DECLAMATION PIECE

15th Regional Midyear Convention

September 25-27, 2016

Revised as per IRR 14.7.2.3

The contestants will be given five (5) minutes to deliver
the piece.

THE PANG OF MISFORTUNE

Klang. Klang. That's the signal, yes, two hours more is left. Do you hear that?
At four this afternoon I will have my rendezvous with death at the lethal
injection chamber. I pledge guilty to drug trafficking and multiple murder. I
know I deserve that ultimate capital punishment, but listen to my story. You
too have a share in forming me into a hoodlum in this dog eat dog world.
I was a matter of fate by destiny that I grew up in an area, fast accelerating
in this orbit of moral decadence. My mom died a few days after my birth. Lola
brought me up, my dad, a policeman was a footloose and fancy-free family
man.
Outcast yes, I am, a bitter pill to swallow but more bitter than this was the
pang of rejection. Dad disowned me for the reason he alone knew. Society
condemned me for my mom's indiscretion, a fault not of my own making.
I did not ask to be born but they gave me life just to wallow in poverty, in
shame and in anger. All around me were dark shadows of frustrations: premarital sex, women of loose morale in heavy make-up, indecency, gambling,
graft, corruption, and vices of all kinds. Name them and we have them all in
our place.
At first, I lived as an errand boy then as a messenger for this oldest trade of
flesh to sustain a living. I graduated to selling prohibited drugs while sniffing
once in a while to get into the world of make believe to escape reality of life.
That was how life was with one like me who has no choice but to stay living
that hard way.

One night, in my usual routine I had some small packages of prohibited

drugs to deliver to my valued clients. I was intercepted by a man in uniform
and was consequently caught in the act. I could do nothing more but to face
the situation. Instead of submitting myself peacefully to the authority, I
managed to grab the revolver and shot him flat dead. Once, twice, until several
policemen came to his succour. I shot aimlessly not minding anymore who
might get hurt until I no longer knew how many lives were lost.
God forgive me! But you people of the Philippine Republic who accuse me
of drug trafficking and multiple murder I also accuse you before the seat of the
Most High, God the all-knowing, and all wise Judge for having failed me with
our lawmakers who themselves are law breakers, having taught me life's
bitterness just with your words not coupled by your witnessing, having done
nothing to fight moral decadence that has swept and pestered our country
now.
I know I have but few minutes to live. Before I submit myself to face the
Maker, I ask you People of the Philippine Republic to atone for passive
participation in the mess and corruption our country is faced with. Do
something to save our country, save the Philippines, save our youth. Capture
the lost values through moral recovery.