“Vengeance Is Not Ours, It’s God’s”

Alms, alms, alms. Spare me a piece of bread. Spare me your mercy. I am a child so
young, so thin, and so ragged. Why are you staring at me? With my eyes, I cannot see
but I know that you are all staring at me. Why are you whispering to one another? Why?
Do you know my mother? Do you know my father? Did you know me five years ago?

Yes, five years of bitterness have passed. I can still remember the vast happiness mother
and I shared with each other. We were very happy indeed.

Suddenly, five loud knocks were heard on the door and a deep silence ensued. Did the
cruel Nippon’s discover our peaceful home? Mother ran to Father’s side pleading.
“Please, Luis, hide in the cellar, there in the cellar where they cannot find you,” I pulled
my father’s arm but he did not move. It seemed as though his feet were glued to the floor.

The door went “bang” and before us five ugly beasts came barging in. “Are you Captain
Luis Santos?” roared the ugliest of them all. “Yes,” said my father. “You are under arrest,”
said one of the beasts. They pulled father roughly away from us. Father was not given a
chance to bid us goodbye.

We followed them mile after mile. We were hungry and thirsty. We saw group of Japanese
eating. Oh, how our mouths watered seeing the delicious fruits they were eating,

Then suddenly, we heard a voice call, “Consuelo. . . . Oscar. . . . Consuelo. . . . Oscar. . .

. Consuelo. . . . Oscar. . . .” we ran towards the direction of the voice, but it was too late.
We saw father hanging on a tree. . . . dead. Oh, it was terrible. He had been badly beaten
before he died. . . . and I cried vengeance, vengeance, vengeance! Everything went black.
The next thing I knew I was nursing my poor invalid mother.

One day, we heard the church bell ringing “ding-dong, ding-dong!” It was a sign for us to
find a shelter in our hide-out, but I could not leave my invalid mother, I tried to show her
the way to the hide-out.

Suddenly, bombs started falling; airplanes were roaring overhead, canyons were firing
from everywhere. “Boom, boom, boom, boom!” Mother was hit. Her legs were shattered
into pieces. I took her gently in my arms and cried, “I’ll have vengeance, vengeance!” “No,
Oscar. Vengeance, it’s God’s,” said mother.

But I cried out vengeance. I was like a pent-up volcano. “Vengeance is mine not the
Lord’s”. “No, Oscar. Vengeance is not ours, it’s God’s” these were the words from my
mother before she died.

Mother was dead and I was blind. Vengeance is not ours? To forgive is divine but
vengeance is sweeter. That was five years ago, five years. . . .

Alms, alms, alms. Spare me a piece of bread. Spare me your mercy. I am a child so
young, so thin, and so ragged. Vengeance is not ours, it’s God’s. . . . It’s. . . . God’s. .
It’s…
Be My True Friend- Declamation Piece by Joecel Joy Jayme

Hey! Are you a good friend? Are you a True Friend?

A friend that will never leave me? It is you? If it is, then... Can you be my friend?

I needed a friend like you, not like them.

They are my Friend when they need me.

I can still remember when they ignore me.

"Hey girl, can you come with me?" I ask my friend.

"Wait for us" they replied. So as what they've said. I waited, wait for the time, but one
hour has passed. They didn't come back. So I turned to my other friend whose doing
nothing.

"Hey guys, can you come with me?" I asked. "sorry, we were busy" they replied.

I feel alone. I feel Ignored. I feel Rejected. I want to cry but I can't and I don't want them
to see me crying just because of rejection. I ran away from them and went to the
rooftop.

"BUSY? BUSY, STALKING WITH YOUR CRUSH!?"

"YOUR CRUSH DOESN'T LIKE YOU, SO STOP ASSUME"

"I WAITED! I WAITED FOR AN HOUR BUT.... BUT WHERE WERE YOU! YOU LEAVE
ME! YOU DIDN'T COMEBACK"

I shouted and I cried so hard. And after that I felt relief. I felt okay. So I decided to go
back to our classroom and the one of my friend approached me and said

"Hey Joecel, can you come with me to the canteen. We'll buy some snacks" by that time
I want to say YES but I found myself running away from them after realizing what
they've said a while ago. And went back to the rooftop

"When you need me, I'm always there, but when I need you, you reject me! You ignore
me!"

"Is that a real friend?"

And you! You! Are you like that? If not! Then please! Please be with me!

Be my friend. Be my True Friend!

"MEMORIES"

Nothing compares to having a family, a complete, happy family. I am proud to have had
one. Unforgettable memories of a sweet childhood, growing up with pure love and
affection, so many people wanted to have. I was nourished with hope, that someday I'll
have something more than I've expected.

My parents gave me everything. They wanted me to have the best of endless possibilities.
I owe my life to them. I am nothing without them. They are the reason why I have a fighting
spirit, to finish what I've started, to give my best everytime and never give up in times of
troubles.

It was my time to serve them. I am young and free, but why should I push myself to this
responsibility? Why?.....because in this life, you can never tell when your closing
ceremony is about to arrive. But it was over before I've started.
"God, why did you take them from me?"
"You're so unfair!"
"Why them?"
"Take me instead!"

They were gone. I am now alone. I can honestly say, I am nothing. I don't have them
anymore.
"God, please give me a chance to embrace them for the last time."

But I know it isn't possible. I've had a lot chances. I just didn't make the best of it. Life is
really full of surprises , not always good ones, some are worth tears. Deep inside my
heart, I am longing. But I should move on with my life. Nothing could bring them back. If
the stairway to heaven is for real, I would use it no matter how far it would take me. If
that's the only chance, then I am ready.

I salute those parents who have given their all. The most selfless people you would ever
know. Nothing compares to the love you have given. The perfect friends, there's nothing
less.
One day, we shall meet again. Excitement fills my broken heart. Only you could complete
me. So, when I see you, I know you're holding the missing piece.