#Colonel Vicente Enriquez

[23meraki]

Living is Harder [A “GOYO: Ang Batang Heneral” one-shot]

Due to the trauma of everything that had happened up until this point, Goyo suffers from his visions; almost leading him to drown. A retelling of an iconic part of the movie from four different POVs.

GENERAL GREGORIO “GOYO” DEL PILAR

Blood...

Since Kakarong de Sili, blood had been a sickening sight for Goyo. He hated it just as how much he hated the sight of wars and the sound of the sizzling bullets. But fate pushed him to be blinded and deafened by it. The trauma remained, and everything he had done will always haunt him.

Like those words of Manuel Bernal, mocking him.

“Tahol, Goyo. Tahol.”

He closed his eyes, shaking his head to remove the memory. The more he suppressed them, the clearer they became. The more he wanted to forget, the more it was imprinted.

An eagle screeched, causing him to open his eyes in shocked. Lifting his head, he realized that it had been midday. And when he tried to sit up, he grunted in pain instead. Something stopped his movements just as he felt cold hands closing around his ankles, dragging him down. He tried to swat the hands, but his hands won’t even reached them; instead, his hands reached out for his face, meeting the skin of his neck and feeling them wet with hot blood.

His chest heaved. He wanted to scream, but his throat felt tight. Blood bubbled from the open wound as he was left looking at the sight above, helplessly searching for that eagle. His mouth opened, desperate for the sound of his voice.

Desperate to breathe.

But instead of a shout. A howl—bark of a dog—escalated from deep down his throat.

It hurts... He thought as he closed his eyes instantly. Hands hopelessly clutching onto his chest; fingernails scratching his skin in an attempt to catch air. His hands flapped in the darkness, but the hands became stronger with pulling him down. And the second time that he opened his mouth, water rushed in.

He kicked the hands like some kid struggling to get away from bullies and to swim back to the surface. But even though the hands disappeared a second later, swimming to reach the surface seemed to be so far away.

“Goyong!” he heard his brother and his friends calling out for him. They helped him back to the shore, breathing heavily in panic.

Tears welled on his eyes as he stared at the ground beneath; him on his hands and knees, just as how a dog is, too different from an eagle which soars the sky with great freedom.

He was crying, when the realization hit him, “Kuya! Mamamatay ako!”

COLONEL JULIAN DEL PILAR

When Goyo shook him awake in the middle of the night, he knew that there was something wrong. He tried reading the situation first—waiting for the distress if ever they were under attack—but there hadn’t been any; just Goyo’s soft-spoken voice as he was being distrub from his slumber. He knew at that moment on that something was troubling Goyo. And he didn’t ask, knowing that his brother would not even say anything; instead, he allowed him with whatever plan that the younger del Pilar has.

But the moment that the two of them even woke Vicente, and the latter calling out for Joven; he knew that his brother was up to something. It was only by the time that they reached the riverbank that he had seen the glee on Goyo’s eyes when they’ve been blanketed by a shadow earlier on. He suddenly remembered his baby brother—the one he had vowed to protect and support with all he got.

“Mahuli walang bayag!” Goyo shouted, already stripping from his nightclothes to be abandoned by the shore. Like a child, hurrying right away to the freezing water.

“Mauna tarantado!” he replied back, following thereafter as Vicente came last, commenting, “Tangina! Ang ginaw!”

Joven stayed by the bank, guarding their abandoned clothes. But at that moment on, the three of them that had dipped onto the water... memories of their childhood returned. The three of them with the rest of their other brothers in Bulacan.

A gunfire echoed a few minutes later, causing Julian to panic and shout. He immediately hurried to the shore, Vicente on tow, as he screamed that they weren’t the enemies but comrades. “Walang hiya,” he mumbled in anger as he removed one of the soldier’s hat; surprised to see—“Juan?!”

“Pinsan?!”

“Tarantado. Sa kulay naming ‘to, mukha ba kaming Amerikano?” He pointed at Vicente. “Ayan si Vicente. Muntik mo na kaming mabaril! Ayon si Goyong!” He pointed at the riverbank, suddenly realizing his younger brother’s absence.

He panicked. He would never forgive himself if something wrong happened to his baby brother with him present. He was about to run back to the water despite the darkness when Goyo finally appeared. He hurried to help him, steadying him as he always does.

The younger del Pilar was shaking so much when he screamed with audible fear on his voice, in-between his struggle to catch his breathe, “Kuya! Mamamatay ako!”

“Buhay na buhay ka, Goyo,” remarked Vicente.

Julian only looked at him with no idea what to do. He knew at that moment on that Goyo heavily depended on him. But still...

“Kuya, babalik ka ba talaga ng Bulacan?” his younger brother asked, curious and afraid; still shaken.

He sighed heavily. “Kailangan, Goyong.”

The younger del Pilar didn’t say anything else after that. However, for Julian, he knew that he should have done something. For if something bad happens to Goyo with or without him present, he’ll certainly blame himself for it.

COLONEL VICENTE ENRIQUEZ

If there was someone who was a fool among them, it would be Goyo. No one will be so stupid to urge a swim in the freezing river at midnight wherein they could easily be hinted by their own comrades on patrol as an enemy. And he had been right with that intuition that they were almost shot by soldiers of their own, despite having Joven by the shore. After all, with all of them living in a world where anyone can betray anyone... one must not take chances too easily.

“Tarantado. Sa kulay naming ‘to, mukha ba kaming Amerikano?” Julian was scolding his own cousin for the mistake, all the while Vicente was snickering his disappointment. “Ayan si Vicente. Muntik mo na kaming mabaril! Ayon si Goyong!”

Vicente shivered when silence followed that remark. His eyes widened as if that would be enough to see much better in the darkness, but even he could trust his eyes to see clearly that there wasn’t anyone in the river.

Julian was the first one to rush back to the river, him trailing, already panicking the same way as the others present. After all, how would they explain it to everyone if something happened to Goyo? How could they say that their general perished after being mistaken for an American, with them swimming at midnight?

Puñeta, Goyo. It was his mind praying for Goyo’s safety; since he already felt the radiating guilt that was slowly building within Julian.

A few seconds later, Goyo sprouted from the water. Without any hesitation, he and Julian took him back to the shore. He could swore that this was the first time that he had seen Goyo completely nervous, afraid, shaken—everything. The young general’s face was white as sheet as he kept his breathing even, trying to calm himself down on his own when he was visibly trembling and he was audibly crying when he stated, “Kuya! Mamamatay ako!”

