Goyo Ang Batang Heneral

PAGSISIYASAT UKOL SA GOYO: ANG BATANG HENERAL
Issaiah Nicolle L. Cecilia

1NRS - 1
I. Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral
II. Synopsis
The revolution marches on against the Americans after the bloody death of General Antonio Luna. The
conflicted philosophies behind the heroic struggle continue, and becomes personified in the colorful character
of General Gregorio Del Pilar.
III. Cast and Characters

 Paulo Avelino as General Gregorio del Pilar
 Carlo Aquino as Colonel Vicente Enriquez
 Arron Villaflor as Joven Hernando
 Mon Confiado as President Emilio Aguinaldo
 Epy Quizon as Apolinario Mabini
 Alvin Anson as General José Alejandrino
 Gwen Zamora as Remedios Nable Jose
 Empress Schuck as Felicidad Aguinaldo
 Che Ramos-Cosio as Hilaria Aguinaldo
 Rafa Siguion-Reyna as Colonel Julian Del Pilar
 Art Acuña as Major Manuel Bernal
 Tomas Santos as Angelito Bernal
 Robert Seña as Don Mariano Nable Jose
 Ronnie Lazaro as Lieutenant Pantaleon Garcia
 Jojit Lorenzo as Miguel Laureano
 Matt Evans as Lieutenant Telesforo Carrasco
 Benjamin Alves as Lieutenant Manuel L. Quezon
 Leo Martinez as Pedro Paterno
 Perla Bautista as Doña Trinidad Aguinaldo
 Roeder Camañag as Major Evaristo Ortiz
 E. A. Rocha as General Elwell Otis
 Miguel Faustmann as General Arthur MacArthur
 Other members of the ensemble cast are Christopher Aronson, RK Bagatsing, Nonie
Buencamino, Carlo Cruz, Jason Dewey, Bret Jackson, Ethan Salvador, Lorenz Martinez, Karl
Medina, Stephanie Sol, and Markki Stroem.
 Directed and Written by: Jerrold Tarog
IV. Movie Review
General Gregorio Hilario Del Pilar y Sempio also called as Goyo, Goyong and Agila was born in November
14, 1875 in Bulacan to Bulakeño parents Felipa Sempio and Fernando del Pilar. He is the nephew of the
Spanish reformists and editor of the La Solidaridad - Marcelo H. Del Pilar who has a pen named Plaridel. Goyo
also served as a secret messenger who would distribute pamphlets written by Filipino reformers in Europe.
However, he started to join the revolt when the war with the Americans began. He was one of the youngest
generals in the Philippine Revolutionary Forces during the War against Spain and the Philippine-American
War, that’s why he was known as the “Boy General”. He is said to be Emilio Aguinaldo’s triggerman. What
many people do not know, is that he was the almost-assassin of General Antonio Luna. While he was on his
way to execute the sinful order, the Presidential Guards of Cabanatuan were the first to murder their superior
before Goyo could even reach his headquarters in Pangasinan. Such interesting revelations really paint a
different picture of Goyo, whom we only knew before as the hero of Tirad Pass.
Jerold Tarrog's Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral presented the story of a Boy General that was acknowledged for
his fighting expertise and tactical skills. The movie opened with Goyo already known as hero by the townsfolk
in Nueva Ecija. Apparently the film implied that Goyo – the most favored one –got his title and promotion on
the basis of his closeness to Aguinaldo. As the film progresses, however, we see him begin to internalize the
differences between being an honorable soldier and a rule-following dog. In a particularly moving scene, Goyo
is forced to reassess his loyalty to Aguinaldo, and throughout the movie we see him struggle with this internal
battle between staying within the comfort of his position and fighting for the good of his country.
I remember in the introduction of the film, Gen. Del Pilar captured Gen. Luna's officer, Manuel Bernal.
Bernal was sent to a prison cell and tortured for information regarding other soldiers. Gen. Gregorio Del Pilar
told him that they are fighting for the same thing. The difference is that he is faithful to a dead person while he
himself is faithful to the president. With Manuel Bernal replying that their difference is that Del Pilar is faithful
to his idol while them who are killed and going to be killed, are faithful to their principle. The definite reality of
this scene showed the blind idolization of individuals to a person in power and authority.
A character in the film named Joven Hernando was meant to represent the youth as "Juven" in Spanish
means "youth". There, Joven was seen writing letters for his father, stating the happenings with the battles as
well as keeping him posted regarding their escape with President Emilio Aguinaldo. The film also shown the
brother of Goyo who is Julian Del Pilar and their close aide, Lt, Col. Jose Enriquez. It also depicted his love
interests especially his greatest love, Remedios Nable Jose as he had the firm and absolute plans to marry her
after the revolution.
Moreover, the film also applied the sentiments of Apolinario Mabini as he questions the principles of
leaders in position of power using only his pen and wisdom. My favorite lines of Mabini in this movie are
“Kaya na ba ng Pilipino na marinig ang katotohanan nang hindi mapipikon?” and “Nabigo ang rebolusyon dahil
mali ang pamumuno dito. Sa halip na suportahan ni Ginoong Aguinaldo ang mga taong tunay na naglilingkod
sa bayan, tinanggalan pa sila ng pakinabang”. Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral addresses the questions "what does
one have to take in order to be hero?", "what is a hero's true worth?" and "why do we always look up and
glorify without a question?”. It criticizes Filipinos’ tendency to support the idolization of false, incompetent
leaders and it does not shy away from pointing out the cowardice of the Filipinos, which costs the lives of those
brave enough to believe in a principle instead of a false idol. We must never blind ourselves for idolization, we
must never close our eyes to the truth and we must never turn our back to our country and to our nationality.
Overall, the film not only sees Goyo as the bold, brave hero we’ve all known, but as a naive young man who
was given power only because he’s the President’s favorite. We see him get flirtatious, have nightmares and
daydreams, get hot-headed and face his constant fear of death. He redeems himself in the end, by fighting for
the land he’s standing in, and in turn, giving his life up without question. There are a lot of memorable lines,
some of them being excerpts straight from the records of our history, and most of them are still very much
relevant to this present time. The production design was very detailed, the cinematography was marvelous, and
the actors were very passionate and good in portraying their own roles.
To sum it up, what I find so good about this movie is its uncompromising look at its so-called hero. Del
Pilar died all of a sudden on the battlefield gives the movie so much power. He still became a hero, despite
lacking the usual traits that define one. I realized that the youth must sacrifice their lives for the next generation,
in order for their sentiments and principles to live on, be heard and understood. The truth and history must
always be passed on unto the next as it is what defines us, it is what created us. It is who we are.
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PAGSISIYASAT UKOL SA GOYO: ANG BATANG HENERAL

Issaiah Nicolle L. Cecilia

III. Cast and Characters

IV. Movie Review

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