all spoke at the same time, they yelled, no one could under- stand what anyone else was saying, they contradicted each ‘other. Ben Zayb got into it with Father Camorra and flashed his fists. One said something about oafs and che other one about pencil-pushing bureaucrats. Father Sibyla quoted a chap- ter of the Bible and Father Fernandes the Summa of Saint “Thomas. Then finally a local priest from Los Baflos came in tO announce that lunch was served. His Excellency got up, which effectively ended the discussion. “Ah, sefiores,” he said, “we've worked like slaves today, and thi is supposed to be vacation! Someone once said that serious affairs should only be decided over destert agree completely.” “We could end up with indigestion,” the secretary noted, referring to the heat of the argument. “Then lets leave it for tomorrow.” Everyone got up. “General,” the chief of staff whispered, “Cabesang Tales's daughter has come back to request her grandfather's release. [He il. He's in jal in his son's place." His Excellency looked at him disgustedly and rubbed his broad forehead, “Caramba, they don't even let you lunch in peace.” “lv the third day in a row she's been here, the poor gir.” “Darn,” Father Camorra exclaimed. “I said to myself, ‘I hhave something to say tothe general, which is why I'm here «0 support this it’s petition.” ‘The general scratched behind his ear. “Well,” he said, “tell the secretary to send a dispatch to the lieutenant of the Civil Guard to let him out. They can’ say we aren’ clement and merciful.” He looked at Ben Zayb. The journalist blinked. sore ial. 1 Fuster, Hare Augenbraum, ans New ore Peng Books, 201. 12 PLACIDO PENITENTE Reluctantly, almost in tears, Phicido Penitente walked through the Escolea on his way co the Universiy of Santo Tomé Barely a week had passed since he had arrived from his vil~ lage and he had already written twice to his mother to reiterate his desire to withdraw from his studies to go home and work. His mother told him to be patient and that he atthe very least needed to get his baccalaureate, since it would be a shame t0 stop studying after four years of expenses and sacrifice on sev- eral people's part. ‘Whence sprang such disillusion with his studies, from one of the most apt students in the college directed by Father Valerio, in Tanawan? Penitente had been one of its brightest Latinists and a subtle debater, who coald entangle, and untangle, both the simplest and the most abstruse questions. Everyone in town thought him their brightest pupil. The local priest, influenced by such a reputation, had already branded him a fiibustero, which was surefire proof he was neither stupid nor inca ble. His friends couldn't explain his desite ro withdraw and stop studying. He had no girlfriends, he didn't gamble, he barely understood hunkian, and rarely even attempted to play. revesino." He didn't take the friars’ advice to heart and made fun of Tandang Basio. He had more than enough money, ele gant clothes, and yet he went to class only reluctantly and Tooked at his books only with revulsion, (On the Puente de Espatia, Spanish in name only since every last pare of it including its iron struts had come from clse- ‘where, was «long procession of young men heading toward Tntramuros and thie respective schools." Some were dressed inEuropean-style cloches. They walked quickly, carrying their books and notebooks, preoccupied, thinking about their classes and essays. These were the Ateneo seudents. Those from the School of San Juan de Letrin were different. They dressed as Filipinos, there were fewer of them, and they carried fewer books. The ones from the university dressed handsomely and ‘comme il faut. They walked slowly and, rather than books, ‘cartied walking sticks. Stadenes in the Philippines tend not 10 be very rowdy and unruly. They seem preoccupied, To look at ‘them one would think they saw no hope, no bright furure, Even though from time to time the procession is enlivened by the rich, pretty colors ofthe girl students from the Public School, with a sash over one shoulder, followed by a maid, nary @ giggle came out, and almost no pleasantries, No songs, no feasing, at most dull jokes, and russling among the younger ‘ones. The older ones are very serious and very composed, like ‘German students Placido followed the Paseo de Magallanes though the open- ing, which had once been a gate, of Santo Domingo, when suddenly someone slapped him on the back. He quickly turned ‘round, unhappy. “Hey, Penitentel Hey, Penitente!” It was his fellow student Juanito Peléez, a sycophant, the teacher’ pet, sly and malicious as he could be, with his pica- resque way and scoundrel’ smile. He was the on of