#paulita x isagani

[cskyes]

Now that I look back, this isn't Paulita x Isagani, but it's actually Juanito x Penitente.

[Picture unrelated, just wanted to dump photos.]

Anyways, as I doing my daily past time of singing to my Spotify mixes, I just suddenly got this song. God, this really reminds me of Paulita and Isagani, like I can just picture someone making whole edits of Kabanata 24 with this song.

[elegantsparklyllama]

Hot take: Paulita x Isagani is underrated and compelling as hell

I love tragedies. I love ships that are not canon because of narrative reasons. Paulita and Isagani is one of those ships I love but are not meant to be. Rizal placed the two lovers as opposites as seen in Chapter 24 of El Fili called "Dreams". If Isagani is patriotic and optimistic, Paulita is pessimistic and selfish. Paulita is manipulative and cunning while Isagani is straightforward and upright. Isagani promised a Philippines just like the more progressive European cities while Paulita highly thinks of it as poppycock. The chapter demonstrates the bad sides of their relationship. Isagani ignored the warning signs of the love fading for Paulita plans to marry the more eligible Juanito Pelaez.

Paulita is an orphan raised in a life of materialism and luxury by Donya Victorina. Isagani is also an orphan raised by the progressive Indio priest, Padre Florentino. Their upbringing informs their character and values. They are almost polar opposites yet they're together. I speculate what attracted Paulita to Isagani were the poems he wrote for her. Isagani showered her with the attention she was spoiled with as a child. I'm not exactly sure what attracted Isagani to Paulita in the first place but I think it was because she is the beauty of the town. For Isagani's side it could most likely be an infatuation at first sight. From that point on, he was devoted to her as he turned a blind eye to her flaws.

They were each other's first love. It was a beautiful cracked first love while it lasted. But if love is a choice, Paulita chose not to love him while Isagani chose to love her anyway.

When Isagani was arrested without due process, Paulita was quick to leave him and marry Juanito instead. She left him because she saw him as nothing more than an accessory to flatter herself. He was disposable.

The couple elevated to my OTP for El Fili during the lamp scene. Paulita just married Juanito, leaving Isagani in the dust. Simoun is planning to bomb the wedding with the nitroglycerin lamp he gifted to the newly wed couple. The lamp will bomb in a few moments because of said nitroglycerin just as Simoun intended. Isagani, upon learning of the lamp, storms into the wedding and steals the lamp. He loves Paulita that much, he is willing to save her even if she betrayed him. The guests were shocked when the lamp bombed in the river instead, saving Paulita and all thanks to our loverboy, Isagani.

I remember being captivated by the scene. I thought that Paulita was blind to Isagani. Then I later realized Isagani was blind to Paulita's bad side. Isagani's blind devotion to Paulita represents his devotion to his country which influenced his passion and optimism just like Simoun's devotion to Maria Clara which influenced his rage and passion once he learned she died.

A good tragedy makes you wish for something hopeful. I hoped Paulita opened her eyes to Isagani. I hoped Isagani called her out on her bitchiness. I wished the couple worked out but I understand why they didn't work. And I'm satisfied with the reality.

[almightytrashcan]

bright eyes

Juli accompanies Basilio on his trip back to Manila. There she meets his closest friend, Isagani, and his newfound girlfriend, Paulita.

warning: if you came here for some high-key basagani then prepare to be disappointed because they’ll only appear for a fraction of a milisecond pairing: julita (paulita x juli), implied basagani (basilio x isagani) disclaimer: el filibusterismo belongs to dr. jose rizal

happy valentines everyone!

i was hoping to make something elibarra but at the same time i wanted to write something new. (maybe i’ll save the fluffy elibarra for next time. it’s definitely still on my mind though)

ao3

It took much persuading on Basilio’s part, but Juli found herself beside him on a kalesa, trotting along the busy streets of the capital.

Juli didn’t want to admit that she’s amazed, though it’s hard to deny it with her poking her head out of the carriage every now and then to take in all the sights.

“Now now, Juli,” Basilio said, tugging her arm so she’ll resume her seat. “We’re almost at the university, don’t worry.”

“Worry?” Juli repeated. “Basilio, I’m far from worried. I just…”

She paused for a bit, phrasing the sentence in her mind.

“Excited?”

“Yes.”

It was her first time in the city, and although she only agreed to Basilio’s terms and conditions (“We’ll meet Isagani and Paulita for some short business.”

“Short business, my ass. You just want some alone time with Isa—”

“We’ll meet Isagani and Paulita for some short, school-related business.”

“Oh stop lying, Basilio.”

“I’m not lying!”), Juli was promised a tour of the city after the three finished their business, or whatever Basilio tried to instigate.

The kalesa came to a stop, and Juli slid down the carriage easily, Basilio following suit. He offered an arm to her, and gratefully, she took it, and they made their way to the Walled City.

.

.

.

“Juli!”

She was greeted with a tight hug and an energetic voice saying, “Welcome, welcome!”

Basilio chided Isagani softly, coaxing the younger male to calm down and not startle the lady.

“Whoopsie, sorry about that, Juli,” Isagani apologized, scratching the back of his head and smiling sheepishly. Juli smiled at the familiarity between the two of them. The number of times Isagani accompanied Basilio to San Diego must’ve been enough for them to build a strong bond.

“So,” she started. “Tour?”

Basilio chewed the inside of his cheek. “I suppose…”

“Before that, though,” Isagani interrupted, “let me introduce you to my girlfriend!”

