Pacete: Second thought: Goyo the movie, 2

THE bravery of Gregorio del Pilar earned him the rank of lieutenant. He was described by his soldiers as a sharpshooter, a fearless leader and was promoted several times until he was made full general at the age of 23. In the movie, the series of events I am telling you was not shown very well. Explosive scenes need an explosive budget.

In the republican government at Biyak-na-Bato, Goyo was one of those who signed the provisional constitution (November 1, 1897). There were 52 signatures who claimed that they were the representatives of the Filipino people. Goyo caught the attention, respect, and confidence of Aguinaldo. (When El Presidente fled to Hongkong later, he took Goyo with him. In our politics today we call it, sponsored vacation for free!)

The big event happened in Cavite. Aguinaldo proclaimed del Pilar as “Dictator of Bulacan and Nueva Ecija.” The popularity of Goyo was so widespread that even the Americans were talking about him. They asked him to come during the peace conference between the Philippines Republic and the American Occupation forces. Goyo did not come. That conference was one-sided. The representatives of Aguinaldo were monkeyed by the Americans.

Goyo did not just have a valiant general personality all the time. He was also a gentleman, soft and tender. The movie was vivid in featuring him. A number of beautiful ladies swooned over him. Director Jerrold Tarog was conservative in his scenes with women no woman flesh was shown and no piece of meat was exposed.

This is so because Tarog’s market includes the schools. No teacher, nun, brother, priest, minister, and pastor will endorse if the movie violates the protected properties of women. I agree with Tarog. On the battlefield, Goyo carried souvenirs of the women he loved... embroidered handkerchief, love letters, and a strand of hair from a woman’s sanctuary. The movie is moderate about these keepsakes.

On December 1, 1899, Emilio Aguinaldo sent Gregorio del Pilar and 60 soldiers to secure the narrow and perilous Tirad Pass from the American soldiers, so that the astute Aguinaldo and his men could retreat safely to the north. Like a dog with utmost commitment to his master (as shown in the movie), Goyo on horseback, he and his men ascended Mount Tirad and fortified the area.

After the best preparation, Goyo declared that the Americans would be able to take the Pass only if they killed him. His words were prophetic. On the morning of December 2, 1899, the Americans captured Tirad Pass after killing Goyo. The movie had shown morbid setting where gallant Filipino defenders (most of them farmers) bled to death when cornered by the Americans.

At the movie house, I felt like kicking any American near me. I could not stomach my relative Filipinos brutalized on screen. In his diary, Goyo wrote, “This is the most glorious moment of my life. What I am doing now is for my beloved country. No sacrifice can be too great.”

See the movie, “Goyo” and prove me wrong.