a Spanish hhalf-breed, a rich, suburban businessman who totted up his hhope and joy by his son's talent. He expected a great deal from his roguishness, and thanks to his habit of playing tricks fon everyone and chen hiding behind his mates, he was a par- ticular pain in the neck to everyone, which increased every time he pulled one of his pranks and then laughed. “How's it going, Penitente?” he asked, clapping him again and again on the back. *So-s0," Plicido replied heavily. “And you?” “Wonderful! The priest at Tiani invited me to spend the holidays in his village. And did I go, my boy! Do you know Father Camorra? He's a liberal priest, very unpretentious, easy- soing, very easygoing, the way Father Paco is .. . And since rikcioo raireNt® % there are pretty gils there, we went all over the place, he with his guitar and peteneras,* me with my fiddle. Itell you, my boy, ‘we had a grand time! Every house was open to us!” "He whispered something in Plicido's ear and burst out laugh: ing. When he saw Plicido a bit put out, he added, “I swear itt ‘There was nothing else to be done. Because of some govern: mental edict she ended up with no father, husband, brother, or patron saint. So we eame upon this iior ofa girl and, get this, its Basilo's girlfriend, you see? What an idiot Basilio is! His, girlfriend doesn't know a single word of Spanish, she has no ‘money, and she ended up as a housemaid. She's a bit standoff ish, but she’s really prety. Father Camorra beat up two bagon~ 1406 with his stick one night when they were serenading her and {don’t know how he didn't kill them. Buc even with all that she was stil standoffsh, But she'll have to get over that, like all of them, just like al of cher!” “Juanito Peléez laughed heartily. Plicido looked at him with disguse. “Listen, what did the professor lecture on yesterday?” Juan- ito asked, changing the subject. “There was no class yesterday.” “Really! What about the day before? “Hey, it was Thursday.” “That's true, how stupid of me. You know; Plicido, I'm get ting stupider by the minute. What about Wednesday?” “Wait a minute. ..i¢ drizzled on Wednesday.” “Terrific! And Tuesday, my boy?” “Tuesday was the professor's name day so we got a band and 4 bouguet of flowers and some presents to congratulate him.” “What an idiot am,” Juanito exclaimed. “Teompletey for- got. Did he ask abour me?” Penitente shrugged his shoulders. “1m not sure, but I think they gave him a list of everyone ‘who was there.” “Darn! Hey, what happened Monday?” “Since ie was the fist day of classes, they rook rol and laid out the cass, on mirrors. Look, after that, what wich my memory, the details... le’sjust skip over allthis stuff and stare here.”He pointed to the parts he needed to learn in Ramos’s Phys: ies, when all of a sudden the book went fiying into the air ‘thanks co Juanito’s slapping it from underneath, “Man, forget clas, let's make it a three-day weekend.” In Manila, when Friday isa holiday, students do their best to make it into a three-day weekend by taking off Saturday ax well as Sunday, cheir regular day off. "You know you really are an idiot,” a furious Plicido re- plied, picking up his book and papers. “Well make ita three-day weekend!” Juanito repeated Plicido preferred it otherwise. Their cutting clase did nor mean a class for 150 would be canceled. He remembered his mother’s trials and tribulations and her doing without so he could live in Manila Just then they reached the opening in the wall at Santo Domingo “Now I remember,” Juanito exclaimed when he saw the litle square in front of the old Customs House. “Did you know I ‘was given the job of collecting donations?” ‘What donations?” “For the monument.” What monument?” hive! The one for Father Balthazar, Didnt you know “Who the heck is Father Balthazar?” “Jeez! He's a Dominican! That's why the fathers are ap- proaching students. Look, cough up three or four pesos s0 they think we're something special. So they can never say that in ‘order to raise a statue they've had to reach into their own pock- ets. Come on, Plicido, i's money well spent.” He accompanied these words with a broad wink. Placido was reminded of a student who passed his courses by siving canaries as presents. He handed over three pesos. “Look at this, I'm writing your name very clearly so the teacher can read it, see? Plicido Penitente, three pesos. Listen, in fifteen days i's the name day of the natural history teacher. ‘You know he’s a pashover, he never notes down mistakes or risetoo rentrenre a asks about the lesson. Boy, you have to be thankful for some things! “That's rue.” “So you think we should throw him a party? And the band shouldnt be any smaller than the one we