Once Upon A Christmas Time

Narrator: Everything has a reason.

A reason to be born,

A reason to die,

A reason to speak,

A reason for silence,

A reason to meet, and

A reason to part.

Now, we have other reasons; reasons that are unique.

You may ask why we are presenting this to you,

But it is to show you the real reason,

Why you are all here today.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Sit back and relax

As section eight presents to you

Our short radio drama

Entitled,

“Once Upon a Christmas Time”

(Townspeople and carolers)

(Scene1: Townspeople and carolers in front of the church)

TP1: Puto-bungbong! Puto-bungbong! Fresh and hot puto-bungbong here!

TP2: Would you like to buy some lanterns, ma’am?

TP3: Balut! Balut!

TP4: Some donations for the church, sir?

Narrator: Oh Christmas in the Philippines.

So lively and warm

Smiles to be seen in every corner

That give off feelings, like a charm!

Here and there, lights all bright

Sweet voices of carolers

Give sparks to this joyous night!

(Scene 2: Carolers)

Carolers: Whenever I see boys and girls

Selling lanterns on the streets...

Narrator: However, there is someone who seems... different...

(Scene 3: Miguel saw carolers and got angry)

Miguel: Can you please be quiet?! You’re just annoying the people around you.

Narrator: Oh here is the little boy in our story,

The very charming Miguel Santo Tomas.

He is a sweet boy, really.

However, there is one thing that you should know about him,

Something not within reason.

You may or may not have noticed, but he hates Christmas with a passion.

Miguel is a high school senior,

Undecided still on what his future will be.

His mother, Maria, wanted him to acquire his nursing degree.

However, about a year ago,

His mother had gotten so ill and eventually passed away on Christmas eve.

Miguel's heart shattered and for Maria did he grieve.

He blamed himself for the death of his mother

For he was filled with regret that he could not do anything but watch her suffer.

(scene 4: Miguel went to church)

Miguel: Christmas! Huh! Just another waste of time and money and for what? For nothing!

(scene 5: Miguel in the church)

Miguel: Mom, why did you leave me? I need your help right now, I don’t know what to do with my life anymore.

Narrator: While Miguel was silent and praying for his mother,

Something... unexplainable happened.

An event that left him in wonder.

(BG: Scary music)

Voice: You... Miguel...

Miguel: Who are you? Show yourself!

(scene 6: Miguel saw 1st ghost)

Voice: Miguel.... MIGUEL! (laughs) How I missed you, you little rascal!

Miguel: Yaya Ploning?! But... you already died ten years ago!

Yaya: I am now the Ghost of Dreams! Lemme hug you! (laughs) You’ve grown up to be so handsome, my boy! (laughs)

Miguel: But–

Yaya: Shush shush, I’m here today but with reasons. You will meet three ghosts, one would be me, of course (chuckles), to show you reasons as to what you should do with your life.

(scene 7: 1st ghost with Miguel flies to the past)

Miguel: B-But...

Yaya: No buts, time is wasting! Let’s go!

Miguel: WHERE ARE YOU TAKING ME?! AHH!!!

(scene 8: Young Miguel with Father and Yaya)

Miguel: Where are we?

Father: Miguel! What do you want to be when you grow up?

Young Miguel: I want to be a nurse, Papa! Just like you and Mama!

Father: Why do you want to be a nurse?

Young Miguel: Because nurses are compassionate! They are honest, loyal, respectful, caring, resourceful, and always keep you motivated! And I wanted to take care of you and Mama when you get oldie!

Father: (laughs) And of course you mustn’t forget that they are also creative and sensitive to the needs of others! They will take care of you, play with you until you get well again! They are like angels watching over you. They help you increase the possibility of making responsible choices, help you restore your ability to cope with demands, consider your cultural background and never let you down!

Young Miguel: I want to become a dedicated nurse like you, Papa!

Father: That’s my boy. But first, you should study really hard so that you can enter a great university like...

Young Miguel: UST! Where Mama graduated!

Father: Right! You make me so proud my son.

Yaya: See, boy? You are a dreamer. You have a compassionate heart, caring and sensitive. That is why your mother wanted you to take up nursing. That is what you wanted!

Miguel: Mama... Papa... I forgot about it. All these years, I forgot that I wanted to be like Mama and Papa– helping people.

Yaya: Time’s up! (sighs) You better get going, boy. See you soon! (laughs)

Miguel: But, Yaya Ploning! AHH!

(scene 9: 1st ghost leaves Miguel on the ground)

Miguel: Where am I? YAYA PLONING! Where are you?!

Narrator: And Miguel was left there in the garden.

(scene 10: Miguel went to the fountain)

Narrator: While wondering where he’s at,

Miguel saw something strange, someone from his past...

Miguel: I know this place. This is...

(Miguel heard someone)

(scene 11: Miguel saw 2nd ghost)

Miguel: AHH!

Voice: Salutations, Miguelito!

