The Gabriela Silang Monument is the centerpiece of the Abra Welcome Park. It is a park located at the foothills of the Narvacan-San Quintin mountain ranges.
» The best way to learn about the meaning of this structure is to ask the creator, but I don't know where to find the creator. So, it remained a mystery...
» My young self would react that it was not about how subjectively beautiful a place is. My purpose then was not just to talk about the great and famous places but also to write stories about random encounters in my adventures.
🇵🇭 SAN QUINTIN » ABRA
I came up with the idea that no province should be considered inferior compared to other provinces. Every place has its own beauty and identity.
There are just things that could be seen and events that could be experienced in a certain place you couldn't find anywhere else.
► Backstory
This encounter with the Gabriela Silang Monument is part of a larger scheme of things in 2012. From ▼ VIGAN, my brother and I rode our Honda Beat 2009 model to Abra, and this monument is one of the stops of that scooter adventure.
As I entered Abra, I took time to visit the park called Abra Welcome Park in Brgy Tangadan of the town of San Quintin.
► Not a Tourist Attraction?
I think it's safe to say that this park does not have the charisma to attract tourists or travelers alike. Like any other parks or plazas in the Philippines, this one looks very usual—with a monument and picnic tables; but why do I still care to write about it?
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🇵🇭 SAN QUINTIN » I climbed the monument, and my brother took this photo. |
I got more excited when I blog about places that are mostly off-topic in the blogosphere. Of course, aside from the fact that I also wanted to trailblaze new search terms or topic on Google, I find it fulfilling to give my first perpective online (this was my mindset in 2012).
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🇵🇭 SAN QUINTIN » I found this silent corner of the Abra Welcome Park in 2012. |
► Connecting and Digging the History
There was this feeling in me that I wanted to learn more about this park. I wanted to bring out what this park is all about, including the meaning of the things I was seeing at that time, while I trace the history of those.
In my previous post about the ▼ TANGADAN TUNNEL
🇵🇭 SAN QUINTIN » Tangadan Tunnel: Decoding the Symbolism
The construction of the tunnel started in 1934, an imperative need to divert the old road which was very steep and difficult to negotiate...
where I also investigated about its history, I still considered it to be mysterious for being unable to confirm my theories and others' theories. However, those theories are still oh-so-good to think about.
At the Abra Welcome Park, I wanted something more—discover and dig its history. Yes, it's just a usual park that people may not care at all. Having a picnic at the picnic tables or just enjoying the fresh breeze would already serve its purpose. However, that's not enough for me. I wanted to dig deeper. From the very start, I knew that this park is not ordinary if only I'd learned about the reason behind its existence.
I saw a monument of a horse with a woman riding on it. The woman must be a fighter or a heroine. I found out that she was Gabriela Silang, the brave woman who fought for the North's freedom by resisting foreign invaders. How was I able to learn that she was Gabriela Silang? Well, it really helps to read the markers you see everywhere.
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🇵🇭 SAN QUINTIN » Gabriela Silang rides a horse in this sculpture depiction. |
The best way to learn about the meaning of this structure is to ask the creator, but I don't know where to find the creator. So, it remained a mystery; though as I always say, there is no such thing as mystery because there is always a reason for everything. What made it mysterious is the fact that I couldn't explain the reason (in 2012). If I would find the reason, that's not a mystery anymore (at least on my part).
► Digging the Roots
Everytime I see a monument, I have some degree of goosebumps. Not that I am afraid of it or it is creepy, but I am so much invested in the wisdom and the craftsmanship behind these monuments and structures. Every detail has a reason.
That is also the reason why everytime I enter a place, I try to look for a museum first. If there is a museum, that would be my priority to visit. Museums paint colors on a certain portion of the gray area in my head. Museums tie the broken strings and continually stretch these strings to find great web of connections.
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🇵🇭 SAN QUINTIN » My brother posed for a photo with the Gabriela monument. |
This monument builds a connection with the previous status of Abra. This monument shows Gabriela Silang using a fighter-type horse used for battle or revolution. What emphasized the fight-scene of Gabriela Silang is the bolo she is handling.