“Buhay na buhay ka, Goyo,” he replied, unsure why he was at the end of his wits to laugh at this moment when Goyo almost died drowning. But the moment the words were out of his mouth, he couldn’t help but feel guilty about it. Since he knew that the day would come that all of them would die. It was just that someone dies sooner rather than later.

Tragedy was no longer new for Vicente. He had lost Analecto during the earlier wars. To hear Goyo, the same man who’ve idolized his brother, saying that he was about to die... it was like seeing his own brother dying right in front of him.

On that incident, he had reaffirmed his vow in the memory of his Kuya Analecto. That he would fight until his last breath for Goyo—not as the Boy General or the President’s favorite or because he must as his aide-de-camp. But because Goyo is a brother. And he would not allow himself lose another just because of this war.

JOVEN HERNANDO

Ever since that incident during the Battle of Calumpit, Joven became a light-sleeper. A single sound easily made him bolt upright from bed as if he had always been anticipating for a war. That was the reason why it had been too easy to wake him from his sleep with just a tap of a pebble that had been thrown against the window.

He grudgingly pulled himself from bed, rubbing away the sleep from his eyes as he drew closer to the window and looked below to see Vicente grinning. He was along with General del Pilar and Colonel del Pilar. (Weird to find the younger del Pilar as a much higher ranking official than the other.) But the three were expectant of him—the General uplifted, the Colonel almost sulking as he tried to keep himself awake, and Vicente completely ecstatic. The latter had been the one behind the pebble-throwing and invitation to drag him onto the three officers’ midnight excursion.

Yawning, he followed the three on the way that was slightly outside of town. He was even dragged by Vicente now and then as they tried to avoid being spotted by the Filipino soldiers patrolling the area. And in the end, upon reaching the riverbank, the three immediately stripped and dived onto the freezing water without any hesitation at all. Perhaps, they didn’t need to worry since the General himself was the first one to dip into the river, albeit the cold.

He was then asked to come join them, but Joven was so tired that he just sat by the bank. The three officers’ nightclothes just close to him. He replied, “Kayo na lang. Dito na lang ako. Bantay.”

Colonel del Pilar laughed. “Baka magka-kulitiw ka diyan. Nakahubad kaming lahat dito.”

He couldn’t help but to smile. It wasn’t because of the comment, but because how it had been too real to find out that the snappy officials he had met turned out to have soft and huge hearts. For him, this was a rare sight that only a few managed to see. And yet... the memory of the Bernal brothers continue pressing against his thoughts.

All of a sudden, something behind him caused the leaves to rustle and there came the gun fire that destroyed the relaxed situation. The two colonels immediately jumped away from the river, made themselves known, and scolded the two guards for their insolence.

It took the four a moment to recognize that the General was no longer around; but Joven, who’ve said that he would be doing the watch, realized it right away. However, he was so unsure of what to do that he wasn’t able to say anything. He doesn’t know if he was to panic or what; but he breathed out a sigh of relief the moment that they’ve all ensured that the General was alive and would live another day.

And yet, the worries didn’t end right away. For the General was so white as if he had seen a ghost. And he was shaking. So feeble. So weak. So helpless. And his voice was so pained that there was no doubt that he was crying.

“Kuya! Mamamatay ako!”

“Buhay na buhay ka, Goyo,” Vicente noted.

But he’ll never forget that. That stance and look of being on the end of his own wits.

Joven prayed that this war will not cost another futile death. He had known enough; and these three had earned a friend out of him. He knew that if one was to bid farewell later on because of this war, no one from them would be the same ever again. And upon seeing the friendship that the three has... it broke his heart thinking that people of their time’s lives were like books with not enough pages for their happy endings.

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[goyongtrash]

Looking for Juan del Pilar

A long post on what records say about Gregorio del Pilar’s little known relative.

Disclaimer: Any opinions stated in this post are based on my interpretation of the sources I found. If there are more decisive sources, feel free to send them my way. This is also cross-posted as a long Twitter thread, with revisions done on this version.

Very little is known about Juan del Pilar. Even Carlo Cruz, the actor playing Juan, mentioned that material about Goyo’s cousin are lacking. 

In the movie Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral, he was first introduced as the cousin who shot at Goyo’s group swimming in the river.  According to Vicente Enriquez from the Kalaw biography, while some swimming and shooting did happen, the relative wasn’t named.

“I have never seen Del Pilar nervous except once in Dagupan. The following happened: During one of our inspection trips, some Spanish prisoners had attempted to escape in a boat to bring them to an American ship anchored in Lingayen Bay. As a result of this, Del Pilar ordered that from then on the mouth of the river should be guarded.

One day, Del Pilar, Arellano (who was paymaster), and I decided to take a dip in the river. We told nobody about it. From one side, we heard somebody ordering us to halt. But we paid no heed, and instead we jumped into the water. At this, we heard shots, bullets whizzing near us. Obviously, our own men had mistaken us for the Spanish soldiers who have attempted to escape. I saw Del Pilar very pale for the first time. The official who ordered the volley of shots -  who was Del Pilar’s relative - was punished for this imprudence.”

Which first led me to think that Juan may be fictional. I actually asked Direk Jerrold during a Q&A if Juan is fictional or not. To which he replied he’s a real person and pointed us to Simeon Villa’s journals where he was mentioned.

But before we go to Villa’s memoirs, let’s start with the “Juan H. del Pilar” who was listed as the godfather of Goyo’s youngest brother Jacinto (from the Kalaw bio):

On June 30, 1878, between four and five in the morning, Felipa Sempio gave birth to a son who was baptized with the name Jacinto, on the 3rd of July by Father Jose Vera. His godfather was Juan H. del Pilar.

It wasn’t explicitly mentioned but, given the name and date, this “Ninong Juan” was most likely an uncle. 

In fact, Marcelo and Fernando (Goyo’s father) actually had a brother named Juan. An 1895 intel about Marcelo’s associates listed him as a lawyer and a stenographer of the tribunal (probably in Bulakan and yes the Spaniards were keeping tabs on them).

Juan del Pilar: about 42 years of age*, married, scribe and third-rate lawyer, is connected with the Tribunal as Secretary.

Brother of Marcelo, co-worker in La Solidaridad and cousin of Luis del Pilar, propagandist of that paper. [...]

In the last months of the term of the previous municipal administration, he was dismissed from the Tribunal by verbal order of the Provincial Government, which was able to produce complete proof of his anti-friar and anti-religious conduct.

