I Love You Since 1892

I love you Since 1892 by Mia Alfonso 

Book Analysis: A Reader Response by Florineth Rodrigo 

    I Love You Since 1892,  It is a historical fiction and romantic novel of a Filipina author named Undeniably Gorgeous or also known as Binibining Mia. The story was written in pure Filipino language which every Filipino could understand. The story was about the tragic love story of the two main characters named Juanito Alfonso, Carmela Isabella and Carmelita Montercarlos. Where it takes us back in time where everything is beautiful and tragic like what we picture out during the Spanish colonization in the Philippines.  

    The story focuses on the character of Carmela Isabella who is a nursing student of Santo Tomas University in the year of 2016. All the mysterious things happened in her life when saw a portrait of someone in their ancestors house who looked like her. The enigmatic feeling leads to someone  who changes her life when she meets a nun named Olivia who gives hope to someone else's life and the character of  Carmela turns into someone else who will die , with the same feature but with a bit of a familiar and different name. Everything changes, from the time and place, also when Carmela meets Juanito Alfonso and to accomplish the mission for her to be back where she is from. From the circumstances to daily meetups they both feel the love of each other. Until there is a hurricane in their life to crash out when Carmelita's personality takes over the life of her own. Juanito finds out that Carmela is not the real Carmelita Montercarlos but the grand-grand niece of her sister's daughter. Carmelita dies because she killed herself during her wedding day with Juanito Alfonso but she doesn't want her wife. She regrets and wants to live again and she meets mother Olivia who gives her a second chance to live the life bought by someone else till the day she turns 18. Carmela will forever not exist from past to present but Carmela found out the reasons why she left in the past because of the selfishness of Carmelita. Until she knows the way to go back where she is from, Juanito Alfonso should not die but to sacrifice himself for Carmela to be back on time where she is from. 

    The novel historical fiction and events in time brought about the culture during the Spanish colonization and lesson about patience when it comes to love. Juanito waited for Carmela Isabella until she was born but he died the year after Carmela was born. Mother Olivia serves as hope to the second life of Carmelita. 

    The author showcases in the Novel the beauty of Filipino Literature and culture. The imagination of the author and how to emphasize the aesthetic of the Filipino language that  can reflect its own culture. The author also gives a lesson that every tragedy has a beautiful ending. No matter how our hearts crash into pieces of unending love story but with the memory with someone it will remain unforgettable. 

    The atmosphere of the story is a lot of trailing that we are on the character spot. The author really hit me to the bone from every chapter of the book. It has everything from the family to the country. The book has a genre of  history that can take us back in time, even if it is weird and cliche for some it really gives a lesson for every Filipino in this generation. Ever since I read this book, I have appreciated the culture of Filipino literature. It made me become who I am. It taught me a lot of lessons from someone who doesn't like  to be a Filipino to someone who cherishes and is a proud Filipino.