Scene 3: Mendoza’s Residence
New Yorker
in Tondo
BISAYA VERSION
Scene 1: Prologue
(Mrs. Mendoza is at the airport parking lot to pick up her
daughter from her flight. Francesca arrives at the parking
lot.)
Mrs. M: Kikay! Abot najud ka! Kamusta man ang flight?
Kikay: (Sarcastically.) Kikay? I don’t know any girl named
Kikay. She’s probably that girl from Tondo.
Mrs. M: (Confused.) Hoy, Kikay. Na unsa ka?
Kikay: (Sighs, rolls eyes.) Mom, it’s Francesca. F, R, A– You
know how to spell my name! (Chuckles.)
Mrs. M: Hay nalang, Kik… FranCESca. Dali na! Uli na ta, basi
gikapoy ka sa flight.
Kikay: (Scrolls through her phone, then looks at Mrs. M’s
hair.) Mom, you seriously need to fix your hair, come on.
Make it on fleek.
Mrs. M: Ambot nalang jud, Francesca! Lagi lagi, mag
change na lagi ko hairstyle.
Kikay: Oh, by the way, where’s dad? Shouldn’t he be
picking me up too?
Mrs. M: Naa sa balay. Dili mag uban, kay busy ug dula sa
katung iyang iPhone X. Dali na, ginapangita naka ato!
Scene 2: Kikay is Back
Kikay’s childhood friends find out about Kikay’s return to
Tondo.
Tony is vaguely scrolling through his Twitter feed and finds
out Kikay has returned to Tondo. He then texts his other
friends, Nena and Totoy. (Phone screen scene.)
Tony then buys a bouquet of flowers for Kikay.
1
Act 1: Tony and Mrs. Mendoza
(Mrs. Mendoza is enjoying her morning when she hears a
knock at the front door.)
Mrs. M: Bisita napud, halos every day nalang ta naay
bisita, mura naman kog councilor ani.
(She opens the door. Tony steps in, carrying a bouquet.
Tony is 26, dressed to kill, and the suave type. Right now,
however, he is feeling a trifle nervous. He is startled
slightly on seeing Mrs. Mendoza.)
Mrs. M: Tony! Abi nako nag uli ka sa inyo.
Tony: (Startled.) But is that you, Aling Atang?
Mrs. M: (Laughing.) Of course. Ako jud ni. Abi nimo kinsa
ko… si Liza Soberano?
Tony: Uh... murag dili najud ikaw si Aling Atang.
Mrs. M: (Shyly touching her boyish bob.) Nag change
hairstyle ko. Pangit ba?
Tony: Dili uy! Nice, bagay sa imo, mura gani kag si Kikay.
Mrs. M: Hay nalang ni, Tony, atik jud kaayo ka! Dali uy,
sulod sa. (Lets Tony sit on the couch.) Dali lingkod sa,
kamusta naman imo mama?
Tony: (As he sits down, still holding the bouquet.)
Gimingaw najud to diri sa Tondo, Aling Atang. Kabalikon na
kaayo to diri.
Mrs. M: (Standing beside his chair.) Unsa ka kadugay
didto?
Tony: Three months lang, Aling Atang.
Mr. M: Lang?! Three months?! Dugay na kaayo ng three
months na mawala para sa mga taga Tondo. Kaluoy sad sa
imo mama.
Tony: Hay basta engineer, kung asa ang trabaho, didto jud
dapat. Sagdi lang, pag mahuman tung bridge sa Bulacan,
mubalik nami ni mama diri.
Mrs. M: Maayo lang sad, kay gimingaw nami sa iya.
Tony: Siya sad, gimingaw na kaayo sa inyo.
Mrs. M: Ana jud, pag taga Tondo, mingawon jud na diri.
Pero ambot nalang ana kay Kikay, ni adtog America for one
year, pero ana siya wala jud siya na homesick man lang.
Tony: (Beginning to look nervous again.) Kanus’a gani siya
nag balik diri?
Mrs. M: Tung Monday lang.
Tony: Wala jud ko kabalo nga nag balik nasiya kung wala
nako to na basa iya post sa Twitter. (Too worried to pay
much attention.) Bagay gyud ka tan’awon, Aling Atang. Asa
diay siya karon?
Tony: Yes, Aling— I mean, yes, Mrs. Mendoza.
