MIDTERM EXAM

“GOYO: ANG BATANG HENERAL”

The film was released three years prior to the first movie titled Heneral Luna
which is a prequel movie. This movie tells us the happenings after the death of the
famous General Luna. Gregorio “Goyo” Del Pilar is known for being a young general
and a courageous soldier who lead his men to victory during the revolution but I believe
that the young general was portrayed in the movie as a person like any other people
who has a vulnerable side. I would admit that I do not get the story so much before but
now that I have watched it immediately right after watching Heneral Luna it gave me a
new perspective on how I see and interpret the movie as well as our history. This movie
challenges us to redefine Filipino heroism through the characters of Mabini and Joven
(journalist) therefore enabling the youth to try and look at a different angle of history
aside from what can be read inside textbooks.

“Gusto kong patunayan na marunong tayo maki-digma ng may kadakilaan at

paninindigan. Pero dahan dahan nakong naniniwala na baka nga tama sila na tawagin
tayong mga bata.” - Apolinario Mabini portrayed by Epi Quizon

In my opinion, Heneral Antonio Luna’s death marked the death of the revolution
because if it is true that Aguinaldo was the one behind the death of Luna therefore it
means that the President who is supposed to be for the Filipino people has failed to fulfil
his duties and that is to be loyal and faithful to the Filipino people and what Filipinos
were fighting for. It is true that Aguinaldo was listening to the people but he listened to
the wrong types of people. One issue presented in the movie is the identity crisis among
the Filipinos, after being under the Spanish rule for 333 years, Filipinos has established
a culture and norms that is influenced by the Spaniards and it that case we already loss
a sense of citizenry because our principles had been built under the Spanish influence,
therefore, Filipinos struggled between what they were fighting for (which is freedom
from oppression) and being confined with the ideologies and principles that the
Spaniards inculcate in their minds. I realized this when General Alejandrino was sent to
Manila to talk to the Americans, it seems that Manila is already an extension of America
and seems that they have lost the sense of being a Filipino (but let me give them the
benefit of the doubt because what choice do these ordinary Filipinos have?). The
revolution has become also a battle between self and self (sarili laban sa sarili) as I see
it in the movie.

“Bayan o sarili? Pumili ka!” – Heneral Luna portrayed by John Arcilla

In my opinion as portrayed in the movie, is that Aguinaldo has chosen himself

over the Filipinos, one of the best traits of a Filipino is being family-centered and yet it
has also become a worst trait of a Filipino because when being put in a spot where you
have to choose between the nation equating to the lives of millions of Filipinos and your
family, the family will win. When I saw the movie 2 years ago, I thought of Goyo as a
hero but after watching right after I watched Heneral Luna, almost every scene in Goyo
angers me. Why? It is because the characters are so chill, they were having fiestas,
fancy dinner parties, and leisure activities instead of planning and strategizing about the
on-going revolution against the Americans. It has been quiet for months which should
be alarming, the Americans were making a move about the war while they were drinking
and having unnecessary gatherings. Mabini’s words that was quoted above almost
define the whole movie, and the last part of the revolution. The Philippines is still a child
when it comes to warfare, they let their guards down just because they do not feel any
movement from the enemy which is funny because that is what the enemy wants, to
move forward without being seen in order to triumph over the Filipinos. I also find it
funny how they did not use the months before the Americans attacked them to
strategize, to talk about their next step in order to win the revolution, they should have
learned about this and took every minute seriously because they have been oppressed
for 333 years before therefore the Filipinos should not have gave the enemy any
advantage because it will only lead to another oppression.

The movie also depicts how the young general is like any other person who
pursues romantic relationship with women. Since then, it is believed that a military man
has many sweethearts. This being portrayed in the movie says that the general is
indeed still young and still playful but he plays the hearts of women instead of toys.
Another thing is that Goyo seems to suffer to a trauma brought by his previous war
engagements, this hunts him every day and Manuel Bernal’s words to the general
before they shot him added pressure to the trauma. Goyo was loyal to Aguinaldo
therefore it seems that he is fully reliant to his orders no matter what the cost is, he is
blinded by Aguinaldo’s power as president of the republic which leads to poor critical
and analytical thinking of Goyo as a soldier. This what has been going on in the first
parts of the movie until they were in the Tirad Pass where for me he (Goyo) had come
to realize that he is not fighting as a soldier for Aguinaldo but he is fighting for the nation
and the freedom of his countrymen. Another issue present is more on the political side, I
get that sometimes there are decisions that will not be understood by many and they
might even hat the person who made the decision but it must be done for a greater
cause. In my opinion, Aguinaldo already realized that they had lost the revolution a long
time ago before being captured by the Americans but he just kept going on the run
however the fall of Aguinaldo’s republic also depict that this was a mistake that should
never be repeated, I consider Aguinaldo as a traitor to the Philippines because I think
that he was too blinded by his power that he held it so tightly and he crushed it in his
own hands.

In conclusion, the movie Goyo offers us to challenge our perception of Filipino

heroism as well as our history. We should not see these people who fought in the
revolution as mere statues who are brave and courageous but we should see them as
people like us who chose to fight despite all the personal challenges and it led to us
where we are today. The bravery they have shown is a product of fear, the fear of being
oppressed once again. Let us learn from the mistakes of the past, and yes, maybe
those mistakes were meant to happen so we today should know better. This also allows
us to think not just outside the box but also beyond in order to fully understand history.
After watching the movie, I have always wondered what would be our situation today if
we won the revolution. How much will that revolution change the lives of Filipinos then
and now.

“Sabi ni Heneral Luna, ‘Ang taong may damdamin ay hindi alipin.’ Ngunit sa tingin ko’y
kung ang damdaming ito ay sanhi ng pagkabulag natin, alipin tayo ng sarili nating
damdamin.” - Joven Hernando