Paulita Gomez

"Dreams, dreams. I have heard it said that you have a great many enemies. Aunt Torina says that this country will always be enslaved."

- Paulita Paulita Gomez was the niece of Doña Victorina and the sweetheart of Isagani. Following Isagani's imprisonment, Paulita broke their relationship off and married Juanito instead.

Early History
At a young age, Paulita became orphaned and was put under the care of her uncle and aunt, Don Tiburcio and Doña Victorina. She also, at some point, became lovers with Isagani.

Love and Loss
Later on, Paulita watched Les Coches de Corneville with her aunt and Juanito Pelaez, seeing Isagani look at the cancan dancers and becoming jealous. She later met with Isagani in Malecon, having him explain his behavior at the theater. As Isagani discussed his dreams with her, she dismissed them as being too idealistic.

Following Isagani's imprisonment and eventual release, Paulita broke off her relationship with him and was betrothed instead to Juanito, having their wedding reception at the old house of Capitan Tiago. During the reception, the guests became panicked as the lamp given as a wedding gift by the jeweler Simoun bore a note from the dead Crisostomo Ibarra. As the lamp was about to explode, however, the plan was foiled by Isagani.

Personality and Traits
Paulita was a beautiful mestiza who caught the eyes of everyone around her, yet she has the tendency to act immature and entitled due to her youth and sheltered upbringing. Having been raised in a privileged environment, Paulita’s statement of only traveling anywhere by coach or train being emblematic of this. Hearing only bad things about the country as she grew up, Paulita emulated her elders and also spoke badly of the Philippines. Because of this, she felt resentful towards patriotic individuals such as Isagani. She was also somewhat emotionally manipulative, making Isagani feel guilty for attending the theater show when she had gone with Juanito.

Character Connections
Isagani: Paulita's lover. The man was Paulita's first love, and she demonstrated care for him on some level. Despite this, she often quarreled with him and outright dismissed his dreams for the future as being unattainable. Ultimately, Paulita did not thought of being with Isagani as sensible, and married Juanito in order to secure a life of wealth and security.

Doña Victorina: Paulita's aunt. Serving as Paulita's chaperone and mother figure, Victorina influenced Paulita's personality to a great degree, including her high-society ways and pessimism regarding the progress of the Philippines.