Mrs. M: (Turning to go.) Sige, tawagon sa nako si Kikay.
Tony: (To himself as he sits down.) Hah!
Mrs. M: (Turning around again.) Tony…
Tony: (Jumping up again.) Po, Aling— I mean yes, Mrs.
Mendoza?

Mrs. M: (Who’s rather engrossed in her own troubles too.) Mrs. M: Ayaw jud tawaga si Kikay ug, “Kikay.”
Kinsa?
Tony: (Blankly.) Unsa diay ako itawag sa iya?
Tony: Si Kikay. Naa siya diri?
Mrs. M: Francesca dapat imo itawag sa iya.
Mrs. M: Ay, oo, naa siya diri, tulog pato.
Tony: Francisca?
Tony: Tulog?! Ha?
Mrs. M: Dili Francisca… Fran-CES-ca.
Mrs. M: Oo, tulog pa siya, kay ana siya, pag New Yorker
Tony: Pero ngano Francesca?
daw, dili dapat ka mu mata before 12 o'clock.
Mrs. M: Ana siya, na sa new York, Francesca daw ang
Tony: (Checks the time.) 10 am paman diay.
tawag sa iya. Ana ang tawag sa mga Americano sa iya, and
Mrs. M: Gani, gikapoy man sad to siya, start atung ni abot gusto sad niya ing’ana ato tawag sa iya, kay “Chi-chi” daw
siya diri kay basking asa nalang naay welcome back party. kaayo, murag Italian. Ana gani siya na sa New York, abi
daw sa mga tao na Italian siya, Italian gikan sa California?
Tony: (Rising sadly.) Ay, pwede paki ingon nalang sa iya, na
Kaya Francesca jud ang itawag sa iya, dili na siya ganahan
nag adto ko diri, para i-welcome siya. Ug pwede pahatag
tawagon ug Kikay.
nalang ko aning bouquet sa iya?
Tony: (Limply, sitting down again.) Sige, Mrs. Mendoza.
Mrs. M: (Taking the flowers.) Sige, sige, pero ayaw sa ug
lakaw ha. Kababata baya nimo siya, hulaton jud dapat Mrs. M: (Turning to go again.) Sige, hulat sa diri tawagon
nimo to siya. nako si Francesca. (Somebody knocks at the front door.
She turns around again.) Jusko, naa nasad?!
Tony: Okay lang, Aling Atang uy, pwede paman ko mubalik
diri. Tony: (Jumping up once again.) Ako nalang abre, Mrs.
Mendoza.
Mrs. M: Ayaw sag lakaw, hulata nalang to siya, mahappy to
siya makakita ug childhood friend. Pasalamatan paka niya (He goes to open the door.)
sa bouquet nga gihatag niya. Nindot kaayo imo gipalit,
Mrs. M: (As she exits…) Kadali lang, Tony.
Tony, basig mahal ni ha.

Tony: (Sitting down again.) Ay wala rana uy, Aling Atang.
Mrs. M: (Pausing, already at center doorway.) Oh, Tony…
Tony: Po, Aling Atang?
Mrs. M: Ayaw ko tawaga ug “Aling Atang.”
Tony: Ngano man?
Mrs. M: Dili gusto si Kikay. Ana siya, mas “civilized” lagi
daw ang tawagon ko ug “Mrs. Mendoza.” Kaya “Mrs.
Mendoza” jud imo itawag sa akoa, labon na pag naa si
Kikay, “Mrs. Mendoza” jud ha.
Act 2: Reunion
(Tony opens the door and Totoy steps in. Totoy is the
same age as Tony and is more clearly a Tondo sheik. The
one word that could possibly describe his attire is
“spooting.” Both boys extend their arms out wide on
beholding each other.)
Totoy: Tony!
Tony: Totoy! (Pats each other’s back.)
Totoy: Abi nako naa ka sa Bulacan, naa man lagi ka diri?
Tony: Lagi, mag hi lang unta ko kay Kikay.

2
Totoy: Sikat na kaayo to siya ba, daghan kaayo ug sturya
about sa iya, puro sad lagi lain.
Tony: Gani no.
Totoy: Nabuang daw to siya?!
Tony: Wala uy, napadpad lang to sa New York.
Totoy: Nag unsa diay siya didto?
Tony: Studies, hair culture, and science – naa siyay
diploma.
