4 - The Enemy in the Mirror

Let’s admit it, if we will go back in what we have learned during our previous history classes, we will consider Antonio Luna as one of the incomprehensible figures, as we haven’t know much about his story. However, in Jerrold Tarog’s Heneral Luna, starring John Arcilla, we saw that Luna played an important role towards our country's liberation through his challenges as the commander of the Philippine revolution during the American Occupation. The movie describes how Luna’s life, and how his constant fidelity and patriotism to the country become the reason of his own breakdown.

Heneral Luna is not only a work of art, but a gift to the nation in a different vital moment of its past. It touches one’s emotions and make one ponder, which are two important elements of a good movie. It revealed Luna’s role in the fight for freedom that cannot be ignored and the actual violence of war, the blood and sweat of Filipinos who brawled for freedom. Until the end, Luna displayed exceptional courage in front of his enemies, which brought important message to very one of us: to face our demons boldly. This idea opened my mind to what is the reality we are living in, that even before, our greatest enemy is ourselves. Take as an example of people blaming the government for everything miserable happening to the society, but can’t even make simple changes to themselves. How ironic right? Even until now, our nation is filled with people pulling each other down, just to prove something, instead of seeing the brighter side of an idea that will surely benefit others the most.

If you’ve already watched the film, and you come out of thinking what has happened to humanity, I believe that it is a part of a bigger picture. It may even be losing the greater point, that our history is occupied of teachings about ourselves; lessons, that apparently, we have yet to apply, lessons that we reject. The glitches that were present in our society back then are the same ones that we are still facing now. The time has changed; the wounds have not.

“Progress is impossible without change, 
and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”

- George Bernard Shaw

Nevertheless, the film made me feel more proud to be a Filipino, like most historical films do. We need more 'eye-opening' movies like this. Other than the film itself, we need to rethink and wake up, and stand for our nation before future will leave us with nothing but ourselves.