In his dealings, he is cunning and shows that he is not only anti-friar but also anti-Spanish. There should be previous information about him.

*GT admin’s note: I don’t think this Juan was just 42 years old during this time. Juan was an older brother of Marcelo and the latter should be 45 years old by 1895.

Indeed Isaac Cruz (in his Goyo biography) lists “Juan H. del Pilar”, alongside other siblings of Marcelo del Pilar, to have joined the Propaganda Movement. 

And from the same biography, Cruz actually names this “Tio Juan” as a Captain who served on both revolutions against Spain and America *gasp*

Juan H. del Pilar was a fiery Propagandist and worked with his brother Marcelo during the Propaganda movement. He joined the Revolution against Spain and later against the Americans. He served as a Captain.

So does this mean the movie got it wrong in portraying Juan? Perhaps not. Which now leads to the question: Where did Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral get the idea that this Juan was a younger cousin? 

They probably got it from Jose Enriquez, a Tirad survivor and a younger brother of Vicente Enriquez (Jose wasn’t portrayed in the movie). From the Kalaw biography, he said it was him and “Juanchito del Pilar” (Goyo’s cousin) who informed Aguinaldo of Goyo’s death.

“When I heard someone shouting ‘The General is dead!’, I mounted my horse, and escaped. I met Emilio Garcia, Juanchito del Pilar (Gregorio’s cousin) and Inigo de Jesus on the way. Juanchito and I went as far as Cervantes in order to report the incident to Aguinaldo.”

Prior to Tirad, Kalaw already mentioned about a then-Lieutenant Juanchito del Pilar who was enlisted under the Del Pilar Battalion. This means that this Juanchito participated in sieges leading to the Liberation of Bulacan on June 24, 1900. It’s possible he was promoted to a Captain after the liberation. 

“But Juanchito can be someone else!” you might say. 

This is where Vicente Enriquez’s account comes in. Still from the Kalaw bio, Vicente mentioned a “Captain Juan del Pilar” present in Tirad and was with the company of another captain, Emilio Garcia, who was also mentioned from Jose Enriquez’s account. These two were in charge of constructing trenches.

“While the group was in Angake, Captains Juan H. del Pilar and Emilio Garcia constructed trenches in Tirad utilizitng General de Pilar’s plan.”

“As I reached our trenches above, I found Captains Juan H. del Pilar and Emilio Garcia and some soldiers, who informed me that soldiers in the trenches below had heroically and successfully resisted heavy shelling of the American cavalry.”

Unless there were two Juan del Pilars in Tirad, then I am very inclined to think that “Captain Juan H. del Pilar” and “Juanchito del Pilar” are the same. There is no info on who the father of this cousin was but if there were several Juans in the family, the nickname of “Juanchito” makes sense.

Also, Jose Enriquez’s statement (that it was him and Juanchito who told Aguinaldo about Goyo’s death) is somewhat supported by Simeon Villa’s memoirs. He mentioned there were two officers who informed Aguinaldo on what happened in Tirad.

December 2, 1899: At 5 o’clock in the afternoon the honorable president received a verbal report from two officers coming from Mount Tila*, to the effect that the Americans had taken all our trenches in Tila; that General Pilar had been killed by being shot through the head; that other soldiers had also been killed; and they, the officers, were sure the Americans must be in Angaqui at this very hour. According to the statement of the officers, General Pilar died at 10 o’clock a.m.

*Mount Tirad

And speaking of Simeon Villa’s memoirs he mentioned “Captain Juan del Pilar” several times and so did Telesforo Carrasco (the Spaniard) in his memoirs. For the next parts, I’ll be combining entries from both Villa’s and Carrasco’s memoirs.

At the first part of Villa’s memoirs, he mentioned a Capt. Juan H. del Pilar as part of the Sixth Company of the First Bulacan Battalion.

Do note that even if Juan may not have been explicitly mentioned in some entries, he should’ve had the same arduous and perilous experience as everyone who was with Aguinaldo during his escape.

On December 16, 1899, Villa notes that Aguinaldo called for a council meeting and Juan was part of it. Interestingly, he didn’t seem to have an opinion of his own.

At 6 p.m. the honorable president named the following as members of a council to take place this night, viz: Colonel Sytiar, Señor Barcelona, director of the health department; Villa, sub-inspector of the staff; Majors Jeciel and Gatmaitan, and Capt. Juan H. del Pilar. [...] 

Having explained all these things, the honorable president then asked Captain Pilar what opinion he had to express. The latter replied that he had no opinion to express, but that he agreed with the honorable president’s declaration, but Colonel Sytiar answered this, saying that Captain Pilar’s answer was not to the point, as we are all under the honorable president’s orders and ready; what was desired was that the Captain Pilar should freely express his own personal opinion. On hearing this Captain Pilar replied in the very same phrases he had first used.

By February 1900, after a grueling trek, Aguinaldo and his group set up camp somewhere in Isabela. There, they experienced relative peace and have settled into a routine which involved horse racing in the afternoons. And yes, Juan or rather his horse participated in these races.

February 8, 1900: In the second race the horses of Señor Villa. and Captain Pilar were started; Señor V's horse gained from the start and finally, won.

February 9, 1900: The honorable president started out at 9 o'clock in the morning to examine our outposts, being accompanied by his adjutant, Lieutenant Carasco, Senor Villa, subinspector of military hospitals, Captain Pilar, and a squad of cavalry: he returned about 12;30 o'clock, quite satisfied over the good spirits of the soldiers.

At 4 o'clock in the afternoon, as customary, two horse races took place. The first one was between the horses of Señors Jeciel and Pilar. It was hotly contested by both horses, but Señor Pilar's horse won by a length.

February 10, 1900:  Speaking of our life in this camp, it may be reduced to the following: All awaken, on sound of the bugle, at 5 a. m., and arrange everything in order, so that at any given moment we will not have to preoccupy ourselves with anything but our defense. At 7 o'clock we have breakfast, after which each one gives his attention to the duties assigned him. At 12 o'clock, we take dinner or luncheon. Afterwards we rest a little until 3 or 3.30 o'clock, at which hour the horse racing commences. At 6 o'clock we have supper. 

[...]  At 4 o'clock the horse races came off, the first one being between the horses of Señors Jeciel and Pilar, in which Senor Jeciel's horse won.

