The Ideology of a Filipino Revolution
In The Pretenders, we see F. Sionil Jose's, through Antonio Samson, implied declaration that the elite should be the ones to lead the revolution if the Filipino wants a successful change. This is why we see Tony eating his pride so to speak just to be a part of the elite, the rich, and powerful. This ideology is plausible. The elites are the ones in control of all the resources and machineries in society. If they indeed want true change, the prerogative should start within their circles. Yet, they will never lead the revolution; and that is one of Tony's frustrations. Why would the elite challenge the status quo? This would mean that they have to share, if not totally denounce, all their property. Why should they sacrifice their way of living just for the people they do not even know? No, the elite would rather enjoy their position in the society than help the poor Filipinos to have a real sense of freedom--freedom from the capitalist society.
In Mass, we see a different F. Sionil Jose through Jose "Pepe" Samson, the illegitimate son of Antonio Samson. This new character is the most credible of all the characters in the Rosales saga. He has been properly motivated to do what he is about to do. Unlike his father before him, he has found the answer to the question of their family--how to fight this oppression that they have suffered from.
The mass (the poor people) is the key to the success of the revolution. If the mass will only unite in their goals, there will be a common ground for their battle. However, most common people would rather live the life they have learned to live before than fight the status quo. In the novel, there are a number of characters that have been eaten alive by the quicksand, so to speak. They have been living in their decayed life with their substandard lifestyle, yet their "false consciousness" has always been strong. Even Pepe himself never knew what he wanted before his epiphany. He just "wants to be happy." However, he does not know how to achieve it. Even in studying or extra-curricular activities, he is so apathetic. He basically focuses on the benefits he can get from these activities. He became a politician (a student leader) not because he wants the responsibilities but because he does not have anything else to do. As a politician himself, Pepe has never believed nor was convinced by the politicians he has encountered. The only thing he has learned as a politician is to do the things the politicians have done--to lie. Also, in other meetings of the Brotherhood, he has always told himself that he already knew what the leaders are saying; that there is nothing new in their talks. Yet, he has never done anything to change what he has known all along. He had experienced a number of difficulties, not only in the their Barrio Cabugawan but also in Manila where he had entered a number of demeaning jobs such as "torero" (male prostitute), and drug pusher, before he realized what is happening around him.
F. Sionil Jose has created a metaphor for the entire Filipino race in the character of Pepe. At the time the novel was written (1982), there existed a kind of oppression, by a fellow Filipino no less, the Philippines have never seen before. However, no one dares to speak, and no one dares to fight. Even the writer of the novel is probably scared at the time to write a novel such as "Mass" for it was first published first in the Netherlands--a gesture which could mean that he would like to avoid issues about his novel. From these reasons, this critic deduces that Pepe is the metaphor for the entire Filipino race and the world he lives in is a microcosm of the Philippines. His apathy for everyone but himself, his desires to be happy but not know how, and his confused state of who he really is are the same with the common traits of the Filipinos of today.
With this epiphany of Pepe, what did he do in the novel? Juan Puneta, a metaphor for the abusive member of the elite in the Philippine society, has been killed by Pepe. What is interesting in this murder is Pepe's apathy as he shoots Puneta. Knowing that Juan Puneta was the one behind the murders of the members of the Brotherhood, and even his fate with the police (the police tortured him), he feels that it was the right thing to do. These rich people who have lived the good life must face their worst nightmare as the poor people who have known nothing but abuse and oppression march towards the gate of their celestial mansions. Pepe becomes a full pledge rebel, and he can be seen later in Viajero (1993), another novel by F. Sionil Jose but not part of the Rosales saga.
Indeed, the evils, as deduced by Pepe by the end of the novel, in Philippine society come from the rich and elite. However, there is one redeeming grace for the elite in the novel in the character of Betsy. With Betsy, one would see not only the workings of a Marxist theory but also the feminist theory; thus, Marxist-feminist exists in the analysis of the character of Betsy. She is rich and part of an elite family. She wants to be with Pepe, no matter what. She does not care for her riches and her name anymore. She said that she will not mind living in a depressed area as long as she is with Pepe. Indeed, the only way for (wo)men to be liberated is their denouncement of their property. But, Pepe knows better. He knows that Betsy will not live long in eating the infernal stewed vegetable with fish sauce (bagoong) everyday for she has lived the good life. In the end, she was not able to be with Pepe because he would not allow her.
