The Pretender By F. Sionil Jose
The Pretender by F. Sionil Jose Summary Antonio Samson had just returned from the United States after finishing his doctorate studies. He visited his father in prison and told his father that he will soon be married to Carmen Villa, a member of an affluent family in Manila whom he met in the United States.
Carmen's mother did not like Tony because he is poor while her father likes him because he will be good for business. Anyways, the marriage was secretly held far earlier then planned because Carmen was already pregnant. Tony was an educator at the University until he quit after a dispute with Dean Lopez, the head of the University and the one who helped him get a scholarship to study abroad. Unemployed, Tony accepted the job Don Manuel previously offered him. Now begins the morphing of Tony. A large salary, air-conditioned office, easy work, and meeting with influential people, Tony was surely becoming different. Carmen had an abortion without the knowledge of Tony. But he soon learned and this was the beginning of their indifference. One day, Bettina, Tony's cousin, visited him asking for help. He learned from her that Emy, his first cousin and to whom he once had a relationship with, had been rearing his son for the past six years. Emy did not tell him so that he could concentrate on his studies. Tony decided to visit Emy only to find out that she does not want him or needed him. He was introduced to their child only as a close relative visiting. One night, on going home after partying with his friends, he saw Carmen leaving the Villa mansion with Ben de Jesus, her business partner. He saw them kiss, followed them and saw them enter a motel. He went home, straight in his room not minding that a party's going on. Carmen arrived and Tony told her he knows about Ben and that he's leaving. Carmen could not do anything more. Tony went to his sister, Betty, in Tondo and there he made a lot of thinking. He thought about his father whom he hid from society even
Carmen's mother did not like Tony because he is poor while her father likes him because he will be good for business. Anyways, the marriage was secretly held far earlier then planned because Carmen was already pregnant. Tony was an educator at the University until he quit after a dispute with Dean Lopez, the head of the University and the one who helped him get a scholarship to study abroad. Unemployed, Tony accepted the job Don Manuel previously offered him. Now begins the morphing of Tony. A large salary, air-conditioned office, easy work, and meeting with influential people, Tony was surely becoming different. Carmen had an abortion without the knowledge of Tony. But he soon learned and this was the beginning of their indifference. One day, Bettina, Tony's cousin, visited him asking for help. He learned from her that Emy, his first cousin and to whom he once had a relationship with, had been rearing his son for the past six years. Emy did not tell him so that he could concentrate on his studies. Tony decided to visit Emy only to find out that she does not want him or needed him. He was introduced to their child only as a close relative visiting. One night, on going home after partying with his friends, he saw Carmen leaving the Villa mansion with Ben de Jesus, her business partner. He saw them kiss, followed them and saw them enter a motel. He went home, straight in his room not minding that a party's going on. Carmen arrived and Tony told her he knows about Ben and that he's leaving. Carmen could not do anything more. Tony went to his sister, Betty, in Tondo and there he made a lot of thinking. He thought about his father whom he hid from society even