Narrator: Good morning everyone, we will be doing a radio play of the

selection The Last Hours of Jose Abad Santos by Renato L. Liboro, we just
lessen the narrations.

Pepito: Wake up, Tatang.

Jose: *Yawns* Good morning, son.

Pepito: *Stomach growls*

Jose: *Chuckles* Come on, lets go eat breakfast.

Pepito: Yeah! Im so hungry. I just hope for them to change the menu.

Guard: *beckons them to follow him*

*footsteps* (dirt)

Narrator: The guard led them to the small hut that served as a kitchen and a
mess hall. Jose and his son joined the line for breakfast.

*sounds of plates clinking*

Chef: Hees your food! Dried fish, hot coffee and a scrumptious pan de sal.

Jose & Pepito: Thanks.

*footsteps* (grass)

Narrator: They sat under a coconut tree, far from people.

*eating (chewing sounds)

Jose: The scenery is breathtaking, Pepito.

Pepito: Indeed. But our breakfast diet of dried fish and pan de sal has not
changed at all.

Jose: Mmhm. *wind blows, dry leaves rustling*

Narrator: Pepito took his last bite of his pan de sal and stood up, Jose also
do the same thing.

Pepito: Im full.

Narrator: They walked with the guard to their school-house cell.

Narrator: Fukui waited for them as they reached the building.

Fukui: General Kawaguchi has ordered you both to be transferred to

another house. Pack your things immediately because we must leave right
away.

Jose: We have little to carry with us, and we shall be ready in a moment.

*packing their items*

Fukui: Lets go.

Narrator: A few minutes later, they trudged out of the camp compound.
Abad Santos carrying his valise of papers, and Pepito carries their bag of
clothes.

*footsteps*

Pepito: This thing is heavy. *panting*

Jose: Yeah, but just endure it a little more, we are almost there.

*footsteps*

Narrator: They have arrived in their destination, in the city of Malabang.

They stopped before a two-storey wooden house near the northern edge of
the town.

Pepito: The river is close by, Tatang, we can bathe ourselves today.

Fukui: No! You will not leave this house. It is the Generals orders.
Narrator: Fukui motioned for them to follow him up the stairs where Aida,
the other camp interpreter, was waiting for them. As they reached the small
balcony, Fukui pointed to a corner.

Fukui: You can put your things over there, later, we can make the room
arrangements.

Aida: We have commandeered this house for the headquarters staff, you
will share it with them. I must leave you now.

Narrator: The morning passed slowly and the increasing heat of the day
soon lulled the youth to sleep.

Narrator: The noon hour came. A few minutes later, lunch was quickly
served.

Aida: Come Mr. Abad Santos, let us have our lunch.

Jose: Sure. Thank you for inviting us.

Narrator: After quickly finishing their lunch, they excused themselves and
returned to their seats by the window.

Jose: We have a very much improved meal this time, didnt we, Pepito?

Pepito: Yes, perhaps you will regain thw weight you have lost, Tatang.

Jose: Perhaps.

Pepito: Tatang, dont you find it strange that they have been constantly
transferring us from building to building?

Jose: They have strange ways and it is difficult to understand them.

Pepito: Have they asked you again to broadcast? Perhaps, Roxas has already
surrendered.
Jose: You may be right, Pepito. In any case, we can only wait for them to
make decision.

Pepito: Do you think they will release us, now that there may be no need for
broadcast to General Roxas?

Jose: I do not know, my son.

Pepito: Let us ask the interpreters, Aida or Fukui, Tatang. They should be in
a position to know.

Jose: No, it would not be good to show that we are interested in what they
intend to do with us .

Narrator: The two lapsed in silence. Pepito saw Fukui come up the road and
stopped.

Fukui: Mr. Abad Santos, the General would like to see you.

Pepito: Let me go with you this time, Tatang .

Jose: They will not let you, it is all right, Pepito. This is another of the
interrogation sessions, and I shall be back shortly.

Narrator: They had left earlier that morning, a half hour later, he saw them
returning with a squad of soldiers. His father made no move to enter the
house. Pepito quickly ran to his father.

Pepito: What is it, Tatang? Are we to be released and return to Manila?

Fukui: You and your father can go to that nearby hut, but only for a few
minutes.

Narrator: Abad Santos took his son by the shoulder and they walked to the
empty hut. Abad Santos looking squarely at his son.

Pepito: What is it, Tatang?

Jose: You must be brave, Pepito, I am going to be executed.

Pepito: What

Narrator: Pepito was shocked and then embraced his father and broke
down sobbing.

Jose: Do not cry, Pepito. You must show that you are brave.

Pepito: But why, Tatang? Why? (Pepito choked between his sobs)

Jose: They say I ordered Cebu City to be put fire. And that I authorized the
issuance of emergency currency notes. And that I have refused to cooperate
by my refusal to broadcast a message to General Roxas. They offered to
spare my life if

Pepito: Let me go and plead with General Kawaguchi. Im sure he will revoke
the order.

Jose: No, Pepito. The order was given a long time ago.

Pepito: But, Father

Jose: No, this is a real opportunity to die for our country, not everyone is
given that chance.

Pepito: *sobbing*

Jose: No tears, my son. We have so little time, so very little time, Pepito.

Jose: You are my first-born, and duty and responsibility will soon be yours
alone. I would have wanted to.. (his voice broke)

Pepito: Tatang, will you say a prayer for me?

Jose: Sure. You lead and I will follow.

Narrator: They knelt down on the bamboo slats of the veranda, and softly
they spoke the words of the prayer of contriction. They had barely finished
the words when Abad Santos felt a light tap on his shoulder.

Fukui: It is time.

Narrator: Once again, Abad Santos took his son by the shoulder and walked
to a group of soldiers. Abad Santos embraced Pepito and kissed him.

Jose: Tell your mother, your sisters, and your brother that my thought will
always be of them. And remember, my son, no tears.

Narrator: Throught tear-dimmed eyes, Pepito watched his father walk away.
There was a pride in Abad Santos steps: his head held high, his soiled coat
flapped in the slight breeze. He did not look back.

Narrator: Pepito took out his worn prayer book, his trembling hands turned
the worn pages and stopped for the dead. As he said them quietly, they
heard a muffled volley (sfx). Then all was silent. It all happened under the
hot sun.