Who's the Real Filipino Hero

The 333 years of colonization of the Philippines by Spain ended in 1898. Unwilling to surrender to the Filipinos, the archipelago is being sold by Spain for $20 million. While the Americans are planning to claim their new colony, the Filipinos are debating among themselves, ignorant of the fate of their country under the Paris Treaty. 1898, December. The President of the First Philippine Republic, Emilio Aguinaldo, his Prime Minister, Apolinario Mabini, and his presidential cabinet are debating the issue of the American presence in the Philippines in Bulacan, particularly in the Barasoain Church that serves as their hideout.

Felipe Buencamino and Pedro Paterno, Filipino illustrados, argue for an alliance as its protectorate with the Americans. This irritated the military leaders present at the meeting of the cabinet: General Antonio Luna and General José Alejandrino, who wanted to begin the Philippine independence movement. They are wary of the presence in the country of American forces, assuming that another imperialist nation is literally going to replace the Spaniards. They are worried about the recent American orders that have barred Filipino troops from the walled city of Intramuros after the August Battle of Manila. Intramuros is the seat of government in the archipelago and the power base of the Spaniards.

The military instinct of Luna detects something afoot. He asks the Cabinet to allow Intramuros to take charge of a pre-emptive strike while American forces are still landing their ground forces and while the Philippine Revolutionary Army still has the advantage.

Specifically, Prime Minister Mabini warns the cabinet of the 7,000 additional American reinforcements that are coming to combat any rebellion. The Generals now want to strike, reiterating the determination of their soldiers to sacrifice their lives for their army.

The reality was that months earlier, on August 13, 1898, local Spanish and American generals secretly and jointly arranged a land engagement to shift control of Intramuros from the Spaniards to the Americans, later known as the Battle of Manila.

The Americans turn their attention to keeping the men of General Aguinaldo out of Intramuros after the surrender of the Spaniards, an unprecedented order challenged by the Filipinos who provided help for the Americans. Filipino forces were unable to take Manila, raising anti-American feelings and fears that the next conquerors are the liberators.

General José Alejandrino, Colonel Francisco "Paco" Román, Captain Eduardo Rusca, Captain José Bernal and Major Manuel Bernal, Luna and his trusted officers are embarking on an arduous campaign against the occupying American armies. Luna called for reinforcements from the Kawit Battalion during an intense fight against American troops led by General Arthur MacArthur Jr. and General Elwell Otis, but Captain Pedro Janolino, its commander, declined to obey because the order did not come from President Aguinaldo himself. Luna rides angrily to Janolino's camp, humiliates him in front of his men, and dismisses the insubordinated battalion. By announcing his notorious 'Article One,' Luna then assembles an army of 4,000 men, specifying that those who fail to obey his orders shall be executed in a military court without the benefit of a trial. After seeing his marksmanship ability, he also hires Lieutenant García, and makes him commander of his elite unit of snipers and sharpshooters.

Buencamino and Paterno demonstrate their support for a bid for Philippine autonomy as a protectorate of the United States as the new war drags on. Enraged, as traitors to the constitution they swore to uphold, Luna orders their arrest. They are reluctantly arrested by Aguinaldo, especially as Prime Minister Mabini confirms that Luna had a purpose.

The military campaign of Luna is undermined by General Tomás Mascardo, who refuses Luna's reinforcement order, saying that he will only obey direct orders from the President. While the two generals are about to fight in Pampanga, as other Filipino generals including Gregorio del Pilar withdraw to the north, the Americans advance steadily. In order to file his resignation, Luna visits Aguinaldo and Mabini, recognizing that Buencamino and Paterno have been set free. Aguinaldo declined to acknowledge his resignation and accepted Luna's proposal to set up a military headquarters in the north of the Philippines.

Later, Luna is summoned to the headquarters of the President in Cabanatuan. Luna rides to Cabanatuan, taking only Román and Rusca with him, while his officers are suspicious of the telegram. Upon arrival, the streets were surprisingly deserted, with most of the troops, except for some elements of the Kawit Battalion and presidential guards, already leaving the President's headquarters under Aguinaldo's orders. Luna learns that Aguinaldo left that morning, and that only Buencamino remains in the office. A single shot is fired outside as they exchange heated words. Luna investigates Captain Janolino and his men, who are threatening him, and meets them. Luna gets wounded, stabbed, and hacked to death repeatedly. Although an unconscious Rusca surrenders to the Kawit troops, Román is also killed. During the purge, most of Luna's remaining loyal officers are captured, while some are tortured and killed, including the Bernal brothers, the closest aides of Heneral Luna.

As ordered by Aguinaldo, Luna and Román are buried by the Kawit Battalion with full military honors - the same men who killed them. Mabini, who is among the mourners, notices that one of the soldiers has a bloody machete. The investigation of Luna's assassination, however, exonerates the Kawit Battalion, and the killers of Luna are never caught.

