CRUZ, ALVIN JOHN M.

GOYO: THE BOY GENERAL

What is a hero's true worth? Why do we always look up and glorify without

question? asks Joven. In this film, we see young man filling in large shoes for his nation.

‘Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral’ or Goyo: The Boy General is a film released to the

public on September 5, 2018. This is a masterpiece written by Jerrold Tarog, produced

by Joe Alandy and Jerrold Tarog himself. The cinematography done by Pong Ignacio.

The film’s production companies are TBA studios, Artikulo Uno Productions and Globe

Studios. Jerrold Tarog was also the one solely responsible for the editing and music.

The top three characters in this film is the Gregorio del Pilar with the nickname the

Boy General, the President Emilio Aguinaldo, and Major Manuel Bernal. General Gregorio

del Pilar was played by Paulo Avelino. He is the main protagonist in this film. Goyo was

described as ‘a young brash general and a favorite of the President of Emilio Aguinaldo’.

This character made me swoon with his love for the country. One of notable lines in the

film is “Nagbabalik ako sayo bilang marapat na diwa. Bilang lalakeng pinili ang

pinakamahalagang bagay sa madilim na panahon: dangal, tungkulin, sakripisyo. Hindi

mawawalan ng halaga ang kamatayan ko pagkat namatay akong nagbibigay puri sa

bayan. At higit sa lahat, sa iyo.” We can interprete that when he said this, it was like

putting the hero back to the ground. This was not Goyo: The Boy General but Gregorio

del Pilar, the lover but has to prioritize his nation above anything else even though he is

aware of the consequences. President Emilio Aguinaldo was brought to life by Mon

Confiado. With this film, it could said that the hatred for Emilio Aguinaldo intensified to the

point he could be considered an antagonist. If only he listened to General Antonio Luna’s

so called ‘lunatic ideas’ (which he later on adapted but was too late). In addition to that

his thirst for power was out of line. Last but not the least, Major Manuel Bernal that was
CRUZ, ALVIN JOHN M. GOYO: THE BOY GENERAL

portrayed by Art Acuna. This character has small screen time during the film however, he

left one of the strongest impact when he told Goyo their difference; Goyo being faithful to

his idol- the President and those who died and who will die (including him) faithful to their

principle.

History could be projected through different media platforms. One of the most

accessible is movies because the youth nowadays prefer watching over reading. Through

movies, we can see different aspects of our history. There of those are cross cultural

references, setting or geographical features and historical events.

In the first movie, the protagonist was General Antonio Luna- a man comparable

to fire with the way he deals with his methods to protect our sovereignty. In this movie,

Goyo: The Boy General showcases another side of being a hero. Goyo showcase a go

with the flow man which is analogous to water. After the death of Antonio Luna, Goyo, a

young general was given a task to capture Luna's loyalist Jose and Manuel Bernal. They

located Manuel at Don Mariano's house. They capture Manuel and torture him into joining

Goyo's military personnel. After Manuel confronts Goyo about his mindset he instruct

someone to kill him. Goyo receive a promotion as a Major-General of Pangasinan from

President Aguinaldo when they went to Bulacan. Goyo also pursue Remedios who is the

eldest daughter of Don Mariano. During that time, Mabini also accept the offer of

Aguinaldo as a Chief Justice. Alejandrino set a meeting between two General, Elwell Otis

and Arthur MacArthur Jr. about the war. He tried to negotiate about his proposal but they

reject it. After that, the war resume and the Filipino military caught off-guard. They are

planning to go to Pozorrubio headed by Aguinaldo to meet General Tinio and to plan a

CRUZ, ALVIN JOHN M. GOYO: THE BOY GENERAL

strategifighting force. Sadly, the Americans defeat Tinio’s military force and by that, it

forces Aguinaldo to escape and retreat further north.

After they arrive at Tirad Pass, Goyo devises a delaying strategy for the sake of

Aguinaldo. Together with Lieutenant Garcia, they build trenches along the route of the

mountain. The following day, The Americans capture a town at the foot of the mountain

and they meet there the Tingguian Igorot Guide who give them an aid on how to go to the

secret path leading to the top of the mountain. After the Americans successfully go there,

they flank the Filipinos who quickly startled and overrun. Del Pilar was drive to finish the

fight but sadly, he was shot by an American snipper. As the result of Del Pilar’s death,

his army quickly surrender while Aguinaldo fled but he is capture later on in Palanan,

Isabela by the Americans effectively ending the war. He was held as a prisoner of the

war. Also Mabini was captured and exiled to Guam which he narrates the war entitled

The Philippine Revolution. He pointed out the failures of Aguinaldo as a president of the

Philippines

One of the cross- cultural interaction that was seen in the movie is between the

Filipino soldier and the Igorots. They treat the Igorots badly because of the way they

dress and they are making fun about their beliefs and culture, and because of that, the

Igorots hold some grudges on them and later on, they help the Americans by giving them

an aid on how to go the top of the mountains by using the secret path which led to the

victory of the Americans because they don’t treat them badly as the American knows that

they can use them just like in the saying “the enemy of my enemy is my friend”.

From the battle at Tirad Pass, it could be said that the terrain or the geographical

feature of the place was a great tactic so the Americans would not be able to infiltrate
CRUZ, ALVIN JOHN M. GOYO: THE BOY GENERAL

their camp and at the same time defend their base. They used the terrain of the

Philippines to their advantage.

There is no denying that of the plenty historical events that had occurred in the

Philippines for the past few decades, yet there is no denying that the history that General

Gregorio del Pilar left behind having filmmakers to make it into film for the newer

generation to appreciate and most importantly, leaving mistakes to learn from. The life

events of Del Pilar alongside his comrades were shown as to how everything went down,

from how they had to look for a resort from the Americans to how they tried to defeat them

but failed.

The film is recommendable to other students. It wasn’t like Luna’s story that was

jam-packed with action, gore and arguments between characters but it has something

that is captivating. Because of the film, curiosity arose. The curiosity for the fallen hero

and if there is more to the story other than the things showed on the large screen. The

characters were convincing to the point that emotions arose from the audience which

should be a good feedback. However, I did find Goyo’s death not climatic especially if it

was compared to Luna’s. It happened so abruptly. But then again, nothing much

happened in real life as well.

If we were united back then, would we win the war? Because from the film, we had

a fighting chance. If it wasn’t from traitors. And sadly, those traitors are of our kind. In

addition to that if we treated our kind with equality, we they done what they did?