Heneral Luna is a 2015 Filipino historical biopic film depicting General Antonio Luna's leadership of the Philippine Revolutionary Army during the Philippine-American War. It opens with the beginning of hostilities with the American colonizers, and ends with the assassination of Luna on June 5, 1899 - a period in which Luna served as Supreme Chief of the Army under the First Philippine Republic.
Directed by Jerrold Tarog and produced by Artikulo Uno Productions, the film has garnered critical acclaim from critics and audiences alike, praising its cinematography, writing, acting and plot. With an estimated budget of 80 million pesos, it is one of the most expensive Filipino epic historical films ever released. The film has been selected as the Philippine entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards.
Plot
President Emilio Aguinaldo (Mon Confiado) and his cabinet are debating the issue of the American presence in the Philippines. Felipe Buencamino (Nonie Buencamino) and Pedro Paterno (Leo Martinez) support the American occupation, while Prime Minister Apolinario Mabini (Epi Quizon) and General Antonio Luna (John Arcilla) want independence for the Philippines. Luna asks the cabinet to authorize a pre-emptive strike while the Americans have yet to land their ground troops. Aguinaldo however assured his cabinet that the Americans had promised him to win the country's freedom from their Spanish overlords. Unfortunately, the Americans have invaded key cities in Manila, declaring war against the Filipinos.
Luna and his trusted comrades – General José Alejandrino (Alvin Anson), Colonel Francisco “Paco” Román (Joem Bascon), Captain Eduardo Rusca (Archie Alemania), Captain José Bernal (Alex Medina) and Colonel Manuel Bernal (Art Acuña) – embark on an arduous campaign against the invading American forces. During an intense battle against troops led by General Arthur MacArthur (Romcel Musa), Luna asks for reinforcements from the Kawit Battalion but its commander, Captain Pedro Janolino (Ketchup Eusebio), refuses to comply because the order did not come from President Aguinaldo. Luna angrily rides to Janolino's camp, humiliates him in front his men, and dismisses the battalion for insubordination. Luna then assembles an army of 4,000 soldiers by declaring his infamous "Article One", stating that all who refuse to follow his orders shall be executed without the benefit of a trial in a military court.
As the war drags on, Buencamino and Paterno indicate their support of a proposal by the Americans for Philippine autonomy. Enraged by this, Luna orders their arrest. Luna’s campaign is undermined by General Tomás Mascardo (Lorenz Martinez), who opposes Luna's order for reinforcements, stating that he will only follow the President's direct orders. While the two generals are about to clash in Pampanga, the Americans advance steadily as other Filipino generals like Gregorio del Pilar (Paulo Avelino) retreat to the north. Luna visits Aguinaldo and Mabini to file his resignation, knowing that Buencamino and Paterno had been set free. Aguinaldo refuses to accept his resignation, but agrees to let Luna establish a headquarters for the Philippine Army in the north.
Later, Luna is summoned by telegram to the President’s headquarters in Cabanatuan. Although his officers are suspicious, Luna rides to Cabanatuan, bringing only Román and Rusca with him. Most of the soldiers had already left headquarters under President Aguinaldo's orders, with the exception of some elements of the Kawit Battalion. Luna discovers upon arrival that Aguinaldo had already left and only Buencamino remains in the office. As they exchange heated words, a single shot is fired outside. Luna investigates and encounters Janolino and his men, who attack him. Luna is shot, stabbed, and hacked repeatedly to death. Román is also killed while a wounded Rusca surrenders to the Kawit soldiers. All of Luna's remaining loyal officers are arrested, while some are killed, including the Bernal brothers.
As ordered by Aguinaldo, Luna is buried with full military honors by the Kawit Battalion - the same men who killed him. Mabini, who is among the mourners, notices a bloodied machete of one of the soldiers; however, the Kawit Battalion would be exonerated thereafter. The Americans acknowledge Luna as a worthy adversary and the only real general the Philippine Army had.
In the mid-credits scene, del Pilar gathers Luna's remaining men and orders his aide to select 60 of them.
My Own Reflections:
In the movie there are certain words that Heneral Antonio Luna said that remains in my mind here are:
1. Our own enemy is ourselves
2. We can defeat them by our tactics
3. Our allies is our enemy
The movie shows that politics is a business to achieve power and money. People are blinded with power and money to extend that they are willing to kill anybody who are an obstacle to their own greedy motives. Even up to this days we are surrounded by the people who are greedy especially our own government. They are washing their hands with the use of money, power and media.
People right now are savoring too much freedom thanks for those people who sacrifice their selves just to save our nation. However are we really free? We are a prisoners of our own country as what Heneral Luna said our own allies is our enemy. Filipinos are killing each others just to achieve power and money. In fact what we all need is unity to achieve the freedom that we really need.
I made this poem year 2008 as our teacher required us to write a poem. All poems that was written by individual students was required to put it in the blackboard with our names written at the back of the coupon bond where the poems are written. Then the english and tagalog poem was sub divided. The students will put a green paper dots to stick the poem that they have chosen. My written poem that was written in english was choosen among all the other poems and our teacher gave me a medal. I never thought that my poem will match up to this year historical movie of the Philippines. Here is my poem that I offer for the whole nation and to whole world.
The World To Live
by: Reu
How wonderful to live in the world
Where all nations are free
To live in the silence of peace
Like a bird flying in the sky
But how can we live at peace
If nations are in cage of darkness
The sword of freedom is in the hands of people
Sword of unity is the key to freedom
Release the cage of darkness
And give light to nations
For the love of motherland
Is in the sword of unity.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heneral_Luna
Korean Side Dishes
