U Turn

-- A script that's fail to submit due to lack of time.

written by Janica M. Gan

(Running Time: 3 mins)

(No. of main actors: 2)

SCENE 1: Sa loob ng bahay

(tunog ng alarm clock sa cellphone)

(Mumulat ang lalaki, mag-uunat unat,magkukusot ng mata, titingin sa cellphone na nasa lamesita atsaka patitigilin ang ingay nito, pipikit ulit habang hawak ang cellphone, magigising bigla para tingnan ang cellphone, magugulantang kasi late na pala siya, magmamadaling babangon sa kinahihigaan at tatakbo papuntang banyo upang mag-ayos ng sarili)

(Ipapakita ang scene ng isang traffic na lugar, mga sasakyang bumubusina, ipapakita ang stop light na nagbabago ng kulay, ang mga traffic enforcer na busy sa pag-aayos ng trapiko, mga taong tumatawid, mga taong naglalakad, mga taong nagkwe-kwentuhan habang naglalakad, ipapakita din ang ilang road signs katulad ng “Bawal tumawid, may namatay na dito”, huling ipapakita ang “No U Turn” na sign (ipopokus dahil ito ang magsisimbulong title))

(Ipapakita muli ang lalaki, lalaki: nagsasapatos, tumayo, inaayos ang kanyang damit, tumingin sa salamin saka ngingiti)

(Lalabas ang lalaki, mapapahawak sa kanyang bulsa upang kunin ang susi ng sasakyan, magtataka kasi wala pala ito sa bulsa niya, babalik ng bahay upang kunin ang susi)

(Ipapakita kung paano umalis ang sasakyan)

(Fade)

SCENE 2: Sa loob ng sasakyan

Lalaki: (Habang nagmamaneho, may tinawagan) Papunta na ko, mukhang male-late ako, sorry talaga. I’ll explain lahat pag nagkita na tayo. I’ll call you na lang. Hindi ako makakapagtext kasi nagda-drive ako. Okay, Sige. See you. Bye.

(Ipapakita ang lalaki na nagmamaneho. Ipapakita ang tindi ng traffic.)

(Lalaki: titingin sa stop light na nasa harap ng windshield ng sasakyan niya. Inip na inip ang itsura, magpapatugtog sa sasakyan niya para makabawas ng pagkainip dahil sa traffic)

(Ipapakita ang mga taong tumatawid sa pedestrian lane)

(Ipapakita ang isang lalaki na kinakausap ng traffic enforcer dahil sa paglabag nito sa road courtesy (hinihingan ng driver’s license, etc.))

(Ipapakita ang stop light na magiging green)

Lalaki: (Hingang malalim) Thank you Lord! (Papaandarin ang sasakyan muli)

(May madadaanan na mag-asawa ang sasakyan ng lalaki)

(mister nakaiwan ng helmet at hinahabol ng misis niya)

Misis: Honey! Yung helmet mo naiwan mo! (tumatakbo habang sumisigaw at inihahabol ang helmet ng asawa)

Mister: (Ihihinto ang motor at hihintayin ang asawa, kukunin ang helmet, bebeso, aalis muli)

(Tuloy pa din ang andar ng sasakyan ng lalaki)

(Lalaki: ihihinto ng bahagya ang sasakyan, hahayaang tumawid ang mga tao sa pedestrian lane, paaandarin muli pagkatapos makatawid ng mga tao)

(Ipapakita ang cellphone ng lalaki na may 50 messages na, kukunin ng lalaki ang cellphone, magda-dial ulit)

Lalaki: Sorry talaga. Malapit na ko, medyo na-traffic lang. Please huwag kang aalis, malapit na talaga ako. Oo, Sorry talaga.. Oh sige, Bye.

(Itatabi ng lalaki ang sasakyan ng kaunti para makadaan ang ambulansya na nagwa-wang wang.)

(Ipapakita ang isang mall. Ipapakita ang sign na nakasulat ay “Parking Lot”. Ipa-park ang sasakyan.)

(Magmamadaling bumaba ng sasakyan ang lalaki. Kukunin ang cellphone, hindi bibitawan. Ilolock ang sasakyan, tatakbo papuntang entrance ng mall)

SCENE 3: Sa mall

(May mare-receive na text ang lalaki, babasahin niya ito habang nasa escalator ng mall)

Text message: You’re too much late, I suggest let’s meet again some other time. Sorry.

