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Researched by: Shiela Mae A. Violata|2023, January
Jerrold Tarog
BORN: May 30, 1977 (age 45 years)
BIRTHPLACE: Manila, Philippines
AWARDS: Gawad Urian Award for Best Director 2016, Gawad Urian Award for Best Editing 2016, Awit Award for Music of the Year 2022
NOTABLE WORKS: Shake, Rattle & Roll 12, Niño, Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral
Jerrold Tarog is a history student first and foremost, as well as filmmaker. Not many daring directors would be concerned with his adherence to facts and historical references. Despite his versatility in handling a variety of genres- from short films to horror to drama and, eventually, history - he never loses sight on how to portray a specific character in a film. And as his most successful film today, Heneral Luna his main goal is to make history interesting.
HENERAL LUNA
DATE: SEPTEMBER 9, 2015
Producer: FERNANDO ORTIGAS
ARTISTS:John Arcilla, Mon Confiado
GENRE: Action, Historical Fiction
BUDGET: 80 million
BOX OFFICE: 256 million
AWARDS/NOMINATIONS: ASIAN FILMS AWARDS (2016), FAP Awards, Philippines (2016), Gawad Urian Awards (2016) International Film Festival of India (2015), Star Awards for Movies (2016).
On its initial release the movie became the highest grossing Filipino biopic of all time, and receive critical acclaim for Arcilia's outstanding portrayal, cinematography, quotable lines and its engaging plot.
The film begins in 1898. After declaring independence from 333 years of Spanish rule, the Philippine government is completely oblivious to America's presence. Not knowing their country was sold to the Americans for $20 million. Philippine President Emilio Aguinaldo and Prime Minister Apolonario Mabini have a disrespectful awakening to the news that the city of Manila is now under US control, ultimately sparking the Philippine-American War.
Defeated and weary in a battle Luna files for his resignation because of the news that the elites and Mascardo were bailed out of their crimes but president Aguinaldo refused and instead accepted his request to establish a military base in order to console him. As the administration is set to reorganize in the president's new headquarters in Cabanatuan.
The president's room is where Buencamino is when Luna receives a telegram inviting him to attend. This enrages Luna because he expects to see everyone else there. When Luna was about to depart, he was ambushed by the Kawit battalion that they had disbanded during the war, and he was killed slowly alongside Colonel Roman. His remaining loyal troops were also disarmed and killed by the president's recently appointed General Gregorio del Pilar. As a result, he had to call an end to the campaign that he had started.
Ironically they were buried with full military honors by their killers however the inquests exonerate the Kawit battalion and were never caught and president Aguinaldo denies of his involvement.
Looking back the films theme resonates with lots of the filipino viewers especially the millennials which is they labeled Luna as their national hero for their generation, while the script is quite preachy the themes of patriotism against an incompetent government is ever prevalent especially the nature of cronyism and regionalism.
The scene where dead Luna and Colonel Roman being dragged across the courtyard is similar in a manner highly reminiscent of the spolarium an internationally acclaimed artwork which was painted in 1884 by Luna's own brother Juan Luna.
The portrayal of president Aguinaldo was shown not merely villainy but as a man who is less initiative in nation-building and shows more bias on his cronies best interest all in the name of self-preservation if he only got into the mind of Luna and earned his respect perhaps the country's history and reputation could have changed who knows but the unlikely ones who have earned Luna's honor came from the americans themselves. It's unfortunate to see Luna's wish to die on the battlefield being suverted by his own kind, just like a lion being maimed and slowly eating by a bunch of hyenas.
In conclusion the point of bickering and pointing fingers on who's to blame is pointless. Everyone's to blame when one still refuse to learn from a nation's history and it's four founding fathers one things for sure the learning never stops and the mistake will go on and on until the day when one surely makes some very big difference in the country.
REFERENCE
REFERENCE
ABOUT. (n.d.). Jerroldtarog. https://www.jerroldtarog.com/about
Antoinette, R. (2017, October 14). MGA PELIKULANG PILIPINO NA TUMATAK SA AKIN.
http://chinruthantoinette.blogspot.com/2017/10/mga-pelikulang-pilipino-na-tumatak-sa.html?m=1
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