"The 'Boy General' from an 'Infantile Republic'"
Thoughts after watching "Goyo"
At first, this person is ought to say that the movie "Goyo: ang Batang Heneral" is worth watching.
For as yours truly waited and watched, seems that many people, driven by the "Heneral Luna" fever few years ago, chose to watch Tarog's work amidst the fact that there are other known movies being shown in that cinema, and from there again they sought the crisis of the first republic not just a country marred by invasion and its subsequent war.
And of course, of personages whose principles trying to remain intact like Mabini (as played by Epi Quizon), if not compromised out of practicality such as survival (like Paterno or even Aguinaldo himself). But also amongst the ranks are those fighting for an adventure despite trying to upheld if not feigning having principles, and this kind of view is what Gregorio del Pilar (played by Paolo Avelino) been showth of.
No offense but despite Del Pilar showed himself with his almost Byronic attitude that he wanted to defend his country's freedom and be a legend for others, his principles end compromised by his loyalty to his leader Aguinaldo- making himself a mercenary henchman against Filipinos opposing him such as in the case of the Bernal brothers whose patriotism brought by their late superior Luna stood than those of political loyalties as Aguinaldo's camarilla find convenient.
And from this, alongside controversies surrounding the young republic, then maybe quite true that the Americans have always regarded the Filipinos to be like children, perhaps because its leaders then and even now are like immature and selfish, prioritizing their Political or much better if Personal Agendas, as always wanted to ensure hold of power and convenience- and in it then no wonder why Otis and McArthur (played by thespians Rocha and Faustmann) find them amusing from personages wanting power and fame some would even willing go give up the fight like Paterno and Buencamino.
Or how Del Pilar himself used his fame and even charm (if to include his exploits as a lady's man) to enjoy the privilege as part of Aguinaldo's camarilla than to devote more in the struggle as what Luna and those loyal to him did.
Still political isn't it? For those who want to move on in search for an uncertain future, that whatever they say, history, so much reality, will always be riddled with politics be it intriguing or not, and most of which affected its struggle against colonial rulers much more of its quest for freedom. Mabini fairly noticed that enough to state that Filipinos are like children, or is the word "children" be like "incapable" as what colonisers think of?
But Goyo he treated the entire struggle as an adventure that in the end he want to die like a legend- and his legend be borne out of various reasons: Was it really to ensure that Aguinaldo escape from the Americans? Or to prevent the Del Pilar brigade to meet with the Tinio Brigade of Ilocos as rumours surfaced? Sounds Joaquinesque with those rumors but why not? For sure people wanted to learn history that isn't textbookish!
All in all, that brave lad, if to look frankly, was nothing but got a perks of a position in exchange for loyalty. Probably he end got some conscience by self-realisation that made he gone 'patriotic' at Tirad Pass.
And because of this then perhaps right was the Esquire article published last August 30 as it saidth:
"It's an ironic message for a film that is, essentially, about someone whom many regard as a hero. But it's one that makes perfect sense in the context of our culture today. Here's to hoping that Goyo can impress this imporant message upon its audiences in a way that's as impactful as Luna was in 2015."
Anyway, despite all the challenges, this person, as others concerned who watched the movie would say that such as with scenes superfluously dramatic, shifting from the real to the surreal in an attempt to make a 'hero' much more human, then emarkably, the production has given the audience the experience of late 19th to early 20th century unlike those been romanticised such as those of Caparas's Tirad Pass if not trying to shatter the Zaidean textbook epic that made children think as gospel truth.