A fan art of Sirene and Nikolas Barrida swimming
on the underwater together. (C) I Love You Since 1892
Facebook page.
Happy first anniversary to the recently added segment of Yona's Blog, Insights From a Goddess! To commemorate this tropica-shiny occasion, let's try something different and go homegrown this time as I have to do my impressions and insights about a very epicly romantic and historical fictional tale (or tail, as what we say) from Binibining Mia, the best-selling Filipina Wattpad-based author behind I Love You Since 1892.
Sirene, as the title says so, was first released on the Wattpad format on November 15, 2017 and completed on July 10, 2018. A book adaptation was just published last year by ABS-CBN Books, covering the first eight chapters plus the prologue.
Set between the Commonwealth and the World War II periods in the Philippines, the story will be centered around the titular mermaid Sirene, who has the power of the legendary pearl of the western part of the country, and the notorious young swindler-turned-celebrated semi-immortal war veteran, Nikolas Barrida, in an extraordinary but risky quest for the 1,000-year old sacred possession while dealing with the war itself, the Japanese occupation, and a forbidden but ever immortal love that stood the test of time and beyond.
As someone who adores the merfolk culture since childhood and is still geeking over history especially WWII, I have to say that Sirene quickly won on me because of the amazing, breath-taking and heart-wrenching scenes, plus interesting trivias on the things that I'm familiar with and have never seen before. But without giving spoilers, it's basically The Little Mermaid meets Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch (minus the singing though, but with the mermaid kingdoms), Golden Kamuy (Kolas is basically like Saiji Sugimoto, also an immortal, with a bit twist of Kaito Domoto from the former aforementioned show yet in WWII version), Dyesebel (on forbidden love between a human and a mermaid) and Legend of the Blue Sea (mermaids that can erase one's memories) with various mermaid legends of PH and some countries.
Also, I like how Ms. Mia conceptualized the four mermaids and their kingdoms situated in four provinces and it's pretty interesting that these are from her imagination, which quickly reminds me of the ones in Pichi. Spot on!
The two-part time skip epilogue, which both set during the early days of the PH's Third Republic and two years after the People Power Revolution, creates something powerful and unique but at the same time has a bittersweet, tearjerking end. I felt so gutted when it was Nikolas' time to end his lifelong suffering and reunited with the one he loved by becoming a pearl. But at the same time, fill with happiness because both he and Sirene would be reunited to the edge of the universe where they were no longer a human and a mermaid. Another thing you should watch out for is the little girl that Nikolas saved from the evil fishermen named Sophie and the hows on miraculously retaining her memories with the lovers on the first part of the epilogue.
Overall, another amazing masterpiece to watch out for but another interesting story everyone should read whether in both formats. I swear, you're gonna love it so much regardless until the end.
The blogger's personal copy of the first Sirene
book adaptation
What do you think about Sirene and her immortalized love with Nikolas? How did you find the combination between World War II, specifically the Japanese occupation in the Philippines, and the merfolk culture into something unique yet extraordinary historical fiction story? Lemme know in the comments box, on my FB page or my Twitter @goddessyk13!
Shameless plugging: Get a copy of the first Sirene book adaptation for only PHP150 at all National Bookstore outlets in the Philippines or order online via Shopee and Lazada! Also, don't forget to follow Binibining Mia's official social media accounts and Wattpad page!
Bonus:
The blogger's personal freebie art cards of Juanito,
Leandro and Madre Olivia from I Love You Since 1892
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