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Centro Escolar University College of Medical Technology Mendiola ST., San Miguel, Manila

1) The film Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral depicts flaws in both Filipino leaders and people during the Philippine revolution, showing how putting personal interests above the nation can undermine freedom. 2) Emilio Aguinaldo is portrayed as an "idol" who did not truly lead as an equal partner with the people. This caused problems as it put the revolution's success in jeopardy. 3) Filipinos killing their own leaders out of fear of change meant hundreds of years of colonization. Learning from history's mistakes is important to build a better future.

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Marriane Tangi
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56 views

Centro Escolar University College of Medical Technology Mendiola ST., San Miguel, Manila

1) The film Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral depicts flaws in both Filipino leaders and people during the Philippine revolution, showing how putting personal interests above the nation can undermine freedom. 2) Emilio Aguinaldo is portrayed as an "idol" who did not truly lead as an equal partner with the people. This caused problems as it put the revolution's success in jeopardy. 3) Filipinos killing their own leaders out of fear of change meant hundreds of years of colonization. Learning from history's mistakes is important to build a better future.

Uploaded by

Marriane Tangi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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CENTRO ESCOLAR UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY


Mendiola St., San Miguel, Manila

GOYO: Ang Batang Heneral Reflection Paper

GARRIDO, MARVIN G.

October 11, 2019

Mr. Lorenzo Hipolito


After watching the film, Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral, the one thing that stood out
for me was that our leaders were flawed at that time and we too, as Filipino people were
also flawed. All throughout the entire movie, many hidden symbolisms were showed and
are to be learned in the narrative.

There was this scene in the movie wherein Manuel Bernal was captured and locked
underground. He tried to bully Goyo by saying that he is a dog of Emilio Aguinaldo, the
President. Because of his loyalty to the President, he abandoned his own morals,
principles, and thoughts. I saw that it was depicted that Emilio Aguinaldo was just an
“idol” to be admired by the people. He put himself on top the people like an idol or a god
that has to be worshiped, he did not become a leader that is equal to the people and can
help build the country through strong teamwork with his fellow members and a common
goal of being successful as a whole country. Putting aside the personal agendas and
sacrificing for the greater good of the country itself. This was that little mistake that the
heroes of yesterday have made that is most likely going to happen again in the present
government if and only if we do not become united as a country.

We should not hide from the shame we’ve committed on ourselves by choosing
leaders that are more “priviledged” and “tough,” and ignoring or ousting those who have
the ability to change the country for the better. Throughout history, it was Filipinos who
killed their great leaders that could lead them to freedom and independence because of
the fear of that their passion, vision, and ambition to make the impossible happen is
understated. That is freedom. That because of our own selfish ways, it resulted to the
hundreds of years of slavery and colonization. In the movie, I remembered one character
saying that Filipinos mostly care about their families first. But sacrificing family for the
country is not an idea that the Filipinos agree with. Though it is a trait that is to be
admired by others, it has also caused our downfall. But maybe it was never really a trait
of “family-orientedness,” but of fear of going into the unknown knowing your life is fragile.
Even Goyo is seen as scared many times because he remembers again and again that his
life is on the line and he is just a mortal, a human being. Fear was great. And Filipinos
would rather change their costumes from a Philippine soldier to a lowly Filipino and run
for their lives.

History was made not just for appreciation or preservation but as a guide to know
where we came from and learn from the mistakes of the past. Americans have won the
war at that time not because they are stronger and had more weapons, but they simply
just sit back and watch as we Filipinos stab and kill each other in the back. We were not
one with all the others and it created our doom. Goyo died, and so was the courage and
dignity of the Filipinos.

Joven, is a character in the movie that have witnessed most of the wars. On a
scene where he was talking with his photographer uncle about not being aware of what
he could learn from the people around him, his uncle said, “…edi matuto ka sa mga
pagkakamali nila.” This statement made by Joven’s uncle is what we should do at this
moment in facing the challenges of today. The entire Filipino generation today is like
Joven’s character who is there watching events heppen before his eyes and just being
there going with the flow. Being bystanders and watchers as our country falls, has
become an inherited habit from our ancestors and forefathers. This thing is also evident
with our current president because while our economy is going down in value, he just
lets his “people” do all the work which somehow did not contributed anything. Instead of
focusing on the real issues of the country, our political leaders care more about the
“politics” and are trying to eliminate people that do not stand or abide by the president’s
plans and opinions. President Rodrigo Duterte is an example of a modern day Emilio
Aguinaldo, who instead of helping our country rise and blossom, he instead attacks the
people, and especially the poor ones through his supposedly order of extrajudicial killings,
those in power and in position meanwhile, who are really the mastermind to the drugs
stay untouched and safe until now. President Rodrigo Duterte never really takes care of
the majority of his people. He only cares about maintaining the loyalty of the people to
him, just like Emilio Aguinaldo. Because he, (Emilio Aguinaldo and Rodrigo Duterte) did
not care for his people, the people will not also care about he who leads the country. In
other words, the revolution that happened against the Americans did not succeed
because of the wrong leading strategy of our government and leaders. And we may fail
again as a whole country by not choosing the right leaders to help us in our actions.

It was also seen in the movie that both Filipinos and Americans used members of
the ethnic tribes on the mountains as their guide but treated them wrongly and tied them.
We should not treat these people as if they are someone lower than we are for they have
more culture and heart than the modern Filipinos. When people in the higher ranks do
just little actions to help the country, it is already considered negligence to the people.
Wrong leadership results to a deteriorating country. Maybe it is true that they call us
children, for we get confused and forget our responsibilities for life pleasures. But the
theme of the movie was never really to make Filipinos look bad and defeated but it
revolves around the quote, “…tandaan mo kung sino ka,” by Julian del Pilar that always
reminds Goyo when he is lost and afraid. We too should remind ourselves with this quote.
To come back to where we started. Remember what our purpose in life is. We need time
for self-reflection, knowing what mistakes were made and learning from these so they
can never happen again. It is time to remember that we are in fact Filipinos.

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