A Take on Diego and Gabriela Silang's Tragic Love Story

Reflection #3

SY 2016-2017

Nancy Kamille DC. Fernandez                                                March 17 2017

IV BA Psychology                                                                WF (10:30-12:00)

Not for myself, but for others: A reaction paper on Wagas: Diego at Gabriela Silang

        In the case of Diego and Gabriela Silang’s tragic yet heroic love story, a lot of factors are to be considered in order for us to deduce that both Diego and Gabriela may have had a touch of romanticism with their heroism in both their love and historical stories.

        The first factor that I’d like to highlight would be this: In Wagas, the series showed how Diego’s perception and intelligence has led him to realize that his people deserve more than simply serve the Spaniards and pay unreasonably high taxes. This realization have led both the friars and the Spanish government in Ilocos to see Diego as a threat and a person to watch out for. On the other hand, while Gabriela has early on realized her place and role in the society (that is to marry a rich old man and when dies, go her merry ways), she never let go of her roots as a Filipina (even if her father then insisted that she did so). The first factor shows that both Diego and Gabriela have already initial ideas of the situation that they are in and that they only needed a single push to the right direction – and that is to fight against the Spaniards.

        The second factor that I’d like to highlight would be this: In Wagas, the turning point in both Diego and Gabriela’s lives was when they got married (after Diego courting Gabriela for five years) and the scene where Gabriela was riding on a horse with Diego walking and Gabriela saying that she will be supporting her husband in whatever means he would need. This would mean that somehow, the ideals of fighting for not only your hometown (in Diego and Gabriela’s case, it would be Ilocos), but also to other neighbouring areas like Abra and La Union have made their way to Gabriela and her initial thoughts have then expanded.

        The third factor that I will be highlighting would be the tragic death of Diego Silang. It was rather anticlimactic that Diego died not in the hands of his enemies while fighting, but in the hands of the people whom he trusted with his life (in this case, it would be both Miguel Vicos and Pedro Becbec). It was an event that made a huge impact to Gabriela as she realized first hand that one, she cannot trust anyone (at that point); two, the death of Diego made her realize that Diego’s plans of a revolution in Ilocos must continue despite the Heneral’s death; and three, change must come and if it has to be in her hands, then so be it.