On March 16, 1900 (probably in preparation for Aguinaldo’s birthday), Juan and his soldiers were tasked to look meat and salt. They came back after 3 days, not only with inadequate meat but prisoners as well.

By the order of the honorable president, this morning at 5 o’clock 25 soldiers, under command of officers Del Pilar and Valentin, set out for the Gullayen settlement to secure in said settlement some 20 carabaos to furnish us all meat, and likewise some salt, since for some days we have been eating neither meat nor salt, though we have never been in want of rice, which exists here in abundance.

March 19, 1900: Our soldiers who, on the 16th instant, went to Guilayen settlement came back this afternoon at 2 o’clock, bringing the honorable president one carabao and one [goat]. They had been unable to secure the twenty carabaos, as was their intention, since these were not to be found. They also brought with them as prisoners two Christians, captured by them in the mountains before reaching Guilayen, and suspected of being American spies.

On March 21, 1900, Carrasco talked about Aguinaldo’s birthday preparations. Juan was to deliver a speech.

Our mess hall has been completed; likewise the mess hall for the troops, which is in the shape of a triangle. I have bidden the head of the rancheria to bring me three or four jars of basi, for the fiesta to be celebrated tomorrow, on the occasion of the birthday His Excellency the President. [...]

Speeches to be delivered by Dr. Barcelona, the marques de los camotes, Señor Bautista, Captain Pilar and Sergeant Luis. In response to all this, as finale, the Honorable President thanking everybody.

On Aguinaldo’s birthday, March 22, 1900, both Villa and Carrasco didn’t mention specifically if Juan was able to deliver a speech but the following entries should give you an idea what happened on this day.

Villa: Then, on account of today being the birthday of the invincible chieftain and liberator of the Philippines, all the officers and soldiers who are accompanying him on these mountain journeys have come to congratulate him since yesterday evening at 5:30 o’clock; and 25 soldiers have organized a band of music, using as instruments the bamboos musicong bombong [sic]. Their congratulations were solemn and imposing, because the honorable president, after receiving them affectionately, offered sweetmeats, cigars, and wines to all [...]

Carrasco: After the meal, Dr. Barcelona and other officers spoke [...] After the speeches the National Anthem was played, and then we retired. 

Still during Aguinaldo’s birthday. Villa mentioned about the Bulacan Battalion getting emotional because Barcelona reminded them of Gregorio’s death. I think it’s safe to assume Juan became emotional because he was a relative.

The happy meeting broke up at 1:30 o’clock, all the soldiers having gone away satisfied as far as their stomachs were concerned, but not so morally, because Señor Barcelona, in his toast, told them that as Bulacan soldiers they ought to imitate him who was their general, the valiant Gregorio del Pilar, who died on Mount Tirad while defending the person of the honorable president. As that general was greatly beloved by all his soldier (the Bulacan Battalion), these on hearing Señor Barcelona’s expression were reminded of how he had died, and many of them burst into tears. 

On April 16, 1900, Carrasco noted that a memorial for Goyo was held. Juan was one of those who read elegies for the fallen general.

As had been agreed on, we held on this day the commemoration in honor of General Gregorio del Pilar. At noon we all gathered in the troops’ mess hall. At the center was the table for the chiefs and officials and at the head of the table was a floral wreath with this inscription: “To the ill-fated General Gregorio H. del Pilar, who died heroically on Mount Tilad during the battle of December 2 last, this offering is dedicated by his brothers and companion in arms.” After the meal, Captain Pilar, Lieutenant Bautista and myself read elegies in honor of the departed general. The Honorable President then pronounced an eloquent oration, after which we all retired to our lodgings.

On May 20, 1900 (or May 21 depending on which journal entry you refer to), Aguinaldo’s group was on the run and had encountered American troops. Some soldiers belonging to the Sixth Company (specifically Lieut. Lucio Valentin), of which Juan was part of, went missing. It is unsure if Juan also went missing during this time.

Villa: The soldiers on the first and second companies of the Bulacan Battalion looked after the safety of the honorable president, and by their bravery prevented the enemy’s advance until he got away. In this fight our casualties were: Second Lieutenant Morales killed, two soldiers wounded, and Lieut. Lucio Valentin of the sixth company and some soldiers of the same missing.

Carrasco (May 21, 1900 in his entry): At around eleven a.m. we moved to the rancheria of Asibanlang, leaving in Sanga an advance guard under the command of Lieutenant Lucio Valentin. At around six p.m. we heard that the enemy was in sight. [...]

Soon after, the firing began where the advance guard of Lieutenant Valentin was; and moments later the firing started in our own line, commanded by Commandant Geronimo Gatmaitan. When the foe saw that all of us on horses were escorting His Excellency the President, they concentrated their fire on us, for which reason the President bade us leave the scene. 

On May 22, 1900, Villa noted that the soldiers who went missing last May 20th were reunited with Aguinaldo’s group. However, they were confronted by Americans who didn’t immediately fire at them. They escaped to the woods.

About 12:30 o’clock, on reaching a river near a mountain ridge, we observed a number of armed men on the top of the ridge. Viewed through the glasses they appeared to be wearing black shirts, but when we saw them deploy as skirmishers in our direction we were quite convinced they were our enemies. So we had to come back and abandon our trip to Magapasi. We then turned off to the left to ascend a mountain ridge which we saw, having left the Fifth and Sixth companies to protect the retreat of our honorable president, who before his leaving placed the soldiers in good strategical positions. The honorable president also gave instructions to the captains of the said companies relative to the direction in which they should retreat in order to find him.

After marching for an hour we saw one of our soldiers following us, and calling to us. Then we waited for him. When he arrived he told the honorable president that the soldiers we had seen deploying as skirmishers on the mountain ridge were our soldiers of the First Bulacan Battalion who had separated from us on the night of the 20th. We returned at once. Great was our pleasure on meeting our soldier companion of the rocks. After chatting for an hour we resumed our former direction toward Magapasi. This was 2 p.m.

On the Americans ambushing them: 

The honorable president did not know what to do, because in front of us were the 300 Americans at Tabog, forming a cordon; on our left 300 more Americans from Tuao, who were also in cordon, and to our right and rear were the 4,000 (sic) who were pursuing us and who had corralled us among the mountain ridges. How were we to save ourselves? While we were going back along the road we had come, the honorable President, Señors Villa, Barcelona and Pilar were engaging in a discussion as to what direction we should take, and whether we should be able to get through the hostile military lines. Each one was meditating on what should be best. Finally, as there was no time for so much discussion, the honorable president said that it would be best for us to simply hide in the thick woods in those places, and that from then on we would travel no more by day, but only by night, so as to avoid being discovered by the Americans.