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🇵🇭 SAN QUINTIN » The Tangadan tunnel is located just behind the Gabriela Silang monument. |
► What's Next?
Our motorbike went off-the-road. We took an unfamiliar road which was our first time to hit.
We reached the dead end of the road, and arrived at a place with a lot of pebbles, stones, and huge rocks. There are trucks that do quarrying too.
But wait, there was also a river... a great river. In here, we met local residents, and more adventures awaited us here leaving our motorbike behind. I never expected those things to happen at all. This place almost brought me to a place connected to local mythology and legends. To be continued...
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7
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UPDATE HISTORY FOR THIS BLOG POST
2025-July-31:
• The article was rewritten, proofread, and revised (injecting both 2012 and 2025 perspectives). Lay-out aligned with other pages.
2012-October-05:
• This post was published.
Everytime talaga na nasa Ilocos (whether Norte or Sur), palagi akong bumabalik sa Sibika and Kultura days hehe. Growing up, I've pictured Ilocanas as brave women. I do think Gabriela Silang is the most popular example. Para sa akin, malalakas talaga ang loob ng mga Ilocano in general. I wanna write a blog entry about it kaso wah kelangan ko ng matinding motivation at concentration lol.
ReplyDeleteBtw, alam mo ba cause of death ni Leona Florentino? Up to now it still bothers me on why she passed away at the young age of 35.
Ituloy na ang kwento dali! :D
Micamyx|Senyorita | Uy, magandang topic yan! Concentrate na, LOL!
ReplyDeleteSorry at hindi ko pa talaga alam ng todo ang death ni Florentino, hohoho. That's my next subject for research (naman, lol!). Tapusin ko lang si Gabriela Silang, lol.
ingat ingat po sa magmamaneho
ReplyDeleteChrisair | Thanks.
ReplyDeleteYou really are going to places with that mighty bike. With historical touch, your adventure become even more exciting. Keep up throttle on for more places to go.
ReplyDeletedimaks | The Urban Walker | Thanks bro! Yeah! As long as I get the chance, I will definitely keep going! :)
ReplyDeleteWow. It's admirable how you dig deep for your stories. I've always leatned about Gabriela Silang in college and today I got another lesson in history.
ReplyDeleteMy father is from Sarmingan, Narvacan, IS, but they don't speak ilocano in their barangay, more of a kankanae language with roots from Sagada, Mt. Province. Why I am telling this? Hope you could also investigate on how this Igorot (proud to be one) tribe reached the town in Ilocos. :D
ReplyDeleteI could not remember the history of Gabriela Silang, thanks for digging deeper into all of your adventures...
Interesting post bro! Ngayon ko lang nalaman na may claim pala na dyan pinanganak ang lola Gabriela ko :) seriously, interesting tong post na to bro, bihira nababasa ko writings about Gabriela. Infairness angpogi ng statue ng Kabayo ni lola Gabriela ha- symbolic!
ReplyDeletewheew...Long story but nice read. Love it..Hope yung to be continued mabasa ko din... tnx.
ReplyDeleteThat's fact about Gabriela Silang is new to me! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteFranc Ramon | Actually there are more tolearn about this heroine :)
ReplyDeleteMyk Malag | Hey Myk! Actually I just visited Sarmingan last week but it was in Nagbukel (a town near Narvacan). But I am not really sure if there is another Sarmingan in Narvacan. But there is a Sarmingan in Nagbukel which is considered as part of Narvacan (though a separate town).
ReplyDeleteBut I talked to the people and they say they speak "itneg." But one man said they do not speak kankanaey mainly, but they can understand it. Well, I hope we have the same line of thinking here. But possibly you may be referring to other perspective :)
Anyway, that would be a challenge. Let me research it but I won't be sure if I can tell the whole fact of the story :)
Traveling Morion | Oo brother! Actually may connection talaga siya from Santa, Candon City to Tayum, Abra. Coming next! Hehe.
ReplyDeleteLorraine Pal | Thanks for reading Raine!
ReplyDeleteDing Fuellos | Hi sir Ding! Thanks for having the patience to read. LOL!
ReplyDelete