Desirie Rose P.

Lopena BSMT 1-J

“A Viewing Assesment on the Film, ‘Heneral Luna’”

Nationalism, by definition, is the promotion of the political independence of a certain

nation or people. Although nationalism can be confused with patriotism, there is a significant
difference between the two. Patriotism and nationalism has one thing in common and that is
“loving our own country”. The difference between the two is that patriotism openly supports
the country’s government and people, and embraces freedom, equality and justice.
Nationalism, however, may carry xenophobia and racism in order to defend the country
against a country, which may also cause wars. It also carries a connotation of distrust or
disapproval of other countries, leading to the assumption that other countries are rivals
(Longley, 2019).

Even on the first part of the movie, nationalism can already be noticed by how General
Antonio Luna eagerly voiced his enthusiasm in fighting a battle against the Americans to
save and protect his motherland. To him, the Americans can hold a threat against the
Filipino’s independence and that is why he keenly wanted to fight against them in terms of
war. His fervor to protect the country was not baffled even after the numerous times he was
prevented by his fellow Filipino men who also held high positions in the government.

Those scenes mentioned above hold a strong evidence of how much of a nationalist
General Luna was. In a short glance, we may look at General Luna in a way that he is only
doing such acts to truly protect the country and that he loves his country that’s why he fought
for it, but the real truth is General Luna overlooked some other aspects that make up the love
for one’s country. He, without any hesitation, surged on wars to try and “save” the country
from being invaded. He degrades the Americans’ idea on improving the country such as in
business terms and looks at them solely as enemies. Lastly, General Luna gave his fellow
Filipino people rude remarks because they cannot live up to his standard of “love for one’s
country”, which can strongly depict his nationalism throughout the movie.

The entire movie surrounds the question: Bayan o Ako? (My country or me?). Even if
General Luna was a nationalist in some way, the fact that he chose his country over himself
is a good depiction of patriotism. The way he selflessly died for his country was an act of
patriotism. Patriotism was also depicted in the movie in such ways that even if General Luna
showed rude behavior, he had loyal soldiers who without a doubt swore their lives for their
country and to them. Anyone in the movie who chose their own benefit (such as using the
Americans for their businesses), clearly depict selfishness and that is an opposition to
patriotism, as well.
 The movie gave insight to two similar yet distinguished traits and those are nationalism
versus patriotism. For me, I can sense the loud scream that General Luna wants his fellow
Filipino to hear, and how much he wants almost all of us to have the same eagerness as him
when it comes to saving our country. I heard that eagerness and I learned from it. I learned to
look at the two ways of how to love our country; the nationalist way or the patriotist way.
Regardless of which way, the most important for me is how I learned to be selfless for one’s
country.

The best part where this scene was shown was when General Luna promoted one of his
dying soldiers while the war was occurring. Even if the soldier did die in the end, General
Luna showed how much he values his fellowmen and their loyalty. In a similar way, this
value was depicted in the scenes in which General Luna punishes his other troop (by
demoting their ranks) who refused to join the courageous battle. Even if he was a bit harsh on
them, General Luna only tried to open their eyes so that they will manifest the same bravery
for the country. I think that is love in a different spectrum. There was also a scene in which
General Luna proudly mentioned a brave soldier to Joven Hernando. He confessed that there
were only little soldiers who were courageous enough to die for our country, but even so,
General Luna values those little numbers of soldiers who do so.

Overall, the film successfully delivered patriotism to one’s nation. This era can strongly
relate to the movie, for it tells an untold history and an eye-opener to us all.

There were scenes in the movie that showed upperclass Filipinos speak more Spanish
than Filipino, and they even inherit more of Spain’s high-class standards. While this is
occurring, there was also a scene which shows how the upperclass Filipinos still call the
lower class Filipinos as ‘Indio’— a common term called by the Spaniards to uneducated
Filipinos. Not only that, but it can also be seen in the movie how Felipe Buencamino pushed
his own selfish ideals and disguised it as a love for one’s country, but ended up killing his
fellow Filipino just so he could save his ideals.

Those scenes in the movie are unfortunately still evident in today’s era. Based from what
I have seen in the modern world, even if unnecessary, Filipino still fight and bring down
other Filipino people so they could lift themselves up. It is unfortunate, but it is quite the
reality now. There are Filipino people now who earns just enough to survive, but brags as if
they are quite “socially high-class” individuals.

I know this is not true at all times, for I know there are still Filipinos who are patriotic to
their own country just like in the movie. The best evidence for this is the fact that the
Filipinos are against China’s invasion of our land. It is true that the so-called ‘keyboard
warriors’ cannot do anything but voice out their opinions against China. But the fact that they
have a sense of nationalism, I believe it is a strong trait that Filipinos have always had even
in the past.