Skip to main content

Land Reform: Land of Bondage Land of the Free

One of the most moving speeches that I've read. During grade school, this was the most often recited elocution piece in my school. Here it is, the text of Raul Manglapus' Land of Bondage, Land of the Free.

Land of Bondage, Land of the Free
By Raul Manglapus

And yet, ladies and gentlemen, the tao is constitutionally free! No wonder, then, that the 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 a freeman, and become the bent, misshapen, indolent, vicious, pitiful thing that he is!

Who dares accuse him now? Who dares rise up in judgement against this man, reduced to this subhuman level by three centuries of oppession?

Ladies and gentlemen the tao does not come here tonight to be judged -- but to judge!

Hear then his accusation and his sentence:

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

I indict the usurer for saddling me with debts impossible to bear!

I indict the irresponsible radical leaders who undermine with insidious eloquence the confidence of my kind in our government!

I indict the haciendero for seizing my lands with subtle trickery and reducing me to peonage!

I indict him for sacrificing the honest efforts of an honest government on the altar of his illimitable greed!

You accuse me of ignorance. But I am ignorant because my master finds it profitable to keep me ignorant. Free me from bondage, and I shall 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 the fruits of my labor go to extinguish and inextinguishable debt! Free me from bondage, and I will 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 will not die.

Sell it to me. Sell it to me at a fair price as one free man sells to another. And not as a usurer sells to a slave.

I am poor. But I will pay it! I will work and work until I fall with weariness for my privilege and my right to be free!

But if you will not grant me this last request. This ultimate demand, then build a wall around your homes... 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 my bolo at your door...

And may God have mercy on your soul!

Comments

Anonymous said…
I recited this poem when i was in third year high school at Roosevelt College in Cainta under Mr. Fidel Reyes...

I wonder, after two decades, i could still remember every phrase of this poem and there is this great feelings every time i recited this, remembering the good old days in my high school life...


Mike Llacar
Marc Noel said…
Thank you for posting this Poem! I've spent a couple of hours looking for this. Because our teacher in English told us to look for this Poem, and I think she want us to recite this in front of the class.

Ahaha. Freak!
Again, Thanks for posting!
God Bless you. Take care!

-- Marc :]
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
bondage said…
that was an interesting read about bondage and land reform.
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said…
[b]pain management whil on plavix
[/b]
aristocort ointment rxlist
buy generic soft tab viagra
aldactone and breastfeeding
amaryl how does it work
actos message boards
melatonin arimidex
aleve coupons
actigall cats
paxil generic
allegra d online rx pharmaceutical
actonel 75 mg
glucophage and estrogen
asacol medication
actonel tb
atacand 8 mg
accutane lawsuit columbus
adalat in china
brain shivers from periactin
nexium ulcer
warrick albuterol sulfate breathers
diflucan yeast infections
paxil cr class action lawsuit
apri weighted caseload study
alesse birth control pills
drug soma
why is altocor prescribed
flagyl dosages
desyrel trazodone hcl
about inderal
premarin 0.3

[url=http://relafen-and.pirinka.osa.pl/cashomongo.html] relafen aleve comparison [/url]
[url=http://tramadol-and.metlama.bee.pl/edsupp.html] tramadol check cod [/url]
[url=http://zoloft-and.lamazerro.345.pl/steath.html] paxil used for premature ejaculation [/url]
[url=http://levoxyl-manic.bueaga.bij.pl/eccerelithey.html] tricor versus lopid [/url]
[url=http://cymbalta-kid.andanterra.orge.pl/vedlion.html] allegra d tablet [/url]
[url=http://stopping-taking.faramirik.net/fursedmatlle.html] is topamax and imitrex compatible [/url]
[url=http://tamiflu-efficacy.bueaga.bij.pl/merdith.html] paxil cr class action [/url]
[url=http://levitra-cialis.pirinka.osa.pl/vexasev.html] premier spot tv viagra [/url]
[url=http://levoxyl-manic.bueaga.bij.pl/veresoth.html] lopid side effects [/url]
[url=http://levitra-cialis.pirinka.osa.pl/bereent.html] cialis comparison viagra [/url]
[url=http://erfahrungen-sila.pirinka.osa.pl/vetis.html] side effects of singulair [/url]
[url=http://aciphex-coupon.bueaga.bij.pl/ondotey.html] aciphex and weight loss [/url]
[url=http://purchase-pre.andanterra.orge.pl/sheate.html] jerry lewis prednisone [/url]
[url=http://pamelor-migraine.faramirik.net/kistlyensi.html] pepcid for cats [/url]
[url=http://mevacor-or.aragornik.com/pameacusuth.html] micardis 80 mg [/url]

