While it is true that Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral will not leave you breathless and astounded like

Heneral
Luna, it is the type of film that will leave you thinking.

Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral is the type of glass-shattering film that will show you that not everyone you
glorify is worthy of praise and that the people in power are not always right. It will show you that even
the ones you idolize are not immune to blind patriotism. It will certainly break your belief that our
heroes are high and mighty but it will show you that even they are susceptible to mistakes, fear, and
vulnerability. Because after all, they are just human.

The film is so political that it will make you realize that the issues that happened years ago are still
happening today. It will show you that ties—not skills, will give a person power while the strongest and
wisest critics will end up being pacified, silenced, or worse, dead.

Goyo is also a representation of the youth.

Though Joven’s namesake means ‘youth’ in Spanish, he isn’t the sole representation of the youth. Goyo
is, too. In the film, Goyo is seen as self-centered, vain, idealistic, and impulsive. But he is more than just a
typical young lad who breaks down when afraid or loses his spirit during the defeat. What makes Goyo a
hero is not his heroic death or martyrdom. It’s his realization that he is fighting for his country, not with
self-interest and certainly not for Emilio Aguinaldo. He fights with love for his country. In the end, the
young general emerged as a man, even if it was too late.

While Heneral Luna showed you what a hero should do, Goyo will show you the mistakes that a hero
makes.

He is literally a “batang heneral.” What makes this movie brilliant is that it was made for a critical-
thinking audience; millennials and generation z’s who will dig deep and look through things beyond
fanfare and heroic deaths.

After all, being a hero is more than just a tragic ending. It’s how they got there, how they fought, and
what they were fighting for.
the second installment to Jerrold Tarog’s war trilogy, premiered Wednesday, September 5. By
humanizing who many consider as one of the bravest heroes of the revolution – from his questionable
loyalty to Emilio Aguinaldo to his womanizing ways –Jerold hopes Goyo will encourage Filipinos to take a
moment of self-reflection and introspection.

“The idea naman with Heneral Luna and Goyo is presenting a person na meron siyang mga flaws, marami
siyang flaws, pero at the same time, meron din siyang mga bagay na ginagawa na you can agree with,”
Jerrold explained during the press conference for Goyo last August 23.

(The idea with General Luna and Goyo is to present a person with flaws but at the same time, did things
you can agree with.)

“Puwedeng tingnan ng kabataan ‘yung idea na natuto si Goyo na mag-sacrifice kasi, I don’t want to give
away too many things sa tema, pero ‘yung idea na sacrifice. That is one important thing – 'yung idea ng
pagkilala mo sa sarili mo is not really a kind of egotism kundi it really is more of learning to let go of your
own ego para sa isang greater good.”

(The youth can look at it this way: Goyo learned to sacrifice – and I don't want to give away too many
themes – but the idea of sacrifice is there. That is one important thing to know: that the idea of knowing
yourself isn't really a kind of egotism but it's really about letting go of your own ego for the greater
good.)

While known for his bravery, Jerrold said that the young general, in several instances, appeared terrified
when reminded of his mortality.

GOYO. Paulo Avelino is Gregorio del Pilar in 'Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral.' Screenshot from YouTube/TBA

(Goyo's friends saw how he was afraid because he realized he was going to die. These are things you
don't usually see in a film that's about a hero. That's what the movie is emphasizing. The idea here is
that he's afraid because he realized that life is fragile.)
The director also admitted that some of the scenes were “enhanced” to give the movie a “dramatic” flair.
Jerold said this wasn't really about romanticizing a character but taking a more “poetic” approach to
entertain the audience.