Warning: Spoilers are coming. All images courtesy of HBO.

After toying with my emotions for weeks, HBO’s epic television series Game of Thrones ended its sixth season with “The Winds of Winter.”

I’m still trying to recover from all the stress in the Seven Kingdoms. But I’m not alone; many of my friends are also enduring Westerosi withdrawal symptoms. I guess the series is quite relatable.

Here are seven scenes from the finale that Filipinos like me may find familiar. Let’s start in chronological order, all the way from King’s Landing…

Confess

Politics is one of the classic pastimes of Filipinos. And now is a curious time. If winter has finally arrived in Game of Thrones after six seasons, “change is coming” in the Philippines for the next six years.

The presidency of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is now upon us and after a wave of killings involving alleged criminals and drug addicts, many self-confessed state sinners and substance abusers are now afraid.

Shame! Shame!

Hundreds of these people have now surrendered to the police, fearing that they will become the next casualty in this intensified campaign against crime.

At least their foreheads won’t be mutilated like Ser Loras Tyrell who humbly confessed his shortcomings to Pope Francis the High Sparrow during the trial.

Usisero Mentality

There were many commoners who watched the Faith Militant’s trial of Loras and Cersei. If it happened in the Philippines, I’m sure many more would be in attendance. Just because.

Some will live tweet every update. Some will take selfies with Queen Margaery in the background. Some may even do an FB Live broadcast.

And more would have died.

The Little Birds

President Duterte will also implement a curfew that shall ban minors in the streets by 10pm. He is also pushing for a three-child policy for families.

Just look at what children are capable of when they are left unsupervised. Please, save the children!

No More Chance

After banishing Jorah Mormont in the friend zone, Queen Daenerys channeled her inner Bea Alonzo (circa One More Chance) against Daario Naharis.

Dirty Old Man

“I thought you knew what I wanted.”

We all have encountered a Littlefinger. Tag someone you know. Maybe a boss, a neighbor or a random person. Et cetera. DOMs. They never give up.

R + L = J

In a twist that is a staple in our telenovelas, the show virtually confirmed that Jon Snow is not Ned Stark’s bastard son.

It may not have been explicitly explained but the true parents of Jon Snow have been revealed. Rhaegar Targaryen + Lyanna Stark = Jon Snow. Or in lowest terms, R + L = J.

This was a very popular fan theory that has been years in the making. Many believed that Prince Rhaegar (big brother of Daenerys) kidnapped and raped Lyanna (little sister of Ned Stark). But it seemed they really loved each other and eloped to escape Lyanna’s marriage to Robert Baratheon.

Robert eventually killed Rhaegar in battle, stealing the throne from the Targaryens.

During his rule, King Robert was intent on killing all Targaryens so Lyanna made Ned promise to protect her son with Rhaegar as she lay dying because of childbirth. The honorable Ned raised the baby as his bastard.

If this was quite a long explanation, let’s just test the theory further by burning Jon Snow. He should have the same powers as Daenerys. (My friends Jerald Zumel and Mav Gonzales were quick to point out that Targaryens aren’t necessarily fireproof.)

Family feuds. Real parents. Adoptions. That’s a standard formula for a Filipino primetime soap opera.

Nilaga

This last segment is a collection of three scenes with a single theme: kapag may tiyaga, may nilaga.

They’re all set. But we’ll have to wait. The seventh season is another nilagang baka that will be ready by April 2017.

[Entry 150, The SubSelfie Blog]

About the Author:

Bam Alegre is the founder of SubSelfie.com and writes from time to time as a guest contributor. He is a News Reporter for GMA News (2012) and an Instructor for the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of the East (2015). He was also part of the team that won GMA News the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award for the news coverage of super typhoon Yolanda (2013). Previously, he worked behind the scenes as a Segment Producer for State of the Nation with Jessica Soho and 24 Oras (2009-2012). He is also the vocalist, pianist and guitarist of the band No Parking (2005). BA Broadcast Communication 2007, UP Diliman. Read more of his articles here.