Characters

Mark

Rex

Sis

Bro

Mother

Father

Tiyo

Doc

MAGPAKAILANMAN SET

MEL: We know that nowadays, young people are more into their cellphones than books, TV, or other
forms of entertainment. This question is for parents. Do you know what your children are watching on
the internet? Do you see the videos they post on their social media accounts, and more importantly, are
you aware that their provocative dancing and exposing almost naked bodies in front of a cellphone
camera could be a way for them to earn money? That's what we call online prostitution. We often
report on this in the 24 Oras program, but tonight, #MPK will discuss this sensitive topic as a warning.
This will only be featured in our episode titled "Online Body Selling."

(drama actions begin)

MOTHER: "If I had known life with you, Fredo, would be like this, I would have rather sold my body to
feed my kids. We're struggling to get by, and you spend our money on vices instead of necessities."

(father was drinking alcohol and stands up and tries to harm his wife)

MOTHER: Really, right?

(he tightly grabbed his wife's hair)

FATHER: Enough with your incessant talking.

(he grabbed the gas oil and pour to the mouth of his wife)

FATHER: Drink this alcohol, so you can stop talking too much.

Narrator: The mother was drowning into the alcohol and Mark arrived and help his mother and he push
his father
Mark: Dad, stop, what are you doing. You're going too far. You're getting drunk, and on top of that,
you're beating up Mom. It seems like you're going crazy, and you might even be planning to set her on
fire.

Mark: "Let's end this suffering. Let's leave Dad.

Mother: What about your siblings?"

Mark: I'll take care of it.

Dad: These kids have some nerve. Why? Do you think you can handle life without me?

Mark: We'll manage, even if we have to endure hardships. We just need to escape your abuse. Let's go,
Mom.

(dad tried to harm his mother)

Mark poured alcohol on his father and lit a lighter, threatening him.

Mark: Go ahead, try to stop us. I won't hesitate to burn you, and for now, you can burn in hell.

The mother and son left.

Narrator: As the mother and son left their father's house, they sought refuge with their harsh and
oppressive uncle. The mother contracted tuberculosis, making their lives even more difficult.

Uncle: Lazy bunch, do something. I'm the one spending for your needs. Aren't you ashamed?

Sister: Don't worry, Uncle. I've found a job in Manila that I can start.

Uncle: Thank God, at least I'll have fewer dependents.

Brother: I also plan to say goodbye. I want to enter the seminary.

Mother: I won't stay much longer either. Let go of your siblings. I feel that my rest is near. Don't neglect
your siblings.

Mark: Don't say that, Mom (tearing up).

(the mother coughed up blood and took her last breath. They all cried and the mother died)

NARRATOR: Mark's siblings executed their plan to leave, leaving him behind with his uncle. Mark
attempted to get some food from Uncle's drawer but was caught stealing by his uncle, leading to a
confrontation.
Uncle: Hey, what are you doing? Are you stealing my sardines?

Mark: No, Uncle, I'm just hungry and haven't eaten yet.

Uncle: I don't care; it's not my problem. Give it to me.

Mark: Please have mercy.

Uncle: It's mine, now. You're a thief and ungrateful.

(Mark refuses to give the sardines and gets hurt by his uncle)

Uncle: Fine, do you want to leave? Leave. You're just a headache

INTERVIEW

Mel: Where did you go?

Mark: To a friend's place. I didn't know he was a thief. We got caught by the police.

IN JAIL

Mark: I'm innocent, please let me go.

Boy: You're wasting your spit. If you're bored, we can talk. You have a nice face; your body must be nice
too.

Mark: Don't touch me.

(Mark forced inside by his companion on prison and taken advantage of)

Mark: Please, stop.

(the situation left Mark with no options, and he continued to plead desperately with the man.)

INTERVIEW

Mel: How was your time in jail?

Mark: I felt depressed, always staring. My siblings don't know what happened. But later on, I was proven
innocent and released.
Narrator: As Mark was walking, he noticed a sign of job offer so he went to see it. Mark saw a guy
dancing on camera and the guy notice him staring.

Rex: You stare intensely. Are you trying to impress someone?

Mark: No, I saw a sign; you might need a helper. I was thinking of applying.

Rex: You want to be a helper?

Mark: Yes, I need a job.