Miguel: Teacher Abe! What are you doing here?! How– you’re flying!

Teacher Abe: ‘Nough with the questions, Miguelito. I am here to help you.

(scene 12: Miguel talks with Ghost of Knowledge)

Teacher Abe: I am the Ghost of Knowledge!

Miguel: What?! Teacher Abe, you’re dead?!

Teacher Abe: I’ll explain later, miguelito! Let’s go!

(scene 13: Miguel goes with 2nd ghost)

Miguel: Where are we?

Teacher abe: Remember the day when I asked you what you wanted to do with your life? Anyway, let’s go inside.

(scene 14: Teacher talks about nursing)

Miguel: Hey that was us over the summer! That was months after my mother died.

  

Teacher Abe: Nursing. Your mother wanted you to take up nursing because she saw herself in you.

Miguel: Why?

Teacher Abe: Because you have the knowledge. I remember when you were still young, you were my favorite student. And oh I know I was your favorite science teacher.

Miguel: Uh-huh?

(scene 15: Miguel as a young boy)

Teacher Abe: You see, you know how to take care of others. You are compassionate in what you are doing. You always help your classmates when they are in need. You are very good in science like chemistry, biology and anatomy–

Miguel: Those were my favorite subjects, but so what?

(scene 16: Miguel with favorite teacher)

Teacher Abe: That’s right! And your mom does not want you to waste your knowledge. She knows you can be better if you choose a path that will really use your AWESOMENESS. Er... I mean your talents. As a nurse, you will get the opportunity to learn the anatomy, appreciate the salient features, and diagnose the reasons for the occurrence of some types of diseases. Nursing will use your gift of knowledge because the primary role of a nurse is to affect change in the life of a patient and play a role in transforming the patient to be a better person.

Miguel: I don’t know what to say.

Teacher Abe: C’mon, Miguel, say yes to nursing, that was what your mother wanted you to do That was what YOU wanted to do.

Miguel: Was that who I was?

(Clock chimes)

Teacher Abe: Time’s up! Better get going!

Miguel: Wait, what?! No, please don’t leave. Explain more to me. I still don’t understand.

Teacher Abe: Good bye, m' boy!

Miguel: AHH!

(scene 17: Miguel wakes up on the bench)

Miguel: Where am I? Oh gosh. I just had the weirdest dream...

(scene 18: Miguel saw 3rd ghost)

Voice: It wasn't a dream.

Miguel: Who are you?

Voice: I am the Ghost of Love. We don't have much time. Come with me, my dear.

(scene 19: 3rd ghost takes him to the past)

Miguel: Where are we? (gasps) That’s Mama and Papa!

Voice: Becoming a Registered Nurse helped me understand the value of life. When you see people fighting to stay alive, you understand that every breath is a gift and should never be taken for granted.

Miguel: You are a nurse?

Voice: Yes. I chose to be a nurse because there is no other profession wherein you can touch human lives in such an intimate way. Whether you’re there to help bring a new life into the world or just be there for a patient when he takes his final breath, there is inner peace that only a nurse can feel. Nurses are exposed to things that no other job can ever offer you. The significant impact on people's lives and their families is the most rewarding experience you can have.

Miguel: Now I get it. That's why Mom said there is no such thing as a boring day in nursing. It's forever changing and whether you are caring for patients with multiple injuries or a serious illness, it is very challenging and stimulating. Nursing is fast paced and needs energetic individuals who can get several jobs done at once and know how to prioritize. There is no mundane piece of work everyday when you're a nurse. I get it! It’s all coming back to me now. I remember why a wanted to become a nurse. Thank you!

Narrator: And Miguel was brought back to where he was before the first ghost.

His mind was racing, but the last ghost, it was she who made him wonder most.

Everything about her seemed familiar. She filled him with glee.

But who he thought she was just couldn't be.

Miguel: The last ghost! The Ghost of Love!

Narrator: And when the ghost faced him, he couldn’t believe his eyes!

The last ghost, who taught him the importance of being a nurse, was the most important woman in his life...

Miguel: Mom...

Narrator: Miguel rushed to his mother and wrapped his arms around her.

For this, he wished too hard and he waited too long.

But as he came to his senses, in the blink of an eye, she was gone.

Miguel: Thank you, Mom. Thank you.

Narrator: The seasons have come, the seasons have gone.
In the University of Sto. Tomas, our hero did belong.
He found that his mother was his heart's song.
And from that day on, he knew nothing could go wrong.

Narrator: Everything has a reason.

A reason to be born,

A reason to die,

A reason to speak,

A reason for silence,

A reason to meet, and

A reason to part.

And these are the reasons

Why we took up nursing.

A profession that is a dream,

A knowledge,

And is not without love.

And those of you who have listened, thank you.

I hope that you have been bestowed with dreams, knowledge and of course, love.

May it inspire you to become better nursing students.

Good luck to all of you!

The future’s greatest nurses.

The end.