(Tatakbo ng mabilis ang lalaki papunta sa may tapat ng entrance door ng isang department store, at dahan-dahang maglalakad, titigil…)

Babae: (Nakatayo sa may tapat ng department store, nakatingin sa naka-display na damit. May mare-receive na text message. Babasahin ito.)

Text message: U turn..

Babae: (Titingin palikod niya, makikita ang lalaki)

Lalaki: (Ngingiti, Hihingang malalim) Sorry I’m late. (Lalapit sa babae, yayakap)

Babae: (Ngingiti sa papalapit na lalaki)

(Magkakalas mula sa pagkakayakap)

(Magkaharap, hawak ang kamay ng isa’t isa)

Babae: It’s been 5 years.

Lalaki: You’re back.

(Hahawakan ng lalaki ang pisngi ng babae.)

(Ngingiti ang babae)

(Aktong hahalikan ng lalaki ang babae)

(FADE)

END

When you feel alone

To be alone is living for your own. It is funny to think that I used to be alone before. I was afraid of the people who will just betray me… I feared all things that the world may give in. What I thought was, “I can handle all things alone, it will just turn to a mess if someone helped me..”

                It became a struggle in my life – coping with some individuals. I do not want to go out with them because I know, they will just talk about some none sense stuff. I would rather be with my notebook and pen, writing everything I imagine.

                And there comes my life meeting God. I know it was God who spoke to me that I should not let myself hid inside the dark room of my life, being alone. He wants me to see the life outside. And then I go.

                Thank God, I saw how beautiful world with Him is. Life is crucial, nevertheless you can handle it. We are not alone. We’re with God.

When He said on His word, “It is not good that the man should be alone…” Genesis 2:18, we can now say that God is always with us, not letting us feel alone.

                There was a time when I thought everything is already fine. There were my friends, my classmates, my family, everyone. Everyone was perfectly complete. I was not alone. Until something happened, I cannot contact any of them. I don’t know what to do.. I felt alone. I asked God, “Lord, are you still there? Will you help me or will you leave me too?”

                It was so nice how God answered me. I don’t know but I clearly heard what He had told me, “Yes, I am here. Though this world turned its face on you, I will still be here. I will still understand you, care you, speak to you, help you, and mostly, love you. So no worries my little girl, I am here. You are not alone and will never be.”

                I just found myself crying, thanking God for not leaving me. I know He is faithful enough with His promises and so, worth it of my 100% trust. He will never change. God will never be that someone who will leave us in the midst of the challenges in our life. He will always be there. Remember the time when He carried the cross instead of us. He did not let us carry that heavy cross, He insisted. That’s how much He loves us. Do you think after He had done that, He will leave you then?

So if you feel alone, turn your eyes above, and say “No, I am with God”.

Siya na laging nagpapaalala.

Bilang mga tao, normal na sa atin ang minsang makalimot sa mga bagay bagay na pinagapagawa saatin ng Panginoon. Naiiba paminsan minsan ang ating pokus kung ano nga ba ang dapat gawin sa bawat oras na kanyang ipinagkakaloob. Ano nga bang dahilan kung bakit ka nandito? Kung bakit ka nabubuhay? Magpasarap nga ba? Mukhang hindi.

                Hayaan mong ikwento ko ang mga pangyayari kanina. Kung paano ako kinulbit ng Panginoon at bulungan nang, “Wag ka ng mag-alala, ako na ang bahala.”

                Ilang araw na akong may sakit at medyo stress sa mga acad related stuff ko. Kahit wala akong exam sa linggong ito, natatakot ako sa darating na buwan sapagkat alam kong uulanin ako ng madaming exam. Hindi ko matanto pero ang dami kong iniisip na kung anu-ano sa future. Natatakot ako, ano na nga bang mangyayari bukas? Ganito pa rin ba kaya? Bakit ganito? Bakit ganyan? Nakita ko na lang ang sarili kong nagtatanong kay Lord, “Ano kayang plano mo? Bakit nangyayari ito? Kaya mo nga kaya talaga?”

