LEEZLLEEH JENICE O.

MONDERO BSED-S102 NSTP

HENERAL LUNA SUMMARY

During 1898, Spains colonial rule over the Philippines has collapsed. Rather than face
humiliation from Filipino rebels, Spain secretly sells the archipelago to the victorious
Americans for $20,000,000 during the Treaty of Paris. As America prepares to claim it’s new
colony, Filipinos at the Barasoain Church in Malolos, during a cabinet meeting over the growing
American presence in the Philippines, cabinet members Felipe Buencamino and Pedro
Paterno propose to form an alliance with the Americans to avoid open conflict but this angers
Generals Antonio Luna and José Alejandrino, both of whom prefer to fight the new invaders
rather than negotiating with them. Meanwhile, President Emilio Aguinaldo attempts to negotiate
with the Americans over the control of Manila, which is still under Spanish control. During the
meeting, letter was sent to the President informing that the Americans fired the Filipino troops in
Santa Mesa and even attacked the other towns. After an incident between American and Filipino
soldiers in Manila, Aguinaldo starts a brutal resistance against the Americans to protect the
country's independence.

As they begin their strategy against the Americans, Luna and his officers—Colonel
Francisco "Paco" Román, Captain Eduardo Rusca, and the Bernal brothers, Captain José and
Major Manuel—experience a number of setbacks. When Luna requests reinforcements from the
Kawit battalion during a combat, their commander Pedro Janolino declines because the request
did not come directly from Aguinaldo. Luna mercilessly degrades and humiliates Janolino out of
rage. After that, Luna issues his infamous "Article One," which stipulates that anyone disobeying
him will be put to death immediately. He does this to discipline disobedient troops and officers
and to raise more men for the army. In an effort to bring about peace, Buencamino and Paterno
suggest at another meeting that the nation be made an American protectorate. General Tomás
Mascardo quickly sabotages Luna's campaign by disobeying his orders. The Americans advance
steadily as the two generals prepare to combat in Pampanga, driving the Filipino army to retreat
up north with Aguinaldo. Heneral Luna made the decision to step down due to the nation's
division, but President Aguinaldo denied his request while approving another request of Luna's
to set up a headquarters in the north where they could conduct a guerilla campaign against the
Americans.
 Not long after, Luna is summoned to the President's headquarters in Cabanatuan after
receiving news that he has been given a position in the President's new cabinet. Upon arrival, he
discovers that Aguinaldo has left, he was understandably upset to be told that the President had
left earlier in the day. Luna was met by Felipe Buencamino, with whom he had previous
disagreements. Then there was Capt. Pedro Janolino, as well as the Kawit presidential
bodyguards. Luna, together with his aide Col. Paco Roman, was killed. Luna suffered over 30
wounds from bolos, bayonets and bullets. A lesser man would have died instantly from half of
his wounds, but the general was able to stagger out of the building, cursing his murderers, before
falling lifeless on the church patio. When it was all over, Aguinaldo’s mother, who watched the
slaughter from a church window, said: “Nagalaw pa ba iyan (Is he still alive)?”
Meanwhile, Aguinaldo requests Luna and Román be buried with full military honors while the
killers are never arrested and tried for their crimes. Afterwhile, most of Luna's officers are
arrested while some are tortured and killed, including the Bernal brothers. Several decades after
the war, Aguinaldo denies his involvement in Luna's assassination, calling him his most brilliant
and capable general.
What emotions did the documentary/film evoke in you and why?

Heneral Luna made me feel various of emotions. It made me feel proud to our fellow
Filipinos but somehow it also made me ashamed. The cooperative endeavor of Filipinos made
me proud and happy seeing how they unite to fight for our independence and sacrifice even their
lives just to be free from abusive Americans. On the other hand, I am ashamed and I felt hatred
and disgusted towards our fellow Filipino because of their betrayal and selfishness. Instead of
helping each other to achieve our freedom they betrayed and killed Heneral Luna and his officers
because of their bias and selfish decisions. I am disgusted of their actions because as a Filipino, I
truly believe we should help each other and not turn ourselves against ones. Thus, it is true what
Heneral Luna said, our fellow Filipino is our greatest enemy.

Did watching the documentary/film change or deepen your understanding of Philippine military
history and traditions?

After watching the documentary of Heneral Luna, it deepens my understanding of

Philippine military history and traditions. I gain insights and knowledge toward the Philippine
military before and understand why are they that way. Watching the documentary deepens my
understanding on how Philippine Military rule our country and how they fight just to free our
country from abusive colonizers. Watching it changes how I thought they were before and felt
gratitude towards them. The documentary gives a lot of lesson and realization. It provides
insights and knowledge to understand our Philippines military history and traditions and it sums
me up to a lot of realization in life. It allows me to appreciate and give acknowledgement to the
hard work and sacrifices of the militaries during 19 th century. After watching it, I understand how
Philippine military work before and understand their costumes and traditions.
STUDY GENEALOGY:

As I interviewed my grandfather, he shares and reveals some stories and truth regarding
the Philippine military history. According to my grandfather, his father told him that back then
there were militaries from there barangays who served as a leader to the community and some
militaries before were abusive and uses their power to create decision. If you won’t follow their
order, you will be killed. According to my grandfather, they are scared to militaries because they
used force to get what they want. Militaries were over using their position and use it in the wrong
way. People before obey right away anything the military would say even if they didn’t want to
do it. Militaries before became the rules of their community. The militaries before were the laws
according to my grandfather. They also hear stories regarding Magellan. According to my
grandfather, Magellan comes to Cebu and had a fight with Lapu-lapu but then eventually lose
and was killed by Lapu-lapu’s troops. He said that many Filipino lives were sacrifice in that
fight. Stories from our ancestors regarding the Filipino militaries were past down including the
colonialism of Americans and Spanish.