had forthe head of physi Tha’ true.” “What i pue you down for two pesos? Look, Plaey, you're the frst one t0 give, so I'l put you atthe tp ofthe lst” ‘When he saw thar Phcido was handing over the reo pesos without hesitation, he added, “Liste, put in four and il ive you two back later on. Lik priming the pump.” “If you'e going to give them hack to me, why should I give them to you now? Why don't you just put down four?” Wel thar true, what an idiot! You sce what an idiot Pm ezrin be? urge them ome anyway scan show every Plicido, ro avoid biting che hand that feeds him, gave him what he asked for. ‘They came tothe university Acthe entrance, and all long the sidewalks that extended on cither side of i students waited for their teachers t0 come down, Firsryeat lw students, fth-year secondary students, fd Bist. year medical students clustered in lively groups, which were easy to recognize by thei dress and a certain air about them that others didn't ave. For the most pare hey eame from the Ateneo Municipal. Among them was the poet Isagani ex- Plaining toa companion the theory of light refraction. In one group they discusnd, hey argued, they quote thes professors, writen texts and scholarly principles, gesturing wily, theie walking sticks tracing patterns in the dirt. Farther on, taken lip with watching some religious women on theit way t0 a nearby church, a ew students made wry comments. One old ‘woman, who was leaning ona young gil imped along pious. ‘The ge walked with her eyes looking down. She was shy and ashamed of passing by 20 many people watching her. The old ‘woman wore a coffee colored skirt ofthe sisters of Santa Rita,revealing her swollen feet and white stockings. She grumbled to her companion and east furious looks atthe onlookers, “Ritfaff” she granted. “Don't look a them. Keep your eyes down.” Everything they did called attention tothe pas, everythin was the oceation of oes and comments. . ‘A magnificent Vietria tops near the door to deposit a el ious family. They are going to visit the Virgin ofthe Rosary ‘ner favorie day The more inquisitive boys lined up to eatch a glimpse ofthe shape and size ofthe young ladies fet as they leave the coach. A student emerged from the door, religious devotion stil on his face He had gone to the temple to ask the Virgin to help him understand his clases, orto seit his it friend was there so they could exchange afew looks and then he could return wo class with the memory of loving eyes: ‘But what's more, in these groupe you could see a certain ‘movement, a certain expectation, Isagani paused and turned pale. A coach stopped in front ofthe doorway The pais of white horses was widely known, It was Palita Gomer coach, She had alceady jumped tothe ground, as ight asa bicd, without Biving all those jackanapes enough time to sex er foot. With a Braceful movement of her body and a sweep of her hand she arranged the folds of her saya and with a quick, almost bla lance around she sped Isagani, waved at him and smiled ofa Vietorina then got out, looked around, sav Joanito Pa: tae, smiled, and gave him a friendly wave Teagan hed with feng, anowered with ashy wave. Jus ito bowed deeply, took off his hat, and made the same peste a8 the celebrated comic and mimic Panza when he recetes his applause Wow, what a woman!” exclaimed one student who decided not to leave as yet. "Tell the professor I'm deathly ill “Tadeo, which was this sce man's name, fllowed the young woman into the church, "Tadeo goes ¢o the university every day to ask if there are classes and is always surprised there are: He labors under the idea that there is ator of latent, eternal vacation on it way, and he's waiting fr ie expectantly. And, as every morning, he rideroo PENITENTE a proposes in vain that they play hooky, he goes off on important business, appointments, illnesses, at the exact moment that his fellow students are entering class. But no one can say how by some magical arts he passes his exams. The teachers love him and he has a brilliant future ‘Meanwhile the various groups are on the move. The physics and chemistey teacher has come down ro class. The students, fas if mocked by ther own desire, let ou exclamations of disap- pointment with everything, and then head to the building’s Interior, Plicido Penitence following. “Penitente! Penitente!” someone called to him, with a cer- tain mystery. “Siga this.” “What is #2" “le doesn't matter, just sign it” Placido had a feeling that if he signed it someone would end ‘up giving him the shore end of the stick. He recalled the story of a certain village headman who had signed a document he {didn’t understand. He ended up in prison month after month and was almost deported. An