The Various Faces of Jose "Pepe" Samson
The character of Pepe is somewhat autobiographical. Both Jose and Samson lived in Cabugawan, Rosales, Pangasinan. Both have read a lot and have a very supportive mother in their studies. They even have the same dilemma with the old land tilled by their grandfathers. Indeed, there is no doubt that F. Sionil Jose has created a character based on his own sufferings and ideas. One might conclude therefore that Pepe's joining the rebels is a wish-fulfillment in the part of F. Sionil Jose.
Jose Samson can also be the reverse of Jose Rizal. The two Pepe's may accidentally have the exact opposite characteristics of each other but the probability that these were meant to be is plausible. Both are well-read; yet, the other one who was rich was able to study in universities both in the Philippines and abroad while the other one was barely able to enroll in an unknown college in Recto. The other Pepe knows what to do with his life--promoting equality among the Filipinos and Spaniards; while the other Pepe does not know what he wants in life. Although in the end of the novel, he realizes that he wants to help the people by opening their eyes from their "false consciousness." Hence, here lies the big difference--the other fought for equality while the other fought for total freedom.
The Moral Decadence of Philippine Society
Throughout the novel, the negative side of Manila has been prevalent. There is nothing to gain in living in Manila except degradation of morals as shown by the other characters. From the house of Pepe's Uncle Bert to the mansion of Juan Puneta, nothing seems to be moral. Even "live show" (a sexual intercourse watched by live audience) has been mentioned. Back in 1982, it was a secret show. Only the people who have a lot of money can afford this kind of show. Pepe has been an actor in this kind of show too. Nowadays, "live show" may be heard along the sidewalks being shouted by promoters.
Incest may be prevalent too in the Rosales saga, yet due to the other issues presented in Mass, incest sounds like a name for a forbidden love and no longer a sin. The love for a cousin was an issue from "Poon" to "The Pretenders", but no more in "Mass." The main issues presented in the fifth novel are homosexuality, prostitution, poverty, murder, and utilitarianism. These issues cannot be seen in the four novels but in the fifth and it is also part of the contemporary Philippine society. It is indeed depressing to think that nothing has changed in Philippine society since 1982 when the novel was first published. The writer did not only write a novel but also documented the problems of the society in the 1980's.
It is already given that most of the poor people would commit crimes to survive. However, the striking issue is the moral decadence of the elite in the society. Not only in the novel we have seen these kinds of moral decadence but also in other venue for artists such as drama, TV series, poetry and other modern medium. The rich usually nowadays is the evildoer. He is no longer regarded as the person who might be the hero who can lend a helping hand. The notion that a well-dressed individual who lives in Forbes Park, Makati City is a symbol of virtue is attacked head on, like in the play "Three Rats" by Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero. In sum, the rich in the Rosales saga has never been the good guy. They are the epitome of oppression and cruelty among the working class.
Conclusion
The fifth novel of the Rosales saga is not merely the culmination of the lives of the Salvadors, Asperris, and Samsons. On one hand, the novel is indeed a good, if not the best, example of the Filipino in search for his own identity. Though the novel may be analyzed using the various types of Marxism available for a critic, it may be just a symbol for the Filipino people who have lost their identity because of the numerous conquerors who have diluted Filipino's rich culture.
On the other hand, it is a way of asking the real thought of the Filipino Marxist: are the Filipino Marxists willing to fight the bourgeois? Or, are they only frustrated bourgeois? Honestly, Pepe is not a frustrated bourgeois. He had tasted the "good life" yet he rejected it. With this, the character of Pepe indeed is plausible, especially in choosing his fate later on.
Noteworthy to say, the five novels of the Rosales saga may be a good specimen in studying Marxism in Philippine literature. Not only that they show the quest for a national identity, but also they show the various phases in our history. With the changes in Philippine history, the study of the transference of power present in the novel may also be approached. It is also interesting to note that four years after the publication of the novel in the Netherlands, People Power Revolution took place--epiphany happened then. Sadly, there is a new "false consciousness" within Filipinos of today.
In conclusion, "Mass" is a must read for every Filipino. With the novel's dynamic character, each Filipino reader will feel that alongside Pepe, as he grows to be an active member of the society, he has also developed a sense of responsibility in changing the world. Reading it once may bring depression; twice, will bring forth a sense of responsibility; and thrice, will bring epiphany--to change the kind of society that we, Filipinos, live in.