Bayan o Sarili: A Reaction on the Heneral Luna Film

About 116 years after his treacherous death, General Antonio Luna is paid tribute with a biopic film entitled Heneral Luna for his overlooked, significant contribution in building a Filipino nation. The production was made possible by Jerrold Tarog, who was not just the director, but also the co-scriptwriter, musical composer and editor of the movie. Tarog was able to arrange the essential elements, both historically and artistically, to come up with an undeniable Filipino masterpiece. 

Unlike any other motion picture that seeks to sanctify the historical figures they focus on, Heneral Luna takes a different path by making sure that the general appears more "human". Aside from being portrayed as extremely nationalistic, Gen. Luna is depicted as fierce in words, proud, hot-tempered and strict to his hopeless army, hilarious to his loyal lieutenants, and an affectionate son to his mother.

Additionally, it provides a storyline of how we lost the battle to the American colonizers. But the foreign forces are only on the sidelines, generating a turmoil in Philippine governance and politics. What is highlighted was the inner tension among our version of founding fathers, and this is supported when John Arcilla, who played Luna, said: "Mga kapatid, meron tayong mas malaking kaaway kaysa sa mga Amerikano – ang ating sarili." Divided by personal interests, the character of Luna was prompted to ask the cabinet, "Negosyo o kalayaan? Bayan o sarili? Pumuli ka!"

As for the characterization of the Filipino people during those times, they can be best described by Rousseau's famous line, "Man is born free yet everywhere he is in chains". Although the country was somehow emancipated from the Spaniards, there were conditions that prevented them from being actually free. Given that the Philippines was under the Spanish rule for 333 years, the Filipinos became used to being subservient, and this was manifested in their reluctance to fight for freedom. Then, there were the cabinet members of the government, who were preoccupied with their selfish interests. Moreover, the division among the people was further worsened with the absence of the notion of a Filipino nation. Regionalism strongly persisted. This is represented in the film when Gen. Luna, after knowing that the Kawit Company would not send additional troops for battle, asked: “Ano ba ang tingin niya sa Cavite? Ibang bansa?”