The next entry from Villa that explicitly mentions Juan was on July 6, 1900. Juan was part of the council of a trial for a deserter. The deserter was given a death penalty.

There came up a trial in the camp this morning the case of Junior Maj. Geronimo Gatmaitan, a deserter from the escort of the honorable president. [...] In view of these grave offenses the honorable president this morning ordered all the field and line officers in camp to form a council to deliberate as to what penalty ought to be inflicted upon the said major. The council was composed of Maj. Raymundo C. Jeciel, Capts. Juan H. del Pilar and Ildelfonso Villareal, and First Lieut. Tomas Magsarile and Teodoro Dayao, Señor Simeon A. Villa presiding. The unanimously agreed that the penalty should be death.

By late August 1900, a major responsibility was given to Juan. Aguinaldo appointed Juan as military commander/chief of guerrilla of Isabela. Carrasco was put under Juan’s orders. And after two months of spending time in the Tierra Virgen camp, it was decided that Juan and other soldiers would not go with Aguinaldo and operate as a guerrilla unit. Here are the following entries supporting his appointment and the change to guerrilla tactics:

August 20, 1900 (A letter from Emilio Aguinaldo, addressed to the commander of forces coming from llocos): On arriving with your forces in these provinces, you may commence operations by guerrillas in any part of this valley with authority to attack and surprise the enemy without waiting for superior orders, establishing your temporary camps wherever military strategy demands. I inform you that the following are chiefs of guerrillas: of the province of Nueva Vizcaya, Captain Joaquin Velasquez; of Isabela, Captain Juan H. del Pilar; and of Cagayan, Major Carlos Ronquillo, each one of whom has the same authority as that which I now confer upon you, without detriment to the preservation of military discipline between you conformably to orders and good harmony as true brothers and defenders of a common cause, and in case of attack acting in combination, should circumstances require it. 

August 20, 1900 (Villa): A report was received from Gamu informing us of the arrival of many Americans at Aparri, and the 8 very large rowboats were en route to this section.

The honorable president, wishing to avoid the attack of the Americans, decided that we should leave here and take the direction for Palanan, carrying only 16 guns, the others to remain in charge of Captains Pilar and Villareal, who stayed behind to engage in a system of guerrilla warfare in this province.

August 21, 1900 (Carrasco): A letter I received from Captain Juan H. del Pilar at seven in the morning declared that he was on his way to the Third Camp on orders of the President. When he arrived there, I presented myself to the President, with whom I had been in conference, and he told me, among other things, that I was to put myself at the orders of Captain del Pilar, who had been told to be at the service of some guerrilla force.

Afterwards we spent a good time jesting with our colleagues in camp; and then I retired, to await the orders to march.

August 25, 1900 (A letter from Emilio Aguinaldo, addressed to the principal chiefs of the Katipunan who command forces in Isabela):  Señor Juan H. del Pilar has been appointed the military commander of the province; you as military commander of your pueblo will place yourself under his orders.

August 27, 1900 (Villa): Everything being conveniently prepared, in order to cause a failure of the Americans’ plan to attack, we at 5:30 a.m., abandoned this camp of “Tierra Virgen,” after having lived there peacefully for two months and twenty-one days. Capt. Juan H. del Pilar, chief, and Señors Villareal, Carrasco, Catindig, Subido, Ruis de Leon, and the greater part of the soldiers remained behind in the province to operate as guerrillas.

Despite the news and shift to guerrilla tactics, the following entries from Carrasco show how he and the other soldiers spent nights chatting and jesting in Juan’s quarters before leaving Tierra Virgen. 

August 23, 1900: In the afternoon I marched with the company of Lieutenant de Leon to the Third Camp, where I had been summoned. On arriving there, I found all chiefs and officials assembled in conference, which I joined. Afterwards we set to composing a circular, which was the purpose of the conference. We spent the night chatting and jesting in the quarters of Señor Juan H. del Pilar, where also lodge democratically the Messrs. Magsarili, Perfecto, Villareal and Subido. There we stayed to sleep. 

August 24, 1900: I have spent the day writing circulars, finishing at six in the evening. Like the night before, we spent this night in the said house and again we had a session of jokes and politics.

From August 28 to September 16, 1900, Juan and his group moved out from Tierra Virgen and carried out operations as a guerrilla unit. Carrasco, for the most part, was ill. 

August 28, 1900: On this day we transferred location, establishing a new camp in the same forest but in a more hidden site, where we have spent two nights.

September 5, 1900: On the 28th of last month, Captain Pilar, Captain Villareal, myself and some other officers, along with 56 soldiers, departed from Tierra Virgen to render service as a guerrilla unit. We fixed our area within the boundaries of the town of Echague and from that point we have delivered correspondence to the principal chiefs of the towns of this province, a service of great importance.

September 13, 1900: In the afternoon Captain del Pilar, Lieutenant Luna and myself went to the barrio of Minal-lo for a change of air and to deliver mail for Naguilian. We returned to camp at two o’clock a.m. completely soaked, having been caught by a storm along the way.

September 16, 1900: At sunrise, after breakfast, we resumed the march on foot, because the road is very bad and we cannot bring horses. We had been marching an hour when I was again attacked by fever. Nevertheless I plodded on until we reached a brook where I got my legs wet. Whereupon the confounded fever attacked me so fiercely I could no longer move a step and had to lie down on the ground. On seeing this, Commandant del Pilar ordered me to return to Minaban, since because of me the column could not move ahead. With God’s help, and clinging to the shoulder of my assistant, I hobbled back to Minaban, arriving there at six in the evening. 

On September 17, 1900, a still unwell Carrasco learned of what happened during the attack and the subsequent death of Juan. An American war report confirms Juan’s death although listed under a different date.

Carrasco’s entry: The column came from Malumi at around eleven in the morning and from my companions I learned how badly the soldiers had behaved. They refused to attack as we had planned, although the detachment was manned by only twelve Americans, as the soldiers knew. In the combat, we suffered the loss of Commandant del Pilar, who was captured by the enemy. We marched back to camp, where I continued to be with fever. 

September 14, 1900 (American war report entry): Corporal Martin, with a detachment of Company H, Sixteenth Infantry, encountered a band of guerrillas under Captain Juan del Pilar, on Palanan road; routed them, killing their captain, wounded 3, captured 1 rifle, 1 revolver, 175 pesos, and important papers. No casualties.

