Examining ‘Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral’

This courageous line from the youngest general who fought the Americans and the hero of Tirad Pass, Gregorio “Goyo” Del Pilar made its noise among movie-goers as the movie “Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral” was shown.

The film takes the opposite route from its predecessor Heneral Luna. It is a mixture of inspiration and warning. The General is a story of a young man who wasn’t ready for the weight that was put on his shoulders. Conquered by his womanizing ways, something that should not be condoned, he leaves a heartbroken girl in every town as he explores the parameters of leadership, fame, mortality. The story pushes us to re-evaluate our notions about heroism and nationalism. It makes us realize that we have put heroes on a very high pedestal as persons worthy of emulation as history books made us believe only to find out that they, too, have committed obstructions of morality.

Despite this revelation by the movie, it hasn’t raised disappointment but a great appreciation of the director being able to humanize heroes. The director has brilliantly found a way to create a genuine connection between the audience and the hero himself as he brought out common denominators between the two—imperfections and love for country.

The humanizing of the hero in this movie seems to warn us from putting too much hope and dependence on leaders or heroes because just like us, they fall and make fatal mistakes. Del Pilar’s name is rarely heard, unlike Rizal and Bonifacio. But his questionable style of leadership, love interest and doubts spin throughout the film.

The film opened a door for everyone who wanted to know Goyo’s private life and how he spent his time during the months of uneasy peace, a choice to focus on his flaws before exposing his heroic exploits. Paulo Avelino, the one who portrayed the character Goyo is everything the director, Jerold Tayag, crackled him up to be. He is an actor who can convey internal struggles more than the arrogance and overconfidence Goyo was accused of. Furthermore, he is someone who can show doubt and fear behind the mask of self-satisfaction. Still, the movie made its point to prove that heroes are humans too. They have flaws just like ordinary men and women.

This kind of movie enlightens and opens the eyes of everyone to see the sacrifices of our heroes who fought and shed blood and sweat for our country. More than that, it’s a way of awakening the Filipinos from the misconceptions that heroes are infallible human beings. It’s also a way to make people understand that a person does not need to be perfect to be a hero. He just needs courage and adequate love for ‘Inang Bayan.’