepare to visit the graves.

ANTONIO
You mean that. We have to wake up early the next
day to prepare to visit our dead siblings. We bring
lots of food that seems like a picnic instead.

Flashback. The family arrives at the cemetery. After settling down, Emilia lit the candles
then Jaime opened the mat of each dead child. The two started talking, saying how they
missed them and also remembering the days of while they were still alive.

SUSANNA
I remembered how mother lit up the candles and
slowly put it atop their gravestone. Meanwhile,
papa unfolds their respective mats in front. They
both started talking to them as if they’re alive. It
was so emotional that I couldn't help but cry.

Everyone talked happily. They are having fun while being in front of their siblings who
passed away.

JUAN
(Nods) We spent the whole afternoon there. I
thought the atmosphere would be gloomy. Instead,
nana and papa talked happily. They want us to
remember our siblings as if they never left and are
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still part of our lives. That was such a happy

moment.

JESUS
(Clap!) And that is what we're going to do today as
we celebrate our youngest entering the university! I
know our parents will be happy that we remember
them this way and we still include them with the
family celebration.

MARCELINA
(looks at Alfonso, smiling)
Alfonso, you can start using your own mat now.

Shots of Alfonso unfolding his mat in front of the grave of their parents. He sat on it then
cheers exploded. Then they started opening the foods they brought and started eating.
The siblings are happily celebrating while in front of the graves of their parents.

ALFONSO (V.O.)
We handle pain differently. Others want to forget
the past and move on with their lives, while some
choose to continue cherishing the memories of their
loved ones who passed away. How we deal with
loss may differ from one to another. Our methods
may seem extreme. But one thing's for sure, there is
no right way to grieve. The most important thing is
how we handle our emotions and how it affects
others. Live in the present, and don't forget the
living.

FADE OUT.

THE END.