Rex: Sure about that? Doesn't seem like your thing, but you might have something to offer.

Mark: What do you mean?

Rex: Don't ask too many questions. Want a job?

Mark: Yes.

Rex: Alright, you're hired. We might get along. By the way, my dad owns this junk shop. I'm Rex.

Mark: I'm Mark.

Rex: Come in, leave your stuff, and wait. I'll finish what I'm doing.

(Rex continued his dancing)

Narrator: Mark got the job, though the pay was low. He saved for his siblings but faced uncertainty
when the junk shop closed.

Mark: Your dad said the shop is closing. I need a job for my siblings. Where can I find one?

Rex: Everything is online now. You can be an online seller.

Mark: Sell what? I don't have money for that.

Rex: You don't need money. Use your data, phone, and your body. Upload videos of you dancing on
TikTok. I'll teach you. Let's go, want to earn money?

(Mark learns to dance for TikTok)

Mark: Alright.

Rex: Left, right. You can do it. Show me. (guiding Mark to dance)

Mark: My body is stiff.

Rex: You'll get better. Let me see. (rolling hips) Softer.

Mark: It's awkward.

Rex: It's not. If you want to earn, be sexy. More followers mean more money. Topless is better.
Sometimes, I don't wear briefs for more views. The more you know, the sexier you become, and more
followers.

Mark: How do we earn from TikTok?

Rex: Once you're famous, people will message you. Be open to requests. Some will ask for sexy pics or
other things. Charge them money.

Mark: Isn't that like being an online callboy? I can't do that.

Rex: You choose. Stare for pleasure or stare out of hunger? Don't overthink; just dance, left and right,
and maybe go topless. You can handle it.

(Mark starts TikTok dancing in front of the camera)

Mark: This is okay. Oh, friend, my followers are increasing. Your advice really works.

(Mark opened the door and saw Rex recording his private parts in front of the camera)

Mark: Hey, what are you doing? Why are you recording yourself?

Rex: Wow, pretend you don't do this. Besides, I'm just recording because my client requested it.

Mark: How do you post private videos on social media?

Rex: You can take it without showing your face. Also, it's just a video; they won't touch me. It won't
diminish my manhood. Plus, you'll earn more this way.

Mark: Isn't this worse than scavenging?

Rex: Compared to stealing or committing crimes? What's more sinful? So, drop your principles. Why let
your siblings go hungry when you can provide for them? Get out of here.

Naarator: Due to the lack of opportunities to send money to his siblings, Mark was pushed into selling
his body online.

Mark: Did you receive the money I sent? Good, take care. I'll go back to work now. Study well.

Rex: Nice new phone. I told you this gig is good.

Mark: Thanks, bro.

Rex: Hmm, your timing is perfect. One of my clients is asking if I can bring a partner for a live video. The
pay is higher if there are two of us.

Mark: I don't know, bro. I might not be able to handle it.

Rex: Oh, come on. Don't make me look bad in front of my client.
Mark: Bro, I really don't think I can. I'll pass for now.

Rex: You owe me, you know. Maybe it's my turn for a favor.

Narrator: He acceded to his friend's request to reciprocate a favor owed to him and they started a live
video together.

NEXT DAY

Rex: Thanks for last night. You're the best. Why are you looking at me like that? Don't tell me doing that
last night turned you into something else.

Mark: Fool, I'm not into that. Maybe it's you.

(the phone rings)

Mark: Hello, Bro. Why did you call? What happened to sis? ( Mark put down the cellphone)

Rex: What happened to your sister?

Mark: Sis, my youngest sister got dengue. We need to take her to the hospital, but I don't have money
now.

Rex: If you really need money, maybe I can pass on my booking tonight.

Mark: What booking?

Rex: A booking, where you meet the client in person. It pays more. The question is, can you stomach it?
You might embarrass me.

Mark: Whatever it is, bro. Even if I have to sell my soul to Satan, I'll do it for my sister.

Rex: You said it. Here's the client's number. ( Mark took the number)

AT THE HOTEL

Mark: Excuse me, I'm the one Rex sent.

Client: Hurry up; we're wasting time in the motel. Undress now.

MARK: (removes his facemask)

Client: What's that? I said undress. Undress.

