Scene 5: Cry of Pugad Lawin

Mori finds himself disoriented in a bustling field. Men and women, dressed in plain but
determined attire, surround him. They whisper in Tagalog about freedom and courage, their
voices mixing with the rustle of the wind. Before him stands a man of imposing presence—
Andrés Bonifacio—his eyes burning with conviction. Mori’s heart pounds as he realizes he’s
witnessing history unfold.

As he tries to steady himself, a Young Katipunero beside him notices his strange clothing. The
young man squints, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

Young Katipunero (beside Mori):

“Kapatid, anong bihis iyan? Parang hindi ka taga-rito.”
(Brother, what are you wearing? It doesn’t look like you’re from around here.)

Mori hesitates, tugging at his shirt, unsure of what to say.

Mori:
“Ah, ito ba? Ano… gawa sa Maynila,”
(Ah, this? It’s… from Manila, he stammers, hoping his answer will pass unnoticed.)

The Young Katipunero tilts his head, studying him for another moment before nodding slowly.

Young Katipunero (beside Mori):

“Mukhang kakaiba. Hindi ko pa nakikita ang tela na ganyan. Siguro’y galing ka nga sa
Maynila.”
(It looks strange. I’ve never seen fabric like that before. Perhaps you really are from Manila,)

He mutters, still eyeing him curiously.

Another Katipunero overhears and chuckles, clapping the young man on the shoulder.

Katipunero (to Young Katipunero):

“Hayaan mo na siya, Pedro. Dito na siya, at iisa ang laban natin.”
(Let it go, Pedro. He’s here, and we’re all fighting the same battle.)

Relieved, Mori shifts his focus back to the scene unfolding before him. A Young Katipunero
nudges him and hands him a crumpled cedula.

Young Katipunero (beside Mori):

“Kapatid, hawak mo ba ang iyong tapang?”
(Brother, do you hold your courage?)
Mori hesitates but nods, gripping the document tightly as the weight of the moment settles over
him.

Andrés Bonifacio (leading the crowd):

“Mga kapatid, itakwil na natin ang tanikala ng pang-aalipin!”
(Brothers and sisters, let us cast off the chains of slavery!)

The gathered crowd erupts in cheers, their shouts reverberating in Mori’s chest. With a deliberate
motion, Bonifacio tears his cedula in half, throwing the pieces to the ground. Mori watches as
others follow suit, ripping their cedulas with a mixture of anger and determination.

Mori feels a surge of resolve. Looking down at his own cedula, he takes a deep breath and tears
it with trembling hands. The Young Katipunero beside him clasps his shoulder.

Young Katipunero (beside Mori):

“Malaya tayo kung magtatagumpay,”
(We will be free if we succeed,)
he says with a hopeful smile.

The crowd raises their bolos, the chant of “Kalayaan!” (Freedom!) growing louder and fiercer.
Bonifacio’s voice cuts through the air, rallying the Katipuneros to prepare for battle. Mori feels
himself swept up in the emotion—both the hope and the fear—realizing the enormity of their
defiance.

As Bonifacio leads the group in a vow of loyalty to the cause, the scene begins to blur. Mori
feels the weight of the torn cedula in his hand grow faint until it disappears, and the chants of
“Kalayaan!” echo in his mind as he’s drawn back into the album’s pages.

As Bonifacio leads the group in a vow of loyalty to the cause, the scene begins to blur. Mori’s
surroundings grow hazy, but the echo of their chants—“Kalayaan! Kalayaan!”—remains vivid,
reverberating in his chest. He looks down at his hands, still clutching the torn pieces of the
cedula, now faint and dissolving like smoke. The determination on the faces of the Katipuneros
lingers in his mind as he feels himself being pulled away.

Just before everything fades, Mori hears the voice of the Young Katipunero who had handed
him the cedula.

Young Katipunero (beside Mori):

“Huwag kang makakalimot, kapatid. Ang kalayaan ay hindi libre.”
(Don’t forget, brother. Freedom is not free.)

The words ring in his ears as the scene dissolves completely, leaving Mori back in the present
with the album on his lap. His heart is heavy with the weight of what he has witnessed, but his
resolve to understand and honor the sacrifices of those before him has never been stronger.
Character Key:

 Mori: The main character, observing the historical event unfolding before him.
 Young Katipunero (beside Mori): A fellow Katipunero who notices Mori’s strange
clothing and hands him a crumpled cedula, offering encouragement and support.
 Katipunero (to Young Katipunero): A man who overhears the conversation and
reassures the young Katipunero, saying that the fight is the same for all of them.
 Andrés Bonifacio: The leader of the Katipunan, delivering a powerful speech and
leading the crowd in the symbolic tearing of their cedulas, rallying them for battle.
 Young Katipunero (to Mori): The same young man who handed Mori the cedula,
offering him words of hope and urging him not to forget the true cost of freedom.
Scene 6: The end of Philippine-American War

Mori stumbles into the forest clearing, disoriented and visibly out of place. His modern clothing
immediately catches the attention of the Filipino soldiers, who rise to their feet, startled. One of
them points a rifle in his direction.

