Name: Pecson
Sex: M
Race: Indio
Occupation: Student
Aliases:
Affiliations: Students’ Association
Background
Pecson’s past is not mentioned. He is currently a student and lives in Manila.
Story
Chapter 14: Pecson is first introduced as one of the students visiting Macaraig’s house to discuss the petition for the Academy for Spanish. Sandoval is trying to excite the crowd and says that Capitan General would not allow himself to be influenced by friars, then asks Pecson for facts on the matter. Pecson points out a time wherein the Provincial of the litigating order was chosen by Capitan General to settle a dispute between friars and people.
Sandoval starts to argue with Pecson and asks how the government can ban something that is useful and necessary. Pecson says their petition threatens the integrity of the nation, and explains that the government does not want them to be able to understand each other. He mentions the school of Malolos, where women wanted to open a school at night but weren’t allowed because it was considered immoral, and tells the other students that they might be rejected for the same reason. When Sandoval answers that the Academy of Design classes, as well as novenas and processions also take place at night, Pecson says their petition attacks the University’s dignity.
After Sandoval gets everyone to cheer by saying the Spanish government has given them everything, Pecson asks what will happen if Capitan General denies the authorization. Sandoval says they will be enlightened and their efforts will have not been in vain as “the gauntlet” has been thrown at them. Pecson asks what happens afterward, and Sandoval answers that if no Filipino will respond to the challenge then he will fight for the Filipinos. The crowd is on Sandoval’s side, but Pecson points out that Sandoval can say that and not be seen as subversive because he is Spanish.
Later, when Macaraig shares news from Padre Irene that the decision has been left up to the Superior Commission of Primary Instruction, Pecson reveals that the Commission has been defunct for a while He later asks what will happen if Don Custodio rules against the petition, but according to Macaraig, Padre Irene advised them to influence Don Custodio since Capitan General is neutral on the matter.
The students, including Pecson, decide to have Isagani talk to Senor Pasta so he can convince Don Custodio to approve of the petition.
Chapter 21: Pecson is one of the students invited to share Macaraig’s box with him. Together with Sandoval, Isagani and Macaraig, they arrive at the theater on the night of the performance and bump into Tadeo and Tadeo’s townmate. Tadeo joins them since Basilio wasn’t able to come.
Chapter 22: Pecson sits in Macaraig’s box together with his fellow students as they watch the performance. While waiting for the performance to start, Pepay looks at them from a nearby box. They notice that she looks happy and so they expect good news. Sandoval gets news that the Superior Commission approved the petition, and Pecson is pleased.
During the intermission, Sandoval asks Pecson if he can name a good French poet and Pecson mentions Victor Hugo. Sandoval says it’s only because Victor Hugo spent his childhood in Madrid.
When Macaraig announces the news that one of the religious corporations will be in charge of the Academy, Pecson and the other students are disappointed. Pecson says Sandoval should pick up the gauntlet (which Sandoval mentioned in Chapter 14) but Sandoval says it is more like a sock.
Because Padre Irene suggested celebrating the approval of the petition, the students decide to do so ironically. It is Pecson who suggests celebrating in a panciteria, with food served by a Chinaman not in a camisa. Together, the students leave the theater as the second act of the play begins.
Chapter 25: Pecson is one of the fourteen young men who celebrate at Panciteria Macanista de Buen Gusto, joking and laughing with other students to cover up their anger. During dinner, while everyone makes fun of Padre Irene’s nose, Pecson asks the rest to be respectful but they ignore him. Later, Pecson quotes a line of Don Custodio’s which was mentioned in Ben Zayb’s article in El Grito de la Integridad:
“Si tripa plena laudat Deum, tripa famelica laudabit fratres.”
(If a full belly glorifies God, a hungry belly glorifies the friars)
Pecson eventually joins the students in making fun of the friars, by calling the Philippines “Friarlandia”. But he also defends them, explaining that friars are with them from the start of life (baptism) all the way to death (burial) and everything in between (school, marriage) so they should try to pamper them because their absence would leave a void in society. Pecson says that friars unite them, and without friars there would be no entertainment or rules or values. He calls the friars “sculptors” while the Indio is the statue, and claims that without friars and Indios, the government would be in the hands of the Chinese. A student interrupts and says they are being watched by Padre Sibyla’s spy.
Chapter 32: Due to the poster incident, the students thought to be involved are all sent to jail. When Pecson is released, he finds out that he has been suspended from school. He just laughs and says he will become a clerk in court.
Physical Description
Pecson is described as a “flabby person with the ample smile of a madcap”, hinting that he is overweight. He often has a skeptical smile on his face, especially when someone says something that he disagrees with.
Personality
Pecson is described as pessimistic as he prefers to rely on logic and rational thinking when discussing a problem. In his first scene in Chapter 14, he suggests that all of them will end up jail, not caring that the other students are disturbed to hear this. Pecson’s prediction would eventually come true in later chapters.
While all the other students are easily convinced by Sandoval’s speech, he is the only one willing to provide counter-arguments and back them up with historical facts. Even when no one is siding with him, he continues arguing and does not concede.
Despite his so-called pessimism it is Pecson who shows the most positive reaction after being suspended: he just laughs.
Skills
Factual Knowledge
Unlike other main characters, Pecson is never described as a skilled debater. However, he is often asked by his friends to present facts and arguments to help prove a point. He brings up historical events to show what reasons the government might have to reject the petition for the Academy for Spanish. He is also very self-aware: he is able to explain the perspective of the government in telling his fellow students their realistic chances in succeeding, and points out that Sandoval is treated differently because of his race.
Relationships
Beliefs
On Hispanization
Pecson is a member of the Students’ Association and is one of the students heavily involved in trying to get the petition for the Academy for Spanish approved. He is disappointed by the results and, along with the other students, celebrates ironically by eating at a pansiteria.
On Priests
Pecson is willing to make fun of priests, even referring to the Philippines as “Friarlandia”. However, his joking has limits and during the same dinner, he asks everyone to show some respect when the other students make fun of Padre Irene’s nose. He also reminds everyone of the importance of priests in everyone’s lives, since priests are present from birth (baptism) until death (funeral) and during every important occasion. Pecson believes that friars “sculpt” the Indios.
On the Government
Pecson is not blind to the faults of the government and is able to predict its decisions better than the other students. He understands that the government does not want the people to understand the laws and be able to relate to each other, which is the argument he uses to explain why the petition may be denied. He knows that the government would see the petition as an insult and consider it immoral.
In Chapter 25, Pecson says that without Indios and friars, the government would be controlled by the Chinese.
Trivia
- Since Pecson claims after being suspended that he will become a clerk in court, it is possible he was studying law. However, this is never confirmed.
Quotes
“Perhaps it is feared that we might understand the laws and obey them… What would happen to the Philippines on the day when we can understand one another?” (Chapter 14)
“Evil blows its foul breath over the verdant shores of Friarlandia, commonly known as the Philippine Archipelago!” (Chapter 25)