Totoy: Iba ged si Kikay.
Tony: Huy, ayaw siya tawaga ug Kikay. Francesca lagi daw.
Totoy: FranCESca?
Tony: Ang miss Tondo dati, miss New York na karon.
Americana najud si Kikay.
Totoy: American? Kato, gabaligya lang man gani to ug
puto.
Tony: (Laughing.) Huyy, gitulak baya nato siya dati sa pool.
Toty: Suko baya kaayo siya ato.
(Knocking at the door. Totoy goes to open it. Enter Nena.
Nena is a very well-possessed young lady of 24.)
Nena: Uy, Totoy!
Totoy: (Opening his arms.) Nena, BebeGurl!
Nena: (Brushing him aside as she walks into the room.) Uy
Tony! Anong meron? Reunion, 1D?
Totoy: (Following behind her.) Naa daw foreigner diri
bag’ong abot.
Nena: Ay kato siya! Naa siya diri?
Tony: Gimata pa siya ni Mrs. Mendoza.
Nena: Tulog pa siya?
Mrs. M: (Appearing in the center doorway.) Wala na,
matay najud siya, pero nag ilis pa siya. Uy Nena, Totoy,
good morning!
(Totoy and Nena are staring speechless. Mrs. Mendoza is
carrying a vase in which she has arranged Tony’s flowers.
She self-consciously walks into the room and sets the vase
on the table amidst the silence.)
3
Mrs. M: (Having set the vase on the table.) Well, Totoy?
Well, Nena? I said good morning. Why are you staring at
me like that?
Nena: Aling atang, ikaw ba yan?
Totoy: Hala, i-ikaw na?!
Tony: Mrs. Mendoza na na siya karon.
Mrs. M: Tony, si Kikay lang ang gusto tawagon ko ug Mrs.
Mendoza. Ganahan siya sa flowers Tony, Thank you daw.
Huy Nena, ayaw sigeg tan’aw dira, kusi’on tika karon.
Nena: Sa una baya, kusog kaayo ka mangusi, Don’t me,
Aling Atang, ay, Mrs. Mendoza diay.
Mrs. M: Alangan, badlungon man kaayo ka, kamo duha ni
Kikay, sige lang mog away. (Points at Totoy.) Ug kana sad,
manguha pajud ug mangga sa likod sa balay.
Totoy: Naa pa ba tung puno?
Mrs. M: Yes, naa pa didto.
Totoy: Nena, manguha ta didto.
Mrs: Ayaw testingi, paspas baya gihapon ko mag dagan. Ug
ngano didto jud manguha, naa man sa kusina, dali ubani
ko magkuha.
(Mrs. Mendoza and Totoy exit.)
Act 3: Engagement
(Left alone, Nena and Tony are silent for a moment. Tony
is seated; Nena stands behind the sofa.)
Nena: Tony?
Tony: Wala dapat ka nag adto karon, Nena.
Nena: Ngano man?
Tony: Wala pami closure ni Kikay.
Nena: Ha? Wala pa? Abi nako nag adto ka gabii diri para
ana.
Tony: Wala, Naulaw ko.
Nena: (Holds Tony’s hand.) Tony!
Tony: (Irritated.) Please lang, Nena, i-consider sad ang
gravity sa situation, dali lang ba daw mag call off ug
engagement?
Nena: Si Kikay? O ako?
Tony: Of course ikaw, I’m in love with you.
Nena: But engaged sad ka kay Kikay.
Tony: Pero last year pato.
Nena: Bantay lang jud ka.
Tony: Nena, I love you, and kabalo ka na ikaw lang jud.
Nena: Pero ngano ka nag engage sa ako na engaged man
ka kay Kikay?
Tony: Ngano gi ingon paman gud nako ni sa imo, kung wala
lang ko naging honest.
Nena: Honest?! Honest tawag nimo ana?! You made me
fall in love with you when you still belonged to Kikay.
Tony: (Looks down.) Abi nako wala najud si Kikay, secret
lang man sad to amo engagement. Nag propose ko sa
iyaha bago siya nilakaw ug New York, ug siya mismo nag
ingon nga secret lang amo engagement, hulaton sa nako
na magbalik siya. Pero tung naa na siya didto, after pila ka
months wala na siya nagarespond sa akung letter. Abi
nakog wala nami.