Soldier 1:
"Sino ka? Anong ginagawa mo dito?" (Who are you? What are you doing here?)

Mori freezes, raising his hands defensively. “Ako si Mori! Wala akong masamang intensyon!”
("I’m Mori! I mean no harm!") he stammers, his voice trembling.

The commanding officer steps forward, waving his hand to calm the soldier.

Commanding Officer:
"Kalma lang. Bata pa siya." (Calm down. He’s just a boy.)

The officer approaches Mori, studying him closely. His brow furrows at Mori’s strange attire.

Commanding Officer:
"Tagasaan ka? Bakit ganito ang suot mo?" (Where are you from? Why are you dressed like this?)

Mori struggles for an answer, his mind racing. “Galing ako sa… malayo,” he says vaguely.
"Narinig ko ang ingay kaya sumunod ako." ("I come from... far away. I heard noise, so I
followed it.")

The officer exchanges glances with his men, suspicion flickering in his eyes, but he nods.

Commanding Officer:
"Maupo ka. Pakinggan mo." (Sit down. Listen.)

The soldiers relax, and Mori hesitantly joins them by the campfire. Around him, the air is heavy
with exhaustion and defeat. The officer unfolds a tattered map and addresses the group.

Commanding Officer:
"Mga kasama, tapos na ang laban." (Comrades, the fight is over.)

The soldiers shift uncomfortably, disbelief and sadness etched on their faces. One soldier speaks
up.

Soldier 2:
"Nahuli na ba si Aguinaldo?" (Has Aguinaldo been captured?)

The officer nods solemnly.

Commanding Officer:
"Oo. Nahuli siya ng mga Amerikano. Ang Republika natin... bumagsak na." (Yes. He was
captured by the Americans. Our republic... has fallen.)

The words hang heavily in the air. Mori looks around, sensing the heartbreak in the soldiers’
expressions. He hesitates but speaks up.

Mori:
"Paano niyo pa magagawang magpatuloy kung tapos na ang digmaan?" (How can you go on if
the war is over?)

The officer looks at Mori, surprised by the question. He sighs deeply, turning his gaze to the
tattered flag hanging from the branch.

Commanding Officer:
"Dahil ang kalayaan ay hindi natatapos sa digmaan. Ang laban para sa kalayaan ay patuloy
hangga’t may mga Pilipinong naniniwala." (Because freedom doesn’t end with war. The fight for
freedom continues as long as there are Filipinos who believe in it.)

Mori absorbs the weight of the officer’s words, his heart heavy with emotion.

The officer folds the flag with care, placing it in his bag. He turns back to the group.

Commanding Officer:
"Sa loob ng tatlong taon, binigay natin ang lahat. Mahigit apat na libo sa atin ang namatay.
Mahigit dalawampung libong Pilipino ang nagbuwis ng buhay para sa kalayaan. Pero tuloy-tuloy
pa rin ang mga Amerikano." (For three years, we gave everything. Over four thousand of us have
died. Over twenty thousand Filipinos have sacrificed their lives for freedom. But the Americans
keep coming.)

The soldiers nod silently, gathering their few belongings. One looks at Mori.

Soldier 1:
"Ikaw, bata. Bakit ka nandito? Hindi mo kailangang makita ang hirap na ‘to." (You, boy. Why
are you here? You don’t need to see this hardship.)

Mori stands, his voice steadier this time.

Mori:
"Kailangan kong malaman ang hirap na pinagdaanan niyo. Kung hindi, paano ko kayo maaalala
at maipapaliwanag sa iba?" (I need to understand the hardships you’ve endured. If I don’t, how
can I remember you and explain this to others?)

The officer places a firm hand on Mori’s shoulder, nodding in approval.

Commanding Officer:
"Yan ang kailangan ng bayan natin—mga kabataang hindi nakakalimot." (That’s what our nation
needs—young people who don’t forget.)

The soldiers begin to fade into the forest, their figures blending with the trees. Mori remains,
staring at the empty clearing, the flag’s absence feeling like a hollow void.

Suddenly, the world begins to blur, the sounds of the forest replaced by the familiar flipping of
pages. Mori is pulled away, the commanding officer’s words echoing in his mind.

Commanding Officer (voiceover):

"Ang kalayaan ay patuloy na ipinaglalaban." (Freedom is a fight that never ends.)

Scene 7: Death March

Mori opens his eyes to a scorching sun beating down on a long line of weary prisoners trudging
down a dusty road. The sound of coughing and groans fills the air as soldiers stagger forward,
some supporting the injured. Mori feels the weight of exhaustion in his own body, a heavy rope
cutting into his wrists.

His modern clothing, now dusty and sweat-stained, draws puzzled glances from the nearby
prisoners.
Young Man (beside Mori):
“Kapatid, saan ka galing? Bakit kakaiba ang suot mo?”
(Brother, where are you from? Why are you dressed so strangely?)