MARK: (undresses shirt)

Mark: I might not be able to do this. I'll leave.

Narrator: Mark tries to turn back but remember what he says to Rex about the situation of his sister)

POV: Whatever it takes, as long as it's for my sister.

Client: What's this? Have you changed your mind? Kneel. Are you going to kneel, or are you going home
empty-handed?

(Mark kneels)

INTERVIEW

Mel: Why did you go all the way?

Mark: It's for my siblings; they rely on me, especially now that my sister is sick.

Narrator: Dave went to the doctor for a check-up, and shocking news awaited him.

AT THE HOSPITAL

Doc: Sorry to ask this, but have you had any unsafe sexual encounters?

Mark: Doc, why are you asking me that? Just tell me what my illness is.

Doc: You've contracted a sexually transmitted disease. You tested HIV positive.

Mark: Doc? I have AIDS? Isn't that deadly?

Doc: With the right treatment, no. So, don't worry.

INTERVIEW

Mel: Mr. Ching, what information have we gathered regarding the spread of HIV cases here in the
Philippines?

Ching: It's not just about the virus spreading. People, whether male or female, can still get infected with
HIV, and it continues to happen until we fully broaden our understanding.

AT MARK'S ROOM
Mark: (loses control) I can't take it anymore. My God, why me? Why me? I'm useless in this world. Just
take me. Take me! (crying)

(he spotted a knife and attempted to harm himself, but his siblings arrived to stop him)

Sis: Mark, what happened to you? Why like this, Mark?

(they embraced Mark while he cried)

Narrator: Mark became depressed due to everything that happened to him, but his siblings never
abandoned him)

AT THE HOSPITAL

Sis: I'm sorry, if only I knew you would go through this, I would have come back sooner.

Mark: My illness is disgusting, so you should leave.

Bro: Mark, we're not repulsed by you.

Mark: I am sinful, and it feels like all of this is punishment for me.

Bro: Mark, it's not too late. Everyone makes mistakes; we can still change. But, Mark, the important
thing is not to forget God.

Mark: I want to fight, but I'm scared to do it alone.

Sis: Forgive us, okay? We won't leave you. Just fight, okay?

(Mark lost consciousness)

Sis: Mark, Mark!

Bro: Doc, my brother, Doc.

Sis: Mark, Bro, hurry!

INTERVIEW

Mel: Are you currently receiving treatment for your HIV?

Mark: Yes, I'm still undergoing treatment because I want to be with my family.

Mel: How is your life now? What are you doing for a living?
IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA

Mark: Thank you very much to all our viewers, especially to those who support us. It means a lot to us
siblings, and for my medical treatment. Thank you.

Bro: Well, it seems like the business is thriving.

Sis: Mark, you might be getting tired of online selling. What's important is that your immune system is
strong. Don't stress over those people who criticize you.

Mark: Oh sis, just let them be. I'm immune to that now. Let them judge me; I'm just tired of my
mistakes. In fact, there are worse diseases than AIDS. That's the wrong mindset of people, thinking that
the wrong solution is the right one, because we'll all face the consequences.

Bro: Praise the Lord, bro. I'm proud of you.

Mark: Later, let's all go to church together. I always pray that we stay complete.

Bro: Group hug!

INTERVIEW

Mel: What lessons can our viewers, especially the youth, learn from your experiences, Mark?

Mark: To all mothers, please watch over your children. To the youth, be cautious and avoid meeting
people you don't know, as it may lead to danger.

Mel: Mark, your journey has been challenging, but as they say, as long as there's breath, there's hope.
So, perhaps we, here at "Magpakailanman," leave this message to you: continue praying to the Lord and
never lose hope, forever. Thank you, Mark, for the time you've given us, especially for the lessons you've
shared with our fellow Filipinos. God bless you.

Mark: Thank you very much.

Mel: My reminder to all parents out there: watch over your children, especially who they interact with
on social media. Let's strive to ensure that we provide our children with education because it's still the
best legacy or wealth we can leave them. And to you, millennials out there, our youth, let's not sacrifice
our dignity and tarnish our family's reputation by exposing ourselves and selling our bodies on the
internet. I understand that life is tough nowadays, but hopefully, we can find other opportunities that
are honorable and won't jeopardize our health. Now, tomorrow, and forever.