And there you have it. Captain Juan H. del Pilar died at the hands of the Americans and had suffered a similar fate to his famous relative. There is also no info on whether or not his body was recovered. If not, then his remains might still be somewhere in Isabela. 

Whether Juan del Pilar is the uncle or cousin, this shows Goyo’s relative had the same level of grit and resilience as him. Although, I still think this Captain del Pilar is a cousin based on age (because Tio Juan would’ve been 50+ years old by 1900).

Sources: 

An Acceptable Holocaust: Life and Death of A Boy-General by Teodoro M. Kalaw

General Gregorio H. Del Pilar: Idol of the Revolution by Isaac C. Cruz

A Spaniard in Aguinaldo’s Army: The Military Journal of Telesforo Carrasco Y Perez translated by Nick Joaquin

The Flight and Wanderings of Emilio Aguinaldo, From His Abandonment of Bayambang Until His Capture in Palanan: A Diary by Simeon A. Villa, a Member of His Staff translated by Lieut. J. C. Hixson (Published under The Philippine Insurrection Against the United States: A Compilation of Documents With Notes and Introduction by John R.M. Taylor, Volume V)

Letters of Marcelo H. del Pilar published by the National Historical Institute

Annual Reports of the War Department (of the United States)

[phgq]

CA confirms promotion, nomination of 52 AFP officers

#PHnews: CA confirms promotion, nomination of 52 AFP officers

MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has announced that the interim appointments and nominations of 52 of its generals, and flag and senior officers have been confirmed by the Commission on Appointments (CA) Committee on National Defense at the Senate Wednesday.

Upon the recommendation of Representative Luis A. Ferrer IV, Chairman of the CA National Defense Committee, the CA chaired by Sen. Vicente C. Sotto III found the AFP officers all fit for the ranks given to them.

“Promotion is one of the best ways to end this year on a high note. I trust that this will further inspire you to continue dedicating yourselves for a better Armed Forces for our country and people. In that way, we will always be worthy of the trust and honor bestowed upon us, my congratulations to you all,” AFP Chief-of-Staff Gen. Gilbert I. Gapay said in a statement late Wednesday.

The CA approved the nomination to the rank of Vice Admiral of newly installed Western Command chief Rear Admiral Roberto Enriquez.

Also confirmed was Medal for Valor awardee Brig. Gen. Vicente Bartolome Bacarro, who was nominated to the rank of Major General after his assumption as Chief of the Office of the Internal Auditor.

The CA likewise confirmed the nomination to the rank of Brigadier General of Brig. Gen. Eugenio V. Hernandez and Colonels Lito D. Villanueva, Jose Maria R. Cuerpo II, Romulo A. Manuel Jr., Joannis Leonardi B. Dimaano, and Rogelio D. Ulanday.

Other military officers confirmed by CA were Brig. Gen. Wilbur C. Mamawag, Brig.Gen. Jose H. Narciso, and Brig. Gen. Gerry E. Pulohanan. Also recommended for confirmation in the plenary were Air Force Cols. Arman G. Mampusti, Victorino C. Patricio, Kim Eric Alexander D. Agatep, Ferdinand P. Romano, Nestor A. Etis, Emelito T. Lucero, Augusto N. Padua, Gilberto T. Esteban, Jose Tadeo M. Javier II, Oliver A. Bañaria, Marvel C. Sabellon, Ronaldo L. Saragoza, and Carlito P. Lingad.

Meanwhile, 24 Colonels from the Philippine Army received CA nod such as; Harold M. Argamosa, Luciano M. Caiman Jr., Arthur M. Romanillos Jr., Gaspar B. Panopio, Arnel B. Bautista, Randy N. Espino, Jonathan P. Obena, Richard B. Rabaca, Jacob Thaddeus M. Obligado, Glenn Joy U. Aynera, Eufracio G. Malig Jr., Ericson V. Rosana, Isaclolo H. Diroy Jr., Vince James D. Bantilan, Tommy A. Deliva, Wendell J. Basat, Carlo Franco A. Pimentel, Norberto L. Agbay, Eduardo M. Monjardin, Roy Anthony O. Derilo, Esteveyn E. Ducusin, Nonilon T. Lawas, Fernando B. Dulawan, and Hilarion G. Palma. Navy Captains. Ramilo B. Trinidad and Gregory Gerald V. Fabic were also confirmed by CA.

The CA also deliberated on and recommended the approval of the promotions of Marine Col. Noel E. Buncab and Col. Bienvenido F. Simon from Corps of Professors.

The confirmation of ad interim appointments and nominations of senior military officers by CA signifies the commitment and professionalism of AFP personnel.

It added that the confirmation affirms the opportunity bestowed for select members of the AFP to better serve the nation to positions of major responsibility. (PNA)

***

References:

* Philippine News Agency. "CA confirms promotion, nomination of 52 AFP officers." Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1124317 (accessed December 10, 2020 at 05:48PM UTC+14).

* Philippine News Agency. "CA confirms promotion, nomination of 52 AFP officers." Archive Today. https://archive.ph/?run=1&url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1124317 (archived).

[doremikaelladino-blog]

Movie Review

Disclaimer: The following contains spoilers, subjective compliments, criticisms, and interpretations of the blogger about the message of the film. Any of the photos used in this blog were included for educational purposes only.

GOYO: Ang Batang Heneral

(Goyo: The Boy General)

[SUMMARY]

The movie “Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral” follows the life of the young general, Gregorio Del Pilar, during the emerging colonization of Americans in the Philippines during the late 1890s. It introduces Goyo as a famed general who enjoys a false sense of peace following the death of Luna, and then he eventually flees with Aguinaldo and his brigade, as they’re pursued by the Americans. The movie is the second installment of Jerrold Tarog’s war trilogy; the sequel to the movie “Heneral Luna” who also talks about the fate of the strict general of its title.

[OVERVIEW]

CHARACTERS:

There are recurring characters in the movie such as:

Gen. Gregorio del Pilar, the young general

Joven Hernando, the young journalist turned into photographer of del Pilar’s troop.

Lieutenant Garcia, the patriotic sharp-shooter in Heneral Luna.

