BOOK REVIEW: ISAGANI GIRON’S GOYO ANG BATANG HENERAL: THE HISTORY BEHIND THE MOVIE

TITLE OF BOOK: GOYO ANG BATANG HENERAL: THE HISTORY BEHIND THE MOVIE

AUTHOR: ISAGANI GIRON

ANVIL PUBLISHING, INC., 2018, 132 pages

“Each generation writes its own history, based on the materials at hand, colored by the context of the historian’s lens and time.” – Ambeth R. Ocampo

INTRODUCTION

The book might serve as a reinforcement for the insights and wisdom that Filipinos might learn upon watching the film GOYO: ANG BATANG HENERAL directed by Jerrold Tarog. The book presented a detailed transcript of the interview with Isagani Giron, a Bulacan Historian, president of the Bulacan Salinlahi Inc., and author of this book. The interview revolved around the discussion of substantive information concerning the life of General Gregorio H. Del Pilar (Goyo). Additionally, the book also provided the readers a glimpse of the process of making the movie through presenting the notes of the director, producers, and screenwriter as regards to their own perspective about the content of the film and their personal journey throughout the film production. By reading this book, the Filipinos, especially the young generation, might understand and relate themselves into the life of General Del Pilar.

DISCUSSION

In the chapter allotted for the notes of the Director of the Film, Jerrold Tarog indicated that “We Filipinos are so hungry to define who and what we are as a people, so I wanted to make a film that gave the audience space and fuel to reflect on these matters that raised questions instead of provided answers.” Tarog shared in the book his burden to present Goyo in the film not just as a Great General who died as a martyr in the Tirad Pass but also as an ordinary young Filipino who experienced internal struggles and reflections due to the experiences that he had from fighting in the wars against the Spaniards and the Americans. This was the very reason he stated the aforementioned quote in the book. He wanted to present Goyo in a way that Filipinos, especially the young generation, might identify themselves and evoked reflective questions from within. Hence, Tarog envisioned this film as an avenue that if Filipinos immersed themselves into it, then that might initiate a call to action for some or a social transformation so to speak.

In the chapter for Producers’ Notes, Fernando Ortigas and E. A. Rocha made a statement in the book that the Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral, “… is a film that has the ability to inspire a sense of national pride in all of us.” Upon observing the success of the Heneral Luna, both producers realized that Filipinos were hungry to consume film contents that could push them out of their comfort zones and inspire them at the same time. Hence, Ortigas and Rocha emphasized in the book that in making the film they did not focus on answering the question “how to make it?” but more on “why they should make it?” They believed that it has been their duty to enrich the knowledge of the Filipino nation through studying the past, so that Filipinos could really understand the present realities of their society. As a result, they made it a commitment to make films like Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral that could stimulate the Filipinos to take part in shaping the destiny of their nation. Most importantly, they perceived this film as something that Filipinos could be proud of because of the combination of the vision, effort, sacrifice, skill, and talent that all the stakeholders involved had laid down to make this film a reality.

Rody Vera revealed in the book his commitment to write film scripts based on the stories of the past “…no matter how painful they may be.” As a screenwriter, he said in the book that it would always have been his dedication to take part in any opportunity to write scripts for historical films despite the difficulties at hand. Hence, although he hardly knew the life of General Gregorio H. Del Pilar, he accepted the offer of writing the script for the film and poured out the necessary and daunting endeavor to accomplish the task. According to Vera, he framed the writing of the script in a way that would make the film as an opportunity for introspection of the events that happened in the war, where the protagonists have been defeated. His objective for doing this was to arouse emotions of dismay and dashed hope from the viewers of the film. Vera believed that by doing this it might provoke the Filipino people to conduct self-assessment and wake up from the realities of their contemporary society.

In the last part of the book entitled “Interview with Isagani Giron,” Giron portrayed a clear narrative of the life of General Gregorio H. Del Pilar. It provided a balance of looking at the detailed scenarios that led Goyo to become a general at his young age. Giron made it clear with the information that he looked upon from the writings of Teodoro Kalaw and Nick Joaquin that Goyo worked hard and poured out his effort in the early period of his life to attain the position that he achieved. However, as Tarog emphasized it in the film, Goyo had become too much obsessed with his accomplishments that he was not able to properly handle his ego. The good thing was it did not end there. Giron revealed information that his love for the nation prevailed over his ego and brought his senses back to the life of being a soldier who was willing to die not for a person but for the glory of his people and nation. In one of his entries in the diary, General Gregorio H. Del Pilar said that, “… I feel that this is the most glorious moment of my life. I am doing everything for my beloved country. There is no greater sacrifice. I have a terrible premonition that the enemy will vanquish me and my valiant men; but I die happy for my beloved country.”

CONCLUSION

In the context of the Philippine History, Filipinos tend to usually look at their heroes with so much adoration and admiration, which would usually result for them to be overwhelmed due to so much emphasis on the so called “Great Acts” of their self-perceived “Extraordinary Heroes.” As a result, it pushed the Filipinos away from understanding the lives of their heroes and learn from their experiences and insights. Filipinos forgot that the heroes of their history were just ordinary human beings like them who only aimed to do things out of their comfort zones and chose to fight for a purpose bigger than their selfish ambitions. This was the burden of the film of Tarog and the book of Giron. The film and the book both displayed the humanness side of the young general. Tarog, Vera, and Giron presented Goyo in such a way that Filipinos could identify themselves with him as an ordinary human being. In the book, Tarog pointed out again that “Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral is a coming-of-age story about how a young, overconfident boy learns to accept his own mortality and, more importantly, his duties as a true soldier of the Republic.” It was very clear from the film and from the statements of Giron in the interview that Goyo was an ordinary young Filipino who poured out his effort and ascended towards the cradle of his early accomplishments, but history (or fate?) forced him to overcome his egocentric points of view through journeying in the low points of the valleys of his life as a soldier. Upon realizing his humanness, he accepted the reality of his life not as a hero who enjoyed the view from the summit of his success, but as a soldier who was willing to let go of his pleasures and accomplishments and immerse himself to the battlefield even up to the point of death.

In conclusion, the book can help the reader to reflect upon the life of General Gregorio H. Del Pilar and learn the insights and experiences of his life. Millennial Generation and Generation Z must have access to the knowledge and wisdom that this book can offer to them. It can guide them to properly respond to the challenges and problems of this life with an understanding of not being overcome by the ego of accomplishments and success but be guided with the wisdom of humility as they journey towards the fulfillment of serving a purpose bigger than themselves.

Source: Anvil Publishing