Nena: Unya nag propose ka sa ako?
Tony: (Miserably.) Yes.
Nena: Tapos iingon pajud nimo na secret ang
engagement?!
Tony: Pero na find out nako, na magbalik diay si Kikay.
Nena: Well, dili nako gusto na secret lang ni ato
engagement, unsa pulos sa pagiging engaged kung wala
man lang makabalo.
Tony: Please, hatagi ko ug chance na i-explain ni kay Kikay.
Para pwede na nato ma ingon sa tanan ang atong
engagement.
Nena: Maayo lang jud.
Tony: Paano nako ni ma ingon kay Kikay?
Nena: Ngano man?
Tony: Naa ka diri, naa pajud si Totoy diri. Alangan naman
ug iingon lang nako ug kalit.
Nena: So gusto ka wala mi ni Totoy?
Tony: Dili man sa ana, mas dali lang siya iingon kung kami
lang duha.
4
Nena: Sige, ako bahala kay Totoy.
Tony: Sige.
Nena: Ako na bahala.
Act 4: Francesca
(Totoy appears in the doorway with tray on his head;
glasses and a pitcher are on a tray.)
Totoy: (Sailing in.) Puto kayo diyan, bili na kayo ng puto…!
(Mrs. Mendoza appears in the doorway, carrying a plate of
sandwiches.)
Mrs. M: Listen everybody… naa na si Kikay… or as she likes
to be called… Fran-CES-ca.
(As Mrs. M. moves away, Kikay appears, acting like a diva.)
Kikay: (Having paused a long moment in the doorway,
hands uplifted in surprise and delight.) Oh, hello, hello…
you darling, darling people! (She glides into the room.
Everybody else is too astonished to move.) Oh my god,
Nena! You look so cute! (She kisses Nena who rolls her
eyes.) Totoy! How nice of you to be here! (Kikay’s smiling
stops when she sees Tony.) Oh, and Tony! (Smiles again.)
My man! (Notices the glass on the table, now irritated.) Oh
my God, Mom!
Mrs. M: Unsa napud?!
Kikay: Really, Mom? Fruit juice in water glasses? How
many times do I really have to remind you? Never, ever,
EVER serve fruit juice in water glasses.
Mrs. M: Dili nako makita tung mga glass na gidala nimo
diri.
Kikay: (Approaching and kissing her mom.) Oh shush,
Mom! Just don’t be clumsy next time. Now why don’t you
take a seat?
Mrs. M: Dili na, mulakaw sa ko sa palengke.
Kikay: Don’t forget my celery! (Looks at her visitors.) I can’t
live without it.
Mrs. M: Sige, ug Tony, ikamusta ko sa imo mama.
Kikay: (Gesturing make-up, silent.) Mom.
Mrs. M: Kikay, kailangan bagyud nako?
Kikay: (Sarcastically.) Of course, Mrs. Mendoza.
(Mrs. M goes out and Kikay invites everyone to have lunch
outside.)
Kikay: Welp, it’s getting boring here. Why don’t we go out
too and have fun?
Scene 4: The Café
Act 1: Our Tree
(After food is served.)
Kikay: Bon appétit!
Totoy: Huh?
Kikay: I said “enjoy your meal”, it’s in French.
Totoy: Ah, bon apetit!
(Kikay takes a selfie while Nena eats her meal. The two
boys are also eating their meals.)
Nena: Pag story daw about sa New York.
Kikay: (Fervently.) Ah, New York, New York!
Tony: Unsa ka kadugay didto?
Kikay: (In a trance) 10 months, 4 days, 7 hours. and 21
minutes!
Totoy: Ug feeling sad nimo, naa paka didto.
Kikay: (With emotion choking her voice.) Yes, I feel as if I
were still there, as though I had never left it, as though I
had lived there all my life. But I look around me… (She
bitterly looks around her at the three gaping visitors.)
…and I realize that – no, no, I’m not there. I’m not in New
York… not anymore.
Kikay: (She rises abruptly and goes to a window where she
stands, looking out.) I’m home, they tell me. Home! But
what is home for me? This cannot be home, because my
heart aches with homesickness. I feel myself to be an
exile… yes, a spiritual exile. My spirit aches for its true
home across the sea. Ah, New York! My own dear New
York! (She is silent a moment, looking across the horizon,
her arms crossed over her chest. Her visitors glance
uneasily at each other.)