accupril 40 mg
aceon canada
fargo and lasix
arava medication
arava causes short term memory loss
cialis to buy new zealand
april cope and adalat
nexium and increased estrogen
artane wyeth
amiloride hctz lithium
allegra same as benadryl ingredient
asacol stopping rectal cramps
apri ski
bactrim class
zithromax rash
flagyl antibiotic
detrol generic soma dan nolvadex
apcalis levitra vs
toprol blog
plavix acid blockers

[url=http://actos-plus.andanterra.orge.pl/index.html]organizacion eventos actos[/url]
[url=http://minocycline-minoc.faramirik.net/index.html]minocycline vs minocin[/url]
side effects of cialis
http://acne-accutane.frodiog.info/index.html isotretinoin accutane
clomid pregnancy symptoms
http://aciphex-coupon.bueaga.bij.pl/map.html |aciphex rebates
http://pro-air.pirinka.osa.pl/index.html pro air albuterol sulfate inhalation aerosol
http://generic-drug.faramirik.net/index.html generic lasix
[url=http://kamagra-lovegra.faramirik.net/index.html]kamagra lovegra uk paypal[/url]
http://clomid-light.faramirik.net/index.html clomid sample

aldactone australia
brand viagra without prescription
medication online pharmacy ultram
albuterol hfa and aerochamber
kamagra jelly uk
how periactin increases appetite
side effects synthroid
interaction of levaquin and ibuprofen
lasix tablets
how fast does cipro work
Anonymous said…
Reading these kind of posts reminds me of just how technology truly is ever-permeating in this day and age, and I am 99% certain that we have passed the point of no return in our relationship with technology.


I don't mean this in a bad way, of course! Ethical concerns aside... I just hope that as memory gets less expensive, the possibility of copying our memories onto a digital medium becomes a true reality. It's one of the things I really wish I could see in my lifetime.


