Gen.

Gregorio Hilario del Pilar y Sempio nicknamed Goyo, Goyong, Boy General and the Agila
was born in November 14, 1875 in Bulacan, Philippines. General Goyo was a nephew to one of
the Spanish reformists and editor of the La Solidaridad - Marcelo H. Del Pilar pen named
Plaridel. As a juvenile, Goyo served as a messenger for his uncle, the first-elected Supremo of
the Katipunan - Deodato Arellano. He would distribute propagandas, letters and pamphlets to
different organizations. He acquired a bachelor of arts degree in Ateneo De Manila University.
He left his education, however, when the war with the Americans began and he started to join the
ranks of the revolution. The Boy General came to be known as the youngest person to ever
acquire a high military position in the Philippine Revolutionary Army. This however, is proven
to be inaccurate and false as it was actually General Manuel Tinio, who was promoted into being
a brigadier general at age twenty. What numerous people do not know, is that the Boy General
was the almost-assassin of the impetuous, 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.
Jerold Tarrog's Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral delineated the story of a Boy General that was
acknowledged for his fighting prowess and tactical skills. The film also depicted his love
interests as well as his traumatization with war and revolution. 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. As it portrays the
life of Gen. Gregorio Del Pilar, the film also shown his brother Julian Del Pilar and their close
aide, Lt, Col. Jose Enriquez. General Goyo's final and greatest love, Remedios Nable Jose was
also shown as he had the firm and absolute plans to marry her after the revolution. Furthermore,
the film applied the sentiments of Apolinario Mabini as he questions the principles of leaders in
position of power using only his pen and wisdom. Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral was a complex
anti-hero film fueled by iconoclastic thoughts that will make you catechize the modern practice
in which individuals, simply being means Filipinos, with their blind worship and idolatry to a
leader. Unlike the film Heneral Luna, which addresses patriotism to one's country and the
willingness to fight for independence is essential to being a hero. 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 depicts the
complexities in one's mind as it tackled the ills of the society and politics.
The portrayal of actor Paulo Avelino to Gen. Gregorio del Pilar was superlatively outstanding.
According to renowned historian Teodoro Kalaw, the Boy General became as conceited as ever
when he stayed in Dagupan, Pangasinan as he ordered the best horses and showed his superior
horsemanship for every woman in the vicinity would see. This was shown in the film accurately.
Moreover, the traumatization of Goyo due to his past battles such as the Battle of Kakarong Sili
was also conveyed as it deeply affected his mind and fear. A renowned scene in the film
manifested the absolute reality and the status quo of what is occurring politically and socially. In
the prologue of the film, Gen. del Pilar was to capture Gen. Luna's officer, Manuel Bernal. After
his failed act of escape, Bernal was sent to the dungeons to be tortured for information regarding
other rogue soldiers. There, it was seen that Gen. Gregorio del Pilar spoke to him saying -
"Pareho lang tayong tapat sa pinaglalaban natin. Ang pagkakaiba, tapat ka sa isang patay na tao,
ako tapat sa president." (We are fighting for the same thing. The difference is, you are faithful to
a dead person, I am faithful to the president) With Manuel Bernal replying "Ang
pagkakaiba...ikaw tapat sa idolo mo. Kaming mga pinatay at papatayin, tapat kami sa isang
prinsipyo" (The difference...you are faithful to your idol. We, that are killed and going to be
killed, are faithful to one principle) The definite reality of this scene manifested the blind idolatry
of individuals to a person in power and authority. We are killed and murdered for standing by
our sentiments and principles, that resembles doves in a gruesome cage.
The scene depicts the equilibrium and the absoluteness in the status quo in which the community
should glorify the country, with its sovereignty, rights, citizens and independence. They shall
never glorify its leader, for it is only one man. One man in power that is only in position to serve
and protect. The people should always and forever be faithful to their just principles for the
progress of their state and its civil rights. Furthermore, another scene in the film also manifested
the realness of its words. It was when Lieutenant Garcia showed Gen. Gregorio the mountains
that contains the Tirad Pass and the wholesomeness of the terrain of Ilocos Region saying "si
Aguinaldo pag bumagsak, mapapalitan yan. Pero ito, hindi ito napapalitan" (When Aguinaldo
falls, he can be replaced. But this, it can never be) This scene characterized the actuality that
people in power can always be replaced. Someone will eventually have to be elected in power to
serve the political and people in power can always be replaced. Someone will eventually have to
be elected in power to serve the political and social sphere. However, the country - with its
culture, literature, people, rights and livelihood, it cannot and will never be replaced. For it is
ours. It is within and among us, a part of ours, for it belongs only to us.
As Joven Hernando and Lieutenant Garcia's son was escaping the cruel battle of Tirad Pass, an
American officer stopped them in their tracks. However, Joven falls into a deep ravine and Lt.
Garcia's son was allowed to run for his safety. As Joven represents us, the juveniles, the scene
manifested 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.
Jerold Tarrog's Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral is a highly recommended film to everyone, for it
manifests the truthfulness of history and its reality. That what had transpired in time, can still be
executed again. It bestows upon us the lesson that a just principle shall be the one that is glorified
and acknowledged, not to a man. We must never blind ourselves for idolatry, we must never
close our eyes to the truth and we must never turn our back to our country and to our nationality.
With the renowned line in the film saying – “Tandaan mo kung sino ka”