Nena: Dali na, manguli nalang ta.
Tony: Gani, basi nakadistorbo pa ta sa iya.
5
Totoy: (Crossing his arms over his own chest.) Ah, New
York! My own dear New York!
Kikay: By the way, it’s spring in New York. The daisies are
just appearing in Central Park and out in Staten Island. Oh,
we have a funny custom in New York… an old, old, and
very dear custom. When spring comes around each year,
we New Yorkers, we make a sort of pilgrimage to an old
tree growing down by the Battery. Oh, it’s an old tree. It’s
been growing there ever since New York was New York.
And we New Yorkers, we call it “Our Tree.” Every spring
we go down to say hello to it, to watch its first green
leaves coming out. In a way, that tree is our symbol for
New York… undying, immortal, forever growing, and
forever green!
Kikay: (She laughs and makes an apologetic gesture.) But
please, please forgive me! Here I am, going sentimental
and just mooning away over things you have no idea
about. No, you can’t understand this emotion I feel for our
dear old tree over there in New York.
Nena: Francesca, kabalo ko about ana na feeling, labi na
ang atong puno dati.
Kikay: (Blankly.) About what tree?
Nena: Sa likod gud sa inyo balay, remember? Tung
mangga? Everyday kaya ta naga saka didto dati, unya
kasab’an dayon ta sa imo mama.
Totoy: Jusko, ayaw ko ninyo iparemember ana kay ako ang
permi ma target.
Nena: Alangan ikaw man pinakadali makita.
Kikay: But wait a minute. What is this tree you're talking
about?
Nena: Katong kahoy gud na naa sa likod sa inyong balay.
Kikay: Ohhh, THAT tree.
Tony: What's the matter, Kikay? Wala diay kay mafeel sa
atung puno diri parehas sa imong mafeel sa New York?
Kikay: Of course not. They're different. I don't feel any
emotion for that silly mango tree. It doesn't awaken any
memories for me at all!
Nena: (Rising.) Well, it does… for me. Puro happy
memories. Bahala ka! Mag adto nalang ko sa likod ang
mag hi didto. (Imitating Kikay’s tone and manner.) You
know, Kikay, over here in Tondo, we have a funny
custom… an old, old, and very dear custom. We make a
sort of pilgrimage to a silly, old mango tree growing in a
backyard. And for us here in Tondo, that tree is “our” tree.
In a way, it is a symbol…
Kikay: (Interrupting.) Don’t be silly, Nena.
Tony: Look who’s talking.
Kikay: (In amused despair.) Oh, you people can’t
understand at all!
Tony: Malamang, wala paman mi kaadto New York.
Kikay: (Earnestly.) That’s it exactly! Until you’ve been to
New York, you can’t, can’t understand. Ever! Oh, believe
me… Not to have lived in New York is not to have lived at
all! That tree of ours over there… It doesn’t stand for
anything like that nonsense mango tree stuff. It stands for
a more daring way of life!
Kikay: It stands for freedom, and for the Manhattan
skyline, and for the Copacabana, and for Coney Island in
summer, and for Grant’s Tomb on Riverside Drive, and for
Tuesday nights at Eddie Condons with Wild Bill Davidson
working on that trumpet of his, and for Saturday nights at
Madison Square Garden with the crowds spilling all over
the side walk, and for the nickel ferry ride to Staten Island,
and for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade down Fifth Avenue
and, for all… (She stops, overcome with her memories.)
Oh, it’s impossible to make you see!
Totoy: Mas gusto pa nako ang gikan lang sa Tondo na
puno.
Tony: Gani.
Nena: Mao jud.
Kikay: Oh, you silly people.
Nena: Bahala ka uy, mag adto ko didto sa Among Tree,
mubalik nako sa inyo. Dili jud ka mag check man lang?
Kikay: (Laughing.) Of course not, child. Do go.
Nena: Totoy, ubanan ko nimo?
Totoy: (Fervently, as he rises.) Asa man?!
Nena: (In Kikay’s manner of speaking.) Didto sa ila Kikay, sa
puno.
Totoy: (Acting up too.) Oh, the backyard of Tondo, the
barong-barongs of Maypaho, the streets of Sibakong…
6
Nena: (In the center doorway.) Unsa man dong, ubanan ko
nimo or dili?
