1. Which issues in Heneral Luna do you still see in today's Philippine politics?

Negosyo o kalayaan, bayan o sarili, pumili ka!

-Luna

Lahat tayo may interest, tao lamang tayo.

-Paterno

Traditionally, politics in the Philippines has been dominated by family clans (e.g., Marcos vs.

Aquino). “Utang na loob system” also plays a key role in identifying this politics wherein favors

are being paid in any manner even if it jeopardizes one’s political advocacy. It is logical to

conclude that politics in the Philippines is both personal and business. Sadly, we are witnessing

the preservation of this tradition in our contemporary politics which is almost built entirely out of

personal interest instead of affirming and implementing reasonable economic and sound social

policies as well as the laws convened by intelligent citizens with high respect to nationalism and

patriotism. It is not surprising that the movie “Heneral Luna” is pregnant with political facts

possibly known to any Filipino. It portrays clash of interest between an authentic nationalist whose

advocacy is to fight for total independence and a group of people whose interest is purely personal

and business. While some maintain that the American’s have good intentions, Luna, regardless of

the American’s interest, believed in total freedom. While some are willing to live for their family

and businesses sake, Luna believe in dying for his country. “Hindi nakakamit ang kalayaan sa

pag-aaruga sa kanilang mga mahal sa buhay. Kailangan nilang magbayad. Dugo at Pawis.

Kailangan nilang tumalon sa bangin”. For Luna, politics should neither be personal nor business.

It should be based on principle and freedom.

The manifest destiny of the Philippines as reverberated by the movie shows that we are doomed

to serve superior countries due to our divided attitude towards patriotism and nationalism. Years

after America has dramatically allowed us to become a sovereign country despite of their visible

influence in our social and economic policies and shortly after Rodrigo Duterte’s ascendancy as

the head of our state, we are confronted with another reality of invasion clothed with diplomacy.

A report from philstar global written by Mary Grace Padin states that as of Jan 2019, our debt to

China rises to 7.5 trillion. A kind of ‘debt trap’? Prepare for possible China invasion! Amidst the

controversy on our territorial claim in the West Philippine Sea against China, and despite of their

reported bullying to our fishermen, our government has managed to borrow money from them. It

is known in the world that China is an expert of ‘debt trap’ strategy to deliberately colonize

countries by taking over some of their relevant economic bases. Sri Lanka suffered from this

carrot-and-stick approach when it can no longer pay its debt.

Under our present government, who epitomize Luna and the traitor Paterno, Buencamino and

perhaps, Aguinaldo himself who allegedly ordered the murder of his brilliant general? Is it

Trillanes (as Luna) who constantly criticize the administration or Panelo (as Paterno) who speak

in defense of China? Ang kaaway ng aking mga kaaway, ituturing kong kaibigan. Even a common

man knows that America and China are great rivals. Back in the movie, when the Americans

invaded the Philippines the Spaniards were still present. Today, China came to invade while the

administration was slowly rejecting America. A deja vu?

Sadly, no one in our government is trying to stand for the principle of Gen. Luna. If there are, they

are not visible. Most of what we can see now are bunches of hypocrites trying to gain the trust of
the public for a ‘vote’. Our cataclysm has no difference with that of Luna’s time. We welcome

countries to invade us hoping they would really engage in fulfilling their promises. “Para kayong

mga birhen na naniniwala sa pag-ibig ng isang puta!” We are divided because of our personal

interest and inferior will for self-government. Few people who are in the government and in

business would rather chose to live as slave for the aliens while enjoying basic luxury at the

expense of the poor people’s dignity and clamor for justice. Ganito ba talaga ang tadhana natin?

Kalaban ang kalaban. Kalaban ang kakampi. Nakakapago.

2. "Walang naka-aangat sa batas...kahit pa presidente." Discuss what this quotation means

in relation to the political situation of the Philippines.

“Mas madali mo pang pagkasunduin ang langit at lupa kesa dalawang Pilipino tungkol sa alin

mang bagay”

The President is the bearer of a country’s sovereignty. However, it is important to note that the

power of the President becomes possible only through the covenant made by the sovereign people.

Laws are therefore made to ensure that everyone is entitled to enjoy the sovereignty given by the

state and in as such cannot be manipulated by a single person. It is commonly expressed in Latin,

Nemo supra legem est. No one is above the law. It simply means that the law applies to anyone.

The reason behind this principle is explained by Aristotle, “it is more proper that the law should

govern than any one of its citizen”. "Walang naka-aangat sa batas...kahit pa presidente." History

taught us that rules bind the people to form a community and with its absence, chaos is inevitable.

Thomas Hobbes best explain the importance of law in his “The Leviathan” when he describes that

under the state of nature, where laws do not exist, ‘life is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short’.
Allowing the president to be above the law would contradict the principles that inspire great

intellectual people to create law in order to enforce peace and order.

In relation to the current political system of the Philippines, if the president is above the law and

the law making body ceases to enforce its power, it would be upon the discretion of the president

to make this country a province of China, thus disregarding the will of the people which is principal

in the formulation of laws. Laws unites our will. It will make the Filipino’s agree with matters that

concerns their privileges. During Martial Law, under the authoritarian Marcos, the Filipino’s

witness the tragic effects of laws purely enforced upon the discretion of the President and his

oligarchic cronies. With the power vested in our laws by the people, we can ensure that the

autonomy and sovereignty of our country is conserved and that our rights are free from any abuses

by a single person’s interest and whims.

3. What is the ideal political self.

Walang umiiral na mag-isa.

-Luna

The ideal political-self seen through the lens of Heneral Luna’s story (biography) is an

embodiment of right use of power, mental independence, one who is enlightened and well versed

in freedom, justice, slavery, economic, social order and peace. Walang umiiral na mag-isa. The

ideal political self must in all times observe that one cannot prosper alone and should value the

importance of living in a society so as to ensure his political growth. He must know his strength
and weaknesses. Paano ako lalaban, kakagatin ko sila? He should also value knowledge more

than bodily pleasure. Nasa maling ulo ang utak ng inyong pinuno.

4. Do any of the characters in the movie represents the ideal self? Why or why not

Mabini display’s the ideal political self by showing his decisiveness, intelligence and well weighed

conclusion in every deliberation they have. Ipagdasal natin ang kapayapaan ngunit paghandaan

natin ang digmaan. The ideal political must in all times anticipate possible occurrences so as to

prevent great dangers as swift as possible.