uncle of his, to make sure the les son was engeaved on his memory, smashed him in the knee with his walking stick, and now every time he heard talk about sign ing something, the cartilage in that knee would begin to ache. “My friend, forgive me, bur I don’t sign anything unless know whae i's about.” “How stupid can you be? If some of the carabineros celes- tiales sign it, what are you afraid of?” “The name carabineros celetiales inspired confidence. They were a sacred body of men created 0 assist God in His war against evil spirits and to impede the introduction of heretical tracts into the marketplace of the New Zion. ‘Since he was in a hurry, Plicido was about to sign jus ro be done with it. His classmates had already begun ro pray the O ‘Thoma,t but it seemed that some uncle had taken him by an car, and he said, “After class! I want to read i first.” “ies realy long, you know. Isto create a counterpetition, for let me pu ita better way, a protest, understand? Makaraig, and a few others have asked them to open a Castilian academy, ‘which is really a stupid thing to do.”“Okay, okay, ll do it later. They're already starting,” said Placido as he ttied to get away. “But if your teacher doesn't call the roll... “But he does sometimes. Afterward, afterwar want to go againse Makaraig.” “But it doesn’t go against him, is only Phicido was already out of range, far away and hurriedly hheaded to class. He heard various “adsum, adsum.” Jeez, they were calling roll. He quickened his pace and got to the door just when they were getting to the leter 4. “Tinamdan fg..." he muttered between his teeth. He couldn’ decide ie should go in or not: The die was cast and he couldn't make it disappear. You didn't go to class to learn, but to make sure that this particular die was not cast. ‘The class itself was reduced to memorizing the lesson, reading the book, and even more so, asking some question or other, abstract, profound, captious, enigmatic. Of course there was the brief sermon, but it was always the same. On humility submission, respect for priests, and he, Plicido, was humble, submissive, and respectful. He was about to leave, but then he ‘remembered that exams were coming up and his teacher hadn't yet directed any questions at him and hadn't even acknowl edged him. Ie was a chance 10 call attention to himself and make himself known. To be known is to pass the school year. It doesn rake much to fail someone you don’t know, but you have to be hard-hearted not to be moved when a young man stands before you, his presence reproaching you daily with hav- ing wasted a year of his life. So Placido went in, but not as he usually did, which was on tiproes. This time he banged his heels, bu his approach worked a bie too well: Staring at him, the professor frowned and shook his head, as if co say, “You insolent pup, you'll pay for that!” Plus, I don't 13 THE PHYSICS CLASS The class was held in large rectangular room with large win- dows covered by grillwork, which le in an abundance of air and light. Against the walls were three wide stone benches with ‘wooden tops and populated by students, who were seated in alphabetical order. Toward the side opposite the entryway, under an engraving of Saint Thomas Aquinas, lay the teacher’ podium, raised, with ewo stall stepson either side. Except for a handsome but litle-used blackboard with a narra frame'— ‘on it was still written the word Viva! which had appeared on the first day—there were no furnishings, neither useful nor use- less. The walls, painted white and protected in part by glazed tiles to prevent their being scratched, were totally naked—not a single drawing, a single engraving, or even a diagram of a physi inserument. The students didn’e need anything else; no ‘one missed the teaching of practical marters in a science that ‘was eminently experimental. They had been taught this way for years and for years nothing untoward had happened in the Philippines. On the contrary, everything was business as usual Once in a while some little instrument fll from the sky and ‘was shown to the cass from afar, such as His Holiness with the proscrate faithful: Look, but don’t touch. Every epoch or 30 ‘when a helpful reacher eame along and one day in the year was {designated for him to visit that mysterious laboratory and ad- mire from the outside the enigmatic apparatus placed in the cabinets, no one could complain. For on that day you could see lots of brass, glass, cubes, disks, wheels, bells, and much more, but the fair went no farther. Nothing untoward happened in the Philippines. Besides, the students were convinced that these ose Rll busterismo, Harold Auzenbraum, tran New York: Penguin 80s, 2011.