Totoy: (Following her.) Anywhere, dream girl, anywhere at
all! (Nena and Totoy exit.)
Act 2: The New York Way
Kikay: (Sitting down on the sofa.) Apparently, our Totoy
still has a most terrific crush on Nena. (Tony is silent.) Do
wake up, Tony… What are you looking so miserable about?
(Tony rises from his chair and sits down beside Kikay on
the sofa. He is nervous and cannot speak. Kikay smilingly
gazes at him.)
Tony: (Finally gathering courage.) Kikay… wala ko kabalo
asa ko mag start.
Kikay: Just call me Francesca... that’s a good place to start.
Totoy: Naa jud koy kailangan iingon sa imo.
Kikay: Oh, Tony, can’t we just forget all about it?
Tony: Forget?
Kikay: That’s the New York way, Tony. Forget. Nothing
must ever be so serious, and nothing must drag on for too
long. Tonight, give all your heart. Tomorrow, forget. And
when you meet again, smile, shake hands… Just be good
sports.
Tony: Ha?
Kikay: Tony, I was only a child at the time.
Tony: Kanus’a?
Kikay: When you and I got engaged. I’ve changed so much
since then, Tony.
Tony: …Last year lang man to.
Kikay: To me, it seemed like centuries ago. So much has
happened to me. I’ve become a completely different
person in just one year. After all, what’s a year, what’s a
person? Just relative terms. More can happen to you in
just one year in New York than in all a lifetime spent
anywhere else. Do you know… I feel as if I’ve always lived
in New York. In spirit, I am and have always been a native
of Manhattan. When I first arrived there, I felt I had come
home at last. It’s my real home.
Kikay: Oh, listen, last summer it was really hot… one of the
hottest summers we ever had. I’d go riding on one of
those double-decker buses just to cool off, and all those
people from Kalamazoo and Peoria and other places like
that would be wandering around the streets… sightseeing,
you know… and there I would be, on top of this bus
looking down at them and feeling very amused at the way
they gaped at the skyscrapers and the way they gaped at
the shop windows. But I’d be feeling very proud too,
because it was my city they were admiring, and I’d feel
rather sorry for them living out in the sticks…
Tony: Unya na gud ng New York be, wala najud ko
giganahan ba.
Kikay: …And that’s what we cannot do, Tony… not
anymore.
Tony: Ngano man?
Kikay: Tony, you got engaged to a girl named Kikay. Well,
that girl doesn’t exist anymore… She’s dead. The person
you see before you is Francesca. Don’t you see, Tony? I’m
a stranger to you… We don’t speak the same language. I’m
a woman of the world! You… are only a boy. I’d hate to
hurt you, Tony… But surely you see that we simply aren't
meant for each other? Imagine, a New Yorker marrying a
guy from Tondo?
Tony: (Blazing.) Dili man gud…
Kikay: (Very tolerantly.) I’m sorry if I’ve hurt you, Tony. But
I wanted you to realize how ridiculous it would be to think
that I could still be engaged to you.
Tony: (Leaping up.) Pero dili ko nimo basta basta lang
ing’ana’on.
Kikay: Shush, Tony. Only uncivilized people lose their
temper.
Tony: (Shouting.) Unsa diay imo gusto? Musmile lang ko?
Ug mag pasalamat sa mga gipanginsulto nimo sa ako?
Kilau: Yes, Tony, be a sport. Let’s smile and shake hands
and be just friends, huh! Be brave, Tony. Forget! That’s the
New York way. Find another girl. There are other “goils” in
the “esters,” as they say in Brooklyn. You’ll find somebody
else… someone more proper for you.
(Nena and Totoy come back. From a distance, they hear
Tony and Kikay yelling.)
Tony: (Waving his fist.) Ay na kung dili lang gyud ka babae!
Kikay: Hold it, Tony… You must never, ever hit a woman.
7
Act 3: Nag Bisaya na Siya
Nena: What’s all this?
Kikay: Nothing… nothing at all.
Totoy: Unsa mani inyo gipag’awayan?
Kikay: We were not fighting. Tony and I just decided to be
good friends and nothing more.
Nena: Tony, na ingon najud nimo?
Tony: (Shouting.) Yes!
Nena: Hay salamat, maingon najud nato!