                Sinabi ko sa aking sarili na hindi ko ito kaya pero kaya Niya ito. I asked God to do things para maalala ko kung gaano niya ako kamahal at kung gaano siya katotoo sa mga salita niya. Pinagdasal ko ang youth service na gaganapin sa church namin maya-maya. 

And then He answered.

                Oras na ng youth service namin. Medyo nakaka-OC kasi sa may likod kami ng CAS Annex 2 nagservice. Since open area yun, medyo madamo, walang gaanong magandang stage, maraming distraction gaya ng ulan, etc.. masasabi mo talagang anytime pwedeng hindi matuloy ang service. Pero hindi..

                Habang kumakanta na kami ng praise and worship, biglang nawalan ng kuryente. Akala ko magpapanic ang mga tao, akala ko mag-aalisan na sila, akala ko maasar na sila.. natakot ako sa mga first time na umattend kasi baka panget yung maging first impression nila. Nag-alala ako.

At doon ko nakita kung gaano kagaling si Lord..

                Nakakatuwang makita na hindi tumigil ang lahat sa pagkanta ng praise and worship. Lahat sobrang on fire, mas dumami pa ang mga tao, ang galing. Though the enemy tried to destroy the people’s praise and worship to God, God did not leave but used His power to prove that He exist and His love is beyond measurable. All of a sudden, biglang nagkakuryente. Praise God!

                Bigla kong naalala yung kwento sa Matthew 8:24. It is when God calmed the storm. Katulad ng nangyari sa bible, hindi tayo dapat matakot sa mga bagyong darating sa buhay natin sapagkat kasama natin ang Panginoon sa bawat bagyong iyon. Kahit gaano pa ito kalakas, hindi nito matatapatan ang lakas at kapangyarihan na mayroon Siya.

Photo from my churchmate of the last night's youth service

 “I am in control, don’t doubt, don’t ask, just trust me.” This is the clearest word I’ve heard upon worshipping God all throughout the service.

God reminded me that He’s there and so, I don’t have to think of those things that cause me to feel stressed, sad and worried. Thank you Lord for the peace. Thank you for calming my sea. Truly, with the things happened kanina, nung nawalan ng kuryente, God tested our faith if we will stop on praising Him or proceed.. He’s there, watching us, looking forward that we will realize that He is in control of everything. All we have to do is to trust Him and love Him more.

Thank you Lord for controlling our lives. Thank you for answering my call. Thank you for being true with your words. I gave you all the glory! I love You.

Love. Love. Love. Is it love already?

When you are in love with somebody, nothing matters in you but him. He becomes your priority and thus, affecting your whole world. But how can you say that it is already love and not an infatuation? Have you experienced the real love in your life?

                Being in a relationship, you are committed to do things that will make both of you happy, full and contented. You are to be with each other’s side for the happiest and even the dullest time of your life. If it’s love, you are to sacrifice whatever you have for his sake.

                I know it is not good to doubt your love for someone, but have you ever asked yourself if it’s love and not just a simple crush like high school days? How can you classify if it’s already love knowing that you don’t know what is the real feeling of love? Well, are you sure it is love?

                When God sent His son for us to be saved, the real and sweetest illustration of love has been seen. It is actually said on His word:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” John 3:16

                I believe that it is already love you are to feel if you know the real and only source of true love, God. If we value the love God gave to us, then we can classify ourselves if we are really in love. If you know that there’s a God who sacrificed His all for the sake of saving your life, you will understand how sweet and sincere love is. Love is not just a four letter word where you can have fling with someone or a way of fulfilling pleasure in yourself. Loving is actually a way where you can show your sincerity, trust and value to someone else and even to yourself. It looks like a package deal of good values and knowledge. On loving someone, you will also understand the value of patience.

                Don’t set your love with emotions but with choices. If you will base your feelings with your emotions, it may come to ruin. Emotions can be on and off and so, may pass someday. However, if you love someone and keep on choosing what is right and better for both of you, you will eventually understand what love is. You will appreciate how ‘true love’ leads both of you to the right path of life. It is not the years and hours you are with each other that will determine if it’s love but the love of God both of you experience.

Always remember where true love comes from. Just like what the book “Cupidity” said: “Love comes from above, not from inside”. Yes, it is not from your boyfriend, husband, friends… It is all from Him. Love God first before loving other person. Search for your true love, God. He is always there, waiting for you to love Him.