(Posted on Nintendo DS running [url=http://kwstar88.livejournal.com/491.html]R4i SDHC[/url] DS NetSurf)
Anonymous said…
quite interesting post. I would love to follow you on twitter.
Anonymous said…
http://markonzo.edu http://www.netknowledgenow.com/members/ativan-side-effects.aspx http://www.netknowledgenow.com/members/prevacid-side-effects.aspx vattel http://www.netknowledgenow.com/members/prozac-side-effects.aspx http://aviary.com/artists/Seroquel http://aviary.com/artists/Zyprexa http://www.netknowledgenow.com/members/effexor-side-effects.aspx dolphin envision
Anonymous said…
hot horny singles [url=http://loveepicentre.com/]singles crack[/url] uk dating http://loveepicentre.com/ seniors dating on line
Anonymous said…
carrie underwood dating [url=http://loveepicentre.com/]speed dating coventry[/url] asian ladyboy personals http://loveepicentre.com/ dating epiphone guitars
Anonymous said…
[url=http://q0ik6mxq.100webspace.net/risks-of33/oretoderu.html] risperdal and autism [/url] [url=http://7j4ry3tk.100webspace.net/maoi-and3f/thaneseedo.html] medicare demonstration project coumadin [/url] [url=http://edhbn3td.100webspace.net/withdraw3d/xareso.html] woman taking viagra [/url] [url=http://724krm7o.100webspace.net/ssri-eff38/xasof.html] successful diovan weaning [/url] [url=http://w8dcb1lk.100webspace.net/experiene7/jetorigr.html] eye hemorrhage from paxil [/url] [url=http://j1rx333t.100webspace.net/evista-b2d/grasorexisen.html] evista for chemotherapy [/url] [url=http://tbjmyqp6.100webspace.net/paxil-dr5b/verlyigou.html] paxil official website [/url] [url=http://asy7chpj.100webspace.net/side-effba/bleruanr.html] sideeffects of detrol la [/url] [url=http://f3uc3pra.100webspace.net/patient-7d/qusirot.html] paxil and autism [/url] [url=http://lqug5m4u.100webspace.net/prilosec45/quzdsorinden.html] prilosec otc on sale [/url] [url=http://edhbn3td.100webspace.net/withdraw3d/sadit.html] yasmin cialis cialis [/url] [url=http://w8dcb1lk.100webspace.net/kamagra-d5/litoforsele.html] kamagra using paypal [/url] [url=http://asy7chpj.100webspace.net/risperda19/elemuey.html] safe generic zoloft [/url] [url=http://tbjmyqp6.100webspace.net/try-pril68/bovewnegh.html] ultram 50 side effects [/url] [url=http://w8dcb1lk.100webspace.net/menstrua75/yompowande.html] metropolol and zantac interaction [/url]
Anonymous said…
Alienware Laptop [url=http://www.hqlaptopbatteries.com/-1414lm-laptopbatterymodel1385.html]laptop battery[/url] Laptop AC Adapter http://www.hqlaptopbatteries.com/-1641lmi-laptopbatterymodel1243.html laptop price
laptop accessories [url=http://www.hqlaptopbatteries.com/-5600awlmi-laptopbatterymodel1465.html]High quality discount laptop battery store[/url] Asus Laptop http://www.hqlaptopbatteries.com/-pcg-r505-laptopbatterymodel357.html replacement laptop batteries
laptop battery [url=http://www.hqlaptopbatteries.com/-aoa150-ab-laptopbatterymodel1575.html]Samsung laptop battery[/url] Find a Dell Laptop Battery http://www.hqlaptopbatteries.com/files/products/images_ph1_54620.jpg replacement laptop batteries
Anonymous said…
auto dvd [url=http://www.cardvdplanet.com/7-inch-motorized-touchscreen-1-din-dvd-player--discount-price75.html]ho auto audio[/url] discount auto audio http://www.cardvdplanet.com/privacy-policy.html chrysler car audio
hyundai car audio system [url=http://www.cardvdplanet.com/1-din-built-in-tft-online-store1.html]beststuff fuel car dvd ipod vacation houseboat lake powell home[/url] auto audio capasiters http://www.cardvdplanet.com/8-5-inch-central-armrest-tft-led-car-dvd-player--discount-price93.html car audio systems integrated ford falcon
auto audio las vegas [url=http://www.cardvdplanet.com/shipping.html]venice florida auto audio installation[/url] auto dvd player sony http://www.cardvdplanet.com/motoized-slide-down-panel-7-inch-tft-lcd--discount-price90.html dual screen auto dvd player

Popular posts from this blog

US PRESIDENTIAL CONVOYS

A columnist for a Philippine newspaper talks about the costs and massive preparations required by the US Secret Service whenever President Bush and other (US Presidents) travel outside of Washington DC. I remember watching a CNN report that showed how big a US presidential convoy is, compared to the two vehicle transport being used by Prime Minister Tony Blair of the UK.

DOHA Round Updates & Preferential Tariffs in Practice

T he DOHA round of the World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations intends to promote the opening of markets and promoting free trade. This April, the latest meeting failed to reach a conclusion. Director-General Pascal Lamy of the World Trade Organization delivered a speech before the US Chamber of Commerce on April 23, 2007. Here are excerpts from his speech. "T oday we know that the Doha Development Round will not be concluded until and unless all these participants are ready to walk the extra mile and table additional contributions to the collective success of this multilateral enterprise. It is clear that the contributions will be linked to the degree of development and wealth of each participant, with the world poorest countries making the smallest contribution. It is also clear that no one will be asked to move first: countries will have to move in concert, like a big orchestra playing to the same tune. For the moment, a group of major actors — the EU, US, Brazil, India — d