Mori hesitates, his voice dry and throat parched.

Mori:
“Galing ako sa... malayo,”
(I’m from... far away.)
(He replies vaguely, hoping not to attract more attention.)

The young man frowns but nods.

Young Man (beside Mori):

“Kung ganon, mag-ingat ka. Ang mga Hapon ay walang awa sa mga hindi sumusunod.”
(If that’s the case, be careful. The Japanese show no mercy to those who don’t comply.)

Ahead of them, a loud commotion breaks the monotony of the march. A man collapses onto the
dirt, unable to move further. A Japanese guard strides over, shouting in harsh tones, and strikes
the man repeatedly with the butt of his rifle. The prisoner groans, shielding his head, but he is too
weak to stand.

Japanese Guard (to the collapsed prisoner):

“Tumayo ka!”
(Get up!)

When the prisoner doesn’t respond, the guard levels his rifle and shoves him aside into the ditch,
his fate uncertain.

Mori freezes, horrified, but the line continues to move. Another guard passes near Mori and the
young man, his eyes scanning the group. Mori instinctively lowers his head, clutching his arms
tighter to conceal his strange clothing.

Young Man (beside Mori):

“Magpanggap kang abala, kapatid,”
(Pretend to be busy, brother. Don’t make yourself a target.)

As they shuffle forward, Mori notices more prisoners faltering. Some stumble, catching
themselves, while others collapse completely. Each time, a guard steps in, shouting, hitting, or
dragging the fallen aside with brutal efficiency. The line never stops moving, the guards’ cruelty
ensuring no one lags behind.

Mori watches helplessly as an older man collapses nearby, his body trembling with exertion. A
guard strides toward him, barking orders. The young man beside Mori mutters, his voice filled
with quiet despair.
Young Man (beside Mori):
“Ito ang Death March... papunta sa Camp O'Donnell. Hindi lahat sa atin ay makakarating.”
(This is the Death March... to Camp O'Donnell. Not all of us will make it.)

Mori’s chest tightens as he processes the enormity of the suffering around him. A man ahead
stumbles, his knees buckling, and Mori instinctively steps forward, steadying him. The prisoner
looks up weakly, his cracked lips trembling. Mori pulls out his small canteen and presses it into
the man’s hands.

Mori:
“Inom ka,”
(Drink.)

The man takes a sip, nodding faintly.

Prisoner (weakly):
“Salamat,”
(Thank you.)

The act of kindness does not go unnoticed. A guard approaches, his face twisted in suspicion. He
shouts in Japanese, pointing at Mori, and swings the rifle butt toward him. Mori ducks just in
time, but the guard glares at him with a warning before moving on.

The young man beside Mori pulls him back into line, whispering sharply.

Young Man (beside Mori):

“Huwag kang magpakita ng kahinaan. Tulungan mo sila, pero huwag kang magpapahuli.”
(Don’t show weakness. Help them, but don’t get caught.)

As they continue, a middle-aged man to Mori’s left, with deep-set eyes and a face worn by years
of hardship, looks over at him. His voice is hoarse but firm.

Middle-Aged Man (to Mori):

“Huwag mong gawing buhay na halimbawa ang iyong pagkatalo, bata. Dapat tayong
magpatuloy.”
(Don’t make your failure a living example, boy. We must keep going.)

His eyes carry the weight of someone who has seen too much death and pain, but still holds onto
the sliver of hope that they might survive.

Mori watches the older man and feels a strange sense of connection. But his focus shifts when
the young man beside him stumbles again, his face pale.

Young Man (beside Mori):

“Huwag kang susuko, kapatid,”
(Don’t give up, brother.)
“Kailangan nating magpatuloy.”
(We need to keep going.)

Mori nods weakly, but his strength fades. He stumbles and collapses to the ground, his head
spinning. The last thing he sees before his vision darkens is the line of prisoners stretching into
the horizon, their silhouettes wavering against the blinding sun. A nearby man’s voice, faint and
desperate, can be heard.

Prisoner (near Mori):

“Mahal ko ang mga anak ko, wala nang mga ganitong sandali.”
(I love my children, moments like these should never happen.)

As he slips into unconsciousness, the shouts of the guards and the cries of the prisoners fade
away. The world dissolves into silence, and Mori feels himself being pulled away into the pages
of the album once more.

Character Key:

 Mori: The main character, struggling to survive in a brutal situation.

 Young Man (beside Mori): A fellow prisoner offering advice and warnings to Mori.
 Japanese Guard: A soldier administering violence and cruelty to the prisoners.
 Middle-Aged Man: A seasoned prisoner who speaks to Mori about survival and
continuing the march.
 Prisoner (weakly): A fellow prisoner who receives water from Mori.
 Prisoner (near Mori): A voice expressing despair, heard just before Mori loses
consciousness.