Aguinaldo denies his role in the assassination after the war, although American newspapers in the Philippines rapidly blame Aguinaldo for Luna's death, calling Luna his most brilliant and most competent general. Luna was a worthy opponent, MacArthur and Otis admit, laughing at the fact that the Filipinos killed the only real general they had.

General Gregorio del Pilar prepares for President Aguinaldo's escape to the north in the film's post-credit scene at the end. Del Pilar inspects the remaining men of Luna and orders 60 of them to be chosen by his aide, Colonel Vicente Enríquez (Carlo Aquino).

Personal Reflection

It is a tragic movie; it shows how painful war can be. This movie happens in real life, it is started when the Spanish sells our country to Americans, we thought that it is the start of our freedom but unfortunately did not. It shows how brave Filipinos are. American and Filipino war lasted for couples of years; it is very devastated it kills lot of people, destroy lots of family, and wreck lots of facilities and infrastructures. This war has damage both countries a lot. But then it has positive feedback, it results to our strong bond with them until now. Filipino tends to fight Americans that time and that was the movie Heneral Luna is all about. It shows how brave Filipinos are, to fight the strong American era that time. It was led by Heneral Luna who suffers painful death from his own comrades.

I commended this movie because it is not bias, it reveals the truth beyond our history. How lame some of Filipinos before. The protagonist Antonio Luna shows the character and traits of a Filipino warrior. Many people die on this war, they secretly planning to have fight against the Americans. Many traits of Filipinos are shown in the movie. Even though Antonio Luna manifest his braveness. It also shows how playful Filipino this time, He has an affair with another woman, that is not a good conduct for a leader, or even any citizen. Antonio Luna is always on the battle field, always motivating his army to fight, even though they are lack of bullets. And there was a time when a private is bravely fighting with marksmanship with Americans then Antonio Luna saw that he has been shoot. he immediately promotes to be in a major level, to commend his heroic actions, that shows patriotism for his beloved country. There are also girls who’s fighting back, while other men are resting, in these times women should do the medication while men should fight. It only shows that Filipina can fight, and can-do whatever men can do.

While women are fighting back because of lack of soldiers, Antonio Luna calls a back-up but nothing come, so they decided to flee in the battle area. When he returns to another camp, he saw a major who’s enjoying himself with lots of girls and so many warriors are gambling, chilling themselves while other soldier died. I love this part because it clears the generalization that every soldier is warrior but for me its not. Some are just claiming the title of a hero even though they didn’t deserve it. Until now there are lots of persons, who play their own title in social media, so that people will see them that way. The truth is, it lies between the truth and fake. They are using their powers as official to their own benefit, even though others do their very best to succeed. Soldiers that time are like government official in the present days. They do what’s convenient to them. they will do their actions when elections are near. They didn’t deserve their positions. The private dying in the war are like People who’s capable of leading and governing, but they don’t have a chance because of some reasons like they don’t have the requirements. They don’t have money for campaign. Unlike rich people who wants to be richer. I didn’t generalize but some of them are like that. They have the place and the chance to change our country but they didn’t do, while others want to change but don’t have the power.

Another scenario in the movie that have realization to take are when committees have meeting but they want to build relationship with Americans because it guarantees and convenient to businessmen. I see two scenarios in this scene. First one is the businessmen betray their comrades, because some of the Filipino fights for their freedom, battling with American soldiers in order to gain freedom while businessmen only think for their businesses only. They disregard the efforts of their fellowmen jus t for their own convenience. Another scenario is Filipino can build a last long relationship with Americans through business transactions like what is happening today. But in behalf of Heneral Luna it is a betrayal on his country. I felt that way when Heneral Luna says that, “May iba tayong mas malaking kalaban maliban sa Amerikano, ito ang ating mga sarili”. This lines really think of the reality, that Filipinos fighting each other, for selfish things. That’s why this movie really tackles lots about Filipino, It was like in Mindanao area, Muslims fights for their right in their place. But suddenly Filipino people really fighting each other, killing each other in their own country. It really sucks seeing these kinds of news it was like brother who kills his own brother. This movie really can really trigger the emotions of the viewers realizing the fact that, some issues are tend to hard to be understand.

The impact of this movie for me to realize what are the possible and unpredictable outcome in the end of everything. I just kind of loving while hating the ending at the same time. It’s really painful seeing your fellow people kill their great leader just for the authority and power. This makes my anger towards that leader grows overtime. The known hero of all time is fake. He has been recognized by Filipino as a leader but unfortunately his not, he didn’t deserve to be called as first president, Andres Bonifacio does. This is the reason why I love the ending; it depicts the history of everything that is written on the book. Books are telling that Emillio Aguinaldo should be praise for his bravery, but Andres Bonifacio should be the one to be praise more than that. The creator of this movie makes it more romanticize but still knowledgeable. I just see this movie as one of the best movies ever, for the realistic content, triggered emotions play, romanticize themes, and the historical clarification behind books. This movie really is Filipino proud. I don’t know what’s fit description for this movie, this movie is beyond best. It reminds us how heroic Heneral Antonio Luna is!