Maj. Manuel Bernal, the loyal comrade of Luna

President Emilio Aguinaldo, Apolinario Mabini, and Gen. Elwell Otis

There are also new and significant characters to look-out for in the movie. To name a few:

Gen. Alejandrino, Maj. Ortiz, Col. Vicente Enriquez, Col. Julian del Pilar, Remedios Nable Jose, Felicidad Aguinaldo and Lt. Manuel Quezon.

[CONS]

THE TRAGIC FATE OF GOYO

The producers gave justice to Gregorio del Pilar’s reputation as a hero. However, it was not emphasized to the point that I had to watch the film over and over again to notice the subtle heroic attribute of this general. Yanni Roxas’ movie review in Bulatlat.com states that this movie “killed whatever greatness there is in del Pilar by focusing on his foibles and flaws even before it could show him in some heroic exploits”. And at some point, I agree. To me, Goyo’s image became a dog of Emilio Aguinaldo, a leader whose youth seemed to go against him, a conflicted person fighting his inner demons. Good thing, he had his moment of introspection, a change of heart, the night before the devastating battle on Tirad Pass. I just find it sad and sorry for Goyo because he never had a chance to redeem his heroic reputation because he was shot dead right away.

          “I know that the responsibility given to me is tremendous. But I feel that this is the greatest moment of my life. What I’m about to do is for my country whom I love.  There is no greater sacrifice.” – Goyo

PRODUCTION VALUES:

PORTRAYAL: I have no complaints about the acting. However, it would’ve been more accurate if the accents of the characters were emphasized.

CINEMATOGRAPHY: The color-grading in this film is dull compared to Heneral Luna. For me it signifies the frustrating plot of revolution.

Another thing to take note for improvement is the unstable camera work in the scene when General Goyo and Colonel Vicente were going to Don Mariano’s house to congratulate Colonel Julian on his promotion as the military governor of Bulacan.

Even if the upstairs scene was meant to be shot that way for artistic purposes, I think it is not suitable to use for such scene. That scene has a poor camera work that is distractive and unpleasant to look at. From what I usually observe in foreign movies, that “moving and shaking” style of camera work is meant to reveal the point of view or the eyesight of a character involve in the scene. If that’s the case, then the messenger boy should’ve been there walking behind Goyo and Vicente to justify the purpose of moving/shaky camera work. Other than that, the rest of the scenes that involves unstable and shaky camera work are understandable and tolerable.

POTENTIALLY OFFENSIVE CONTENT:

Note: This film contains offensive language and violence.

Language. There is frequent cussing in the dialogues, and 1 scene with a Filipino soldier mocking and insulting two indigenous people.

Violence. The movie includes 1 torture scene, series of gun fights, and exposure of blood and fatal injuries.

[PROS]

CLEVER TITLE

The title of the movie literally translates “Goyo: The Boy General”, and for me it is well-thought of to the point that it reveals everything significant in the movie. Cleverly, “goyo” is a Filipino term that means “to be played fool”. And later on, in the movie, we can see how this term doesn’t just applies on the ladies Goyo had duped, but also to the Filipinos whose negligence caused failure to the revolution.

The use of the word “boy” instead of “young” hinted the very essence of this movie. Boy, as opposed to man, is commonly described to be childish, playful, naïve and gullible. Throughout the movie, Apolinario Mabini convinces himself that maybe it is right to call the negligence of Filipinos as childishness.

DRY BUT WITTY HUMOR

There were several scenes in the movie that made me smile, laugh and even face-palmed because of the character’s stupidity, yet I won’t deny that this movie is low-key funny.

CUTE SCENE. Julian and Vicente pushes Joven to mingle with some ladies in Dagupan.

In this scene, Joven proved me that he is an adorable dork. I find it funny how he can’t understand the impertinent replies of the lady (since it was spoken in the dialect on Dagupan) and yet he still politely conversed with them.

WITTY SCENE. General Alejandrino and his comrade attended a dinner with Otis and McArthur.

The part where General Alejandrino fakes his mention of an order stated in the Philippine Constitution. ”Nasa Constitution ba talaga yan?” “Huwag kang magulo. Hindi ko din alam”. This proved me how clever and to what extent the Pilipino would do just to escape the face of problems.

FACE-PALMED. [just see it for yourself] The price of arrogance.

FUNNY. Goyo, Julian, and Vicente went out for midnight swimming. featuring Joven the chaperone/look-out. This scene proves how naughty and reckless they are. Grown-ups acting like little boys.

Goyo:“Last one in has no balls”

Julian (referring to Goyo): “First one in’s an asshole”

ANOTHER FACE-PALMED MOMENT.  “Kam Amerikans welkam!”—Lt. Garcia

It’s fun until karma strikes back. Arrogance won’t do good.

ROMANCE

Unlike the former installment, the movie features the love life of Goyo as a significant part of his story arc. By just watching, we can say that the romantic element in this movie is dull and tragic. Some viewers commented that the romantic scenes were just fillers and weren’t really necessary in the progression of film. But I say, the romantic scenes in this movie weren’t really intended to give off kilig to its viewers— the scenes were intended to symbolize the dilemma of Goyo as a general of high position, and as a young man with any ordinary man’s interest.

In the film, there are two significant women in Goyo’s life: Remedios, his current love-interest, and Felicidad, the sister of President Aguinaldo, his former lover. Felicidad is a personification of Goyo’s past that is fueled by principles. She had seen him in his troubled times. She knew he is vulnerable. Remedios on the other hand, is a personification of Goyo’s future that is filled with ideals. The discourse these women had on the market while buying mangoes speaks of their characters—Felicidad values existence while Remedios likes to choose what’s best.

LINES WITH IMPACT

Dialogues:I kept on replaying the brief conversation between Gen. Alejandrino and Maj. Ortiz during the settlement of troops. Alejandrino said, “This isn’t about victory anymore, Ortiz. This is all about saving what dignity we have left”.  

Also, there are noteworthy lessons in the conversations of Uncle Miguel and Joven like: “Men are moved by two levers only: fear and self-interest” and “Learn from their mistakes”

Voice-Overs: I was captivated by Joven’s messages to his father. It was used as a creative tool to narrate and impart lessons throughout the movie.

The most remarkable part in the movie is when Apolinario Mabini started reading his letter to Marcelo del Pilar, while flashes of significant events are shown. It is like drawing a conclusion to all the morals in the story. I love the part when he said: “But I’m beginning to believe that they are right to call us children.” along with the scene of Lt. Garcia’s young son helplessly running away from the Americans.

