Goyo

Book excerpt: Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral is a coming-of-age story about how a young, overconfident boy learns to accept his own mortality and, more importantly, his duties as a true soldier of the Republic.” – Jerrold Tarog, director of Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral History lessons have ingrained in Filipinos the heroism of the boy general Gregorio del Pilar, famed for the Battle in Tirad Pass. But the ideals that spur a revolution are as complex as the motivations of this young man to pursue greatness. This compendium brings together the process of making the movie from its director, producers and screenwriter, and an interview with Bulacan historian Isagani Giron that looks into the writings of Teodoro Kalaw and Nick Joaquin. It invites thoughtful scrutiny of a flawed young man and a deeper reflection of Philippine history in hopes of a more meaningful understanding of ourselves as a people and as a nation.