This is my review of Heneral Luna, with some social commentary included.

Yes, I liked the film. I liked it enough that I watched twice. Apparently, most of my friends in social
media enjoyed watching it too, saying it gave them a renewed desire for serving the country and sense
of patriotism.

However, friends, let us not just be patriotic for the sake of patriotism- loving one's country takes more
than just cosmetic allegiance to a flag with a sun and three stars, after all. Not that I would not advocate
the sacrifice of one's life for the sake of this nation in this day and age- the last thing I'd want to happen
is for those with a genuine love for this nation and its people to perish, leaving us with people with
neither the ideal intent or intellect to lead the country.

I would also have to disagree with the famous patriotic statement of President Quezon (who was one of
the peripheral characters in the film, by the way) that he would rather have a country ran like hell by
Filipinos than a country ran like heaven by Americans. The core concepts of nationalism and self-
determination, after all, are premised on the idea that people of a shared identity have shared interests
and thus should be allowed to govern themselves for the better advancement of their own mutual
benefit. Sadly, this has not been the case in our country. Whether it be regionalistic pride, personal
glory, economic gain, or whatever petty excuse that could be conjured up, the greater welfare of the
nation has almost always been compromised.

For example, as was mentioned in the film- why are Filipinos willing to do anything for their family,
yet fail to do as much for the nation? Luna, in fact, called it as our worst sickness. Now, do not take this
as a damning critique of the Filipinos' cultural tendency to put family first over everything- but rather, a
plea to understand that the State is designed to put the welfare of its citizens first, and if we help the
State do its functions properly then it will benefit our families eventually.

This sounds cliché, yes, but let's start with the little things- following traffic rules, throwing trash in
proper receptacles, falling in line. It's theoretically easy, but isn't this what General Luna tried- and
ultimately failed- to instill in our troops- basic discipline and organization, the idea that a tiny bit of
sacrifice is needed for the greater good? Didn't exactly work out well for him, right? And yet we still
haven't learned from the follies of the past.

Patriotism in the 21st century for the Filipino people, as it was during the revolutionary period, is not
just about the willingness to give one's own life to protect the motherland from colonizers. It's also the
willingness to give up little personal conveniences to protect us from our worst enemy- ourselves.