Juli narrowed her eyes at Isagani, then at Basilio, who looked away innocently and pretended to not notice her piercing gaze.

A young woman, probably around Juli’s age, sat underneath the shade of a Yakal tree, watching the university-goers go abou their business. Even from afar, Juli could see the fairness of her skin, the slight tilt of her nose, and the long curling hair that cascaded down her shoulders.

Even from afar, Juli could see how pretty the girl is.

Isagani walked over to where the girl was seated. She looked up at him in surprise, and nodded her head gracefully, like a swan.

Juli couldn’t entirely believe that a girl could be so…elegant.

“Ah…”

“Basilio, Juli, I’d like you two to meet Paulita Gomez.”

Paulita bowed her head, and Juli was captivated at her movements as she and Basilio acknowledged her. She considered practicing such movements when she got back home.

“Okay, now we’re ready to—”

“For a moment, Juli. Isagani and I have to finish up some business in the university.”

Juli opened her mouth to retort, but closed it immediately.

“Don’t worry, we’ll be fast,” Isagani said cheerily, patting Juli’s and Paulita’s shoulders. Then, they walked towards the direction of the main entrance.

An awkward silence passed between the two girls, until—

“They’re probably looking for an empty room somewhere.”

Now, Juli has heard some weird things already in her short lifespan—from quiet whispers in the night from some unknown source, to uneasy family discussions and things that should not really be heard by a younger Juli.

But this.

This was out of proportion.

A beautiful mestiza living in the city, whose very actions could be compared to a delicate swan, casually commented on how her boyfriend and his closest friend would be somewhere in the university, thrusting their tongues into each other’s throats.

“A-aren’t you disturbed?” Juli asked, raising a hand so as to poke the other girl and make sure she’s actually thinking straight.

“Nope,” Paulita replied, with much confidence. Then, she grinned impishly.

“Those two would take a while. You said you wanted to tour the city, right?”

Juli nodded numbly. City people sure were weird alright.

“Hmm…” Paulita thought for a bit. “It’ll take an entire day to tour the entire city, so I’ll just take you to the closest places near the Walled City. Is that okay?”

Juli nodded again.

“Alright, follow me, then.”

Just when they reached the entrance to the Walled City, Paulita stopped.

“You haven’t told me your name yet.”

“A-ah…it’s Juliana.”

Paulita nodded. “I see.”

“Ah, but you can call me Juli.”

Paulita smiled. “Alright then, Juli. I shall now take you on a tour of the city.”

For some reason, Juli felt her face heat up.

.

.

.

“How long have you known Isagani?”

Paulita hummed in thought. The sun was exceedingly hot that day, and Juli was glad that she wore a short skit (though it attracted much attention from males; she didn’t have anything else to wear). Paulita brought a parasol with her, and was currently using it to block the sun’s rays.

“For some years, I guess. We met once when we were kids. That was the first time we got to talk to each other. I was fascinated by him ever since.”

Juli nodded sagely, taking in the information.

“How about you?

“Only three years ago. He first met Basilio then, and kept accompanying him whenever he went home to San Diego. The rest, is…well…I’m sure you can make out of it.”

“I see.”

They continued walking in silence under the sweltering heat. Paulita pointed out a bookstore that Isagani loved to frequent, and Juli took one good look at the books on display.

“I…can’t read very well.”

Paulita’s eyes widened in shock.

“Really?”

“Well,” Juli started reluctantly, “I’ve never had formal education before, and I only learned how to because of Basilio, so…”

“Let me teach you, then,” Paulita offered. It was totally on a whim, and impossible to achieve.

“No, no it’s okay, you don’t have to.”

“I insist, Juli.”

And there she saw in Paulita’s twinkling eyes a fiery kind of determination, an ember full of power and resolve.

Juli would never forget those eyes.

.

.

.

“Sorry we took a while!” Isagani said, once more scratching the back of his head sheepishly. Juli and Paulita giggled, as a disgruntled Basilio simply blinked in affirmation.

“No worries,” Juli said. “Paulita took me on a tour while you two were busy.”

Juli nudged slightly at Paulita. “She took me to all sorts of beautiful places here in the city, and I’m glad.”

Paulita felt around her skirt for her fan, and when she realized it wasn’t with her, she turned her face to the side, cheeks pink in embarrassment.

“Well, sounds like you two had a great time.”

“Yep!”

.

.

.

The next time Juli visited, Paulita took her to see the rest of the city.

“How do you know about all these places?”

“My aunt is a rather haughty woman, and she likes to go around while rubbing in people’s faces that she’s European.”

“What?! Is she really?”

Paulita giggled. “Of course not! She’s just pretending to be one.”

Juli burst into laughter. The two girls sat in the shade, clutching their stomachs until they could hardly breathe.

.

.

.

“Have you ever thought about living here, Juli?”

They were by the pier, the smell of seawater wafting in slowly from the cold breeze.

“Of course. It’s my father’s dream to have me educated here in Manila.”

Paulita nodded.

“If that ever happens, will you come visit me?”

Suddenly, Juli grabbed Paulita’s dainty hands in her own callused ones, and held them tight.

“Naturally! I’d love to visit you once I get to study here.”

Paulita was taken aback by Juli’s sudden affirmation. She felt her face grow hot.

Juli’s face was also turning a bright red.

When she realized the position they’ve taken, she dropped Paulita’s hands immediately, and coughed loudly, looking at the opposite direction. Paulita hid her face behind her paper fan.

Softly, she said, “I’m glad.”

“What now?”

“Nothing.”