Kikay: Tell us what?
Totoy: Ha? Anyare?
Nena: (Taking Tony’s hand.) Tony and I are engaged!
(Dumbfounded, Kikay walks out, goes to the bathroom,
and looks at herself.)
Totoy: Ha?! Wala lagi ko nakabalo na engaged na diay mo?
Nena: Lagi, basta mag one month na amo engagement.
(Overhearing the conversation, Kikay walks back.)
Kikay: A month! (Fiercely, to Tony.) Why, you… you…
Tony: (Backing off.) Giingnan tika kikay, pero ikaw, IKAW
ang wala naminaw.
Kikay: YOU JERK!
Nena: Um, excuse me, fiancé diay nako imo kasturya.
Distance, please.
Kikaw: UGH, IF I KNOW DILI NIMO SIYA FIANCÉ.
Nena: Hala! Nag Bisaya na siya! Ug ngano man sad dili?
KIKAY: Because he was still engaged to me when he got
engaged to you!
Nena: Kay ikaw mismo FRANCESCA, ang nag ingon sa iya,
na dili namo engaged!
Kikay: Ah, but I didn’t know about all THIS! This
treacherous business! Oh, the shame of it! Getting
engaged to you when he was still engaged to me! Do I look
like the kind of girl who’d let a man reject her? (Moving
towards Tony.) Oh, you horrible, horrible monster!
Tony: (Backing off some more.) Kikay, only uncivilized
people lose their temper.
Kikay: Don't you try using my own words against me. Nena: Mas gentleman pa siya sa imuha! Siya pa mismo
nagdefend sa ako!
Nena: (Blocking her way.) Ayaw gud pag duol sa akung
fiancé. Totoy: (To Tony.) Hawa dira!!

Kikay: AYAW JUD PAG INGON NA FIANCÉ NIMO SIYA KAY
AKO LANG ANG PWEDE MAKAINGON ANA, UG WALA
NAKO SIYA GIBOY AN!
Nena: Maulaw ka Kikay, tan’awa gud na imong sarili, mura
na ug iro ang imong batasan.
Tony: Giingnan tika ga dili mag apil apil, unsa man ka!?
(Tony pushes Totoy. Totoy falls down. Tony sits, sulking.)
Nena: (Running to Totoy.) Oh, Totoy, ikaw lang gyud ang
always naasa akung side. (Meanwhile, Kikay has run to
Tony’s side and kneels beside him.)

Kikay: Ikaw ang dapat maulaw, gikuha nimo akung fiancé Kikay: Tony, Tony… Are you okay?!
unya nag kalit kalit lang ka!
Tony: (Sitting up and brushing her hands away.) Ayawg
Nena: (Exploding.) UGH! SOBRA NAKA HA! duol sa akua. (Kikay rises and haughtily moves away. Tony
continues to sit on the floor, posing like Rodin’s “Thinker.”)
Tony: (Keeping a safe distance.) Totoy! Pugnga sila!
Nena: Totoy, ilayo ko diri!
Kikay: (To Totoy, as he approaches.) Isa na lang ka ha! Sige
kay bali’on jud nako imong liog! Totoy: (Pointing to Tony.) Engaged ba tonyo matawag
ana?
Totoy: Uy! Nigawas ang pagka-Tondo!
Nena: Dili nako gusto makita siya.
Nena: Pakaulaw lang!
Totoy: Maayo lang sad uy.
Kikay: Baga kag nawong!
(Totoy takes Nena’s arm and propels her to the door.)
(They grapple and stagger. Tony grabs Nena while Totoy
grabs Kikay, separating them, but not before Kikay socks Tony: (As they pass him.) Hoy! Nena!
Nena. Tony tries to drag Nena away, but she infuriatingly
Nena: (Pausing.) Wala na, Tony, wala na.
breaks away from him and pounces on Kikay, whom Totoy
is holding. Tony comes running but is too late to prevent Tony: (Still sitting on the floor.) Dili kaya ikaw ako kasturya.
Nena from slapping Kikay. Kikay sags down in Totoy’s
Totoy: Ayaw sad ko sturya, imong nainsulto ang akung love
arms. Tony pulls Nena away.)
na babae.
Tony: (Furious.) Ngano managpa man ka?!
