This emphatic speech written by Raul S.

Manglapus speaks of the tao (man) and

his struggles against his oppressors. Although the piece clearly relays the
oppression of the farmers during the Spanish era in the Philippines, it also speaks
a universal truth of taking the law into one’s own hands. The tao, at first, does not
fight, thinking that things did not need to escalate to violence. The tao then finds
out that even his own countrymen have betrayed him for money. The piece
climaxes into the tao’s anger. He has had enough of the oppression, and after the
many times he had tried to settle things peacefully, he will strike at his oppressors
when they least expect it. The last sentences are very moving and speak of the
man’s desire for freedom.

wonder, then that tao, being a slave, has acquired the habits of a slave! No
wonder that after three centuries in chains, without freedom, without hope, he
should lose the erect and fearless posture of the freeman, and become the bent,
misshapen, indolent, vicious, pitiful thing that he is! Who dares accuse him, who
dares rise up in judgement against this man, reduced to this sub-human level by
three centuries of oppression.
The tao does not come here today to be judged — but to judge! Hear then his
accusation and his sentence:

I indict the Spanish encomendero for inventing taxes impossible to bear!

I indict the usurer for saddling me with debts impossible to pay!
I indict the irresponsible radical leaders who undermine, with insidious eloquence,
the confidence of my kind in our government.

You accuse me of not supporting my family. Free me from bondage, and I shall
prove you false!
You accuse me of ignorance. But I am ignorant because my master finds it
profitable to keep me ignorant.
Free me from bondage, and is hall prove you false.

You accuse me of indolence. But I am indolent not because I have no will, but
because I have no hope. Why should I labor, if all the fruits of my labor go to pay
an unpayable debt. Free me from bondage, and I shall prove you false!

Give me land. Land to own. Land unbeholden to any tyrant. Land that will be free.
Give me land for I am starving. Give me land that my children may not die. Sell it to
me, sell it to me at a fair price, as one freeman sells to another and not as a usurer
sells to a slave. I am poor, but I will pay it! I will work, work until I fall from
weariness for my privilege, for my inalienable right to be free!

But if you will not grant me this… if you will not grant me this last request, this
ultimate demand, then build a wall, build it high, build it strong! Place a sentry on
every parapet for I who have been silent these three hundred years will come in
the night when you are feasting, with my cry and a bolo at your door. And ma God
have mercy in your soul.