Nena: (Beaming up at Totoy.) Totoy, ngano wala nimo ni
Nena: Wala ka kakita ato?! Siya gud ang na una. giingon dati?

Tony: Tan’awa gud unsa na himo nimo?! Totoy: (Shyly.) Well… at least kabalo naka…

(Totoy has dropped Kikay on a chair, knocked out.) Tony: (Still on the floor, passive aggressive.)
Congratulations!
Nena: Ngano ginadefend man nimo siya?! Ako man dapat
imo idefend! Nena: (Coldly.) Dali na, Totoy, ikaw lang gyud ang
makasabot sa ako.
Tony: Hilom gud!
(Nena and Totoy exit.)
Nena: (Stares at Tony, silently.) I hate you.

Tony: Wow…

Totoy: (Deserting Kikay who is waking up.) Hoy, Kikay,

ayaw pag ana ana kay Nena!

Tony: Ayaw gud pag apil apil!

8
Act 4: Kikay
(Tony rises and dusts himself. Kikay is on the floor on the
other side of the room, her back haughtily facing Tony.)
Tony: Unya happy naka?! Unsa paman gidaot na nimo ako
life.
Kikay: (Whirling around.) – ako, nagdaot sa imo life? IKAW
ang nagdaot sa akung life.
Tony: (Advancing.) Baga kag nawong!
Kikay: (Retreating.) Ayaw ko duoli!
Tony: (Stopping.) Wala gyud koy balak duolan ka, kinsa
lang pud ka?
Kikay: Mas kinsa ka?!
Tony: Wala man lang gani ka ka one year sa New York,
nakalimot naka sa imong dating friends!
Kikay: Oo, just one year in New York, but unsa imo
gihimo?! We got engaged! And you swore to be true, I
held onto that! Nagtoo ko, Tony, nagtoo ko! (Weeps.)
Tony: Unsa mana imo ginahilakan? Abi nako ang mga taga
New York wala naga show ug emotions?
Kikay: Tony, I was dumb. I've been a fool.
Tony: Pero despite ani, nakabalo ko unsa ka na klaseng
tao.
Kikay: (Alarmed, approaching him.) Please, Tony, dili ko
ing’ana na person.
Tony : So ing’ana lang gyud na kadali madefine ang
pagkatao?
Kikay: Tony, nablind ko ni Francesca. Sa tanang giyawyaw
nako dili to ako, si Francesca to. But now, si Kikay nani, si
kikay nani ang naa sa atubangan nimo.
Tony: Na naka ing’ana?
Kikay: Tony, ako najud ni! Maremember pa kaya ko nimo?
Sabay pa ta mag swimming dati tung bata pata.
Tony: Kung tama ko, maremember nako ba na na engage
ko sa kay Kikay.
Kikay: Yes, and you’re still engaged to her, Tony.
Tony: (After a thoughtful pause.) Welcome home, Kikay!
(Kikay and Tony hug. They leave the café.)
Scene 5: Epilogue
(Kikay and Tony are walking towards Kikay’s home.)
Tony: Kamusta ang flight?
Kikay: Horrible! Excited na kaayo ko mobalik.
Tony: Lingaw sa New York?
Kikay: No thanks, Tondo lang ako.
Tony: Ngano wala nimo gi-answer ang letters nako na
gisend?
Kikay: (After just a wee pause.) Ay kabalo naka kay si
Francesca baya.
(They arrive at the doorway of the Mendoza’s residence.
Mrs. Mendoza opens the door.)
Mrs. M: (Appearing in doorway.) Tony, naa pa lagi ka diri?
Ug ngano man mo naga sturya nga murag lahi na person si
Francesca? Jusko.
Tony: Ay, Aling Atang, wala uy patay nato siya ayaw nato
pakialama.
Mrs. M: (Dazed.) Ha? Si Kikay man si Francesca.
Kikay: Dili uy! Ako si Kikay. Dili ko si Francesca.
Mrs. M: (After gazing from one to the other, throwing her
hands up.) Bahala mo uy! Dira lang mo ha! (Exits and
closes the door leaving them alone outside.)
(Tony and Kikay look at each other, bursting into laughter.)
Kikay: (Subsiding.) Sorry, darling. (She approaches him.)
Hmm, murag naa juy kulang ba?
Tony: (Bowing.) Kani? (Tony takes something out of his
pocket. The scene ends.)