PRODUCTION VALUES:

Script: I just love the choice of words. The conversations were not over-the-top. It felt satisfying to hear the character use pure Filipino language. It sounds poetic but at the same time it made me feel a sense of colloquiality because of the way the actors deliver their lines. The delivery of dialects was good. I noticed that from Clara of Dagupan, and the Ilocano dialect of Lt. Garcia.

Casting: For me, the production team did a great casting. Though there are people who detracts Paulo Avelino for the role of Goyo saying “he’s too mestizo, kayumanggi si Goyo” nonverbatim. I think he fits the role well because his charm comes out naturally, and he expresses the internal conflict of Goyo without looking so obvious and exaggerated. Further than that, I commend how they chose actors not by popularity but by the skills. It’s a good thing that the appearance was also considered because it adds up to the impact of the character. Mon Confiado, with his flat top hair, looks really similar to Emilio Aguinaldo.

Acting: The actors did great in portraying their characters. The film showed me no small roles. With their intense acting and on-point facial expressions, the slow-paced plot of the film is brought to life. I would commend Arthur Acuña’s portrayal of Manuel Bernal. Even if his role is not as big as the protagonists, he made it so intense that makes it remarkable. Also, I enjoyed Alvin Anson’s portrayal of Gen. Alejandrino. Quizon’s portrayal of the “brain of the revolution,”—easily one of the best parts of Heneral Luna—continues to be stellar and Mabini in fact delivers some of Goyo’s best lines along with audience surrogate Joven Hernando (Arron Villaflor), the photographer’s assistant from the first film.

Cinematography: Creative. I commend how every frame captures the mood and implies message to its viewers. Also, the drone shots of Mt. Tirad are breathtaking. I don’t mind if some part of the landscape is graphically enhanced, after all it is meticulously and skillfully done. The establishing shot which shows the time and place were on point.

Musical-Score: I love the part when Goyo reads the letter from Remedios below Mt. Tirad— the music (which I think is an instrumental arrangement of Susi) intensifies the mood of the scene. I would also commend the soundtracks they used in the movie. The lyrics of the OST Susi (composed and interpreted by Ben and Ben; with musical arrangements by Miguel Guico and Jerrold Tarog) suits the message of the movie well. It’s like the song is directed to the life of Goyo itself.  

The song interpretation of Bato sa Buhangin by Glaiza De Castro in the ending scene gave me goosebumps! It startled me a bit because I was disappointed and dissatisfied by the ending scene of Remedios, then suddenly Glaiza sang out of nowhere without instrumental intro going on.

GOYO:ANG BATANG HENERAL VS. HENERAL LUNA

If Heneral Luna had the catchphrase: “Mga kapatid, meron tayong mas malaking kaaway kaysa sa mga Amerikano: ang ating sarili.” (Brothers, we have an enemy bigger than the Americans: ourselves.)

Goyo has “Tandaan mo kung sino ka.” (Remember who you are.)

A DIFFERENT FLAVOR:

Since this film is less intense compared to Heneral Luna when it comes to action scenes, it is a challenge for the producers to make this film interesting. One thing they included to add thrill is the series of flashbacks and imagined internal struggles.

THE EDGE:

If Goyo succeeds in anything, it is in humanizing the patronized young general Del Pilar. While stories portray him as larger than life, the film grounds his exploits firmly in reality, even his womanizing nature. It’s wonderfully researched and—despite giving the disclaimer in the beginning that it uses fictional elements to deliver a cohesive narrative—gives audiences a better glimpse into the life of one of the country’s heroes. It gives its own version of events, such as sticking to the contention that it was Remedios and not younger sister Dolores who was Goyo’s true love.

[CONCLUSION]

At first, I was frustrated at the progression of the film—I think it was lousy and it didn’t really meet my expectations. Then I watched it for the second time around hoping to subvert my negatives and find the bright side of the film. I decided to focus more on the lines and the complexity of the characters. As I delve deeper on its plot and dialogues, I realized how significant the point they are trying to imply on its viewers. This film doesn’t just want to please our eyes—the movie encourages us Filipinos to ponder and reflect on our current situation from what

It is not just about the life of the young general Gregorio Del Pilar— the entire film, slow and plodding as it is, is a well-crafted argument against the selfishness of the men who shape this nation. Mabini narrates that it is only in fighting, in dying as a soldier, that Aguinaldo may regain his lost honor and prestige. But as the disgraced first President stares blankly at the sunset over Malacañan, he mutters that he has already given fealty to the United States. It’s a chillingly familiar refrain: A leader who seems to favor another country over his own. Mabini laments that perhaps the Americans were right, after all—that we are but mere children trying to fight a grown man’s war. He says that Filipinos ignite with passion very quickly, but burn out just as fast. It’s a terrifying reminder that the Philippines may be doomed to follow the lead of people who put their own interests above the country’s.

Note:

Though the film is a stand-alone type of movie, I suggest you go and watch Heneral Luna and Angelito first, respectively, before watching Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral in order to clearly understand what’s going on in the movie.

Heneral Luna is the first installment of Jerrold Tarog’s Philippine war trilogy that was launched last September 2015. It lasts for about two and half hours.

Angelito is a short film uploaded in TBA Studios’ and Globe PH’s YouTube channel. The short film, which lasts for only 21 minutes and 12 second, serves as the bridge to the two movie installments.

“Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral” has a screen time of almost 2 hours and 30 minutes including the intro and credits.

It is a must-watch movie for those who loves historical films. I highly recommend it to those who wants to know more about the Philippine history.

To those who haven’t watch any of the two movies yet, it is already available on Netflix.

[23meraki]

[23meraki]

It’s (Not) Okay (A “GOYO: Ang Batang Heneral” one-shot)

We all know the history and legend of the Boy General who've died at Tirad Pass more than a hundred years ago, and his accomplishments at such a young age is one that had been thrust to him due to the world wherein he lived in. But it doesn't mean that it is okay. It is, after all, never okay.

If one will look back, it is actually not the lost of the dead that they were gone in the world. It wasn’t because the dead had lost too much or their dreams were corrupted by Death. But those who’ve lived on past the loss of a loved one is way bigger, because life continued on after.

Each of them gathered has something to mourn on their own. But even their regrets and tears will not even revive the young man already cold and lifeless inside the coffin he was enclosed in.

They said that he was to be heralded as a hero. It was evident on the flag that was draped on. They said that he, a soldier, had died on battle. It was visible with the presence of other soldiers—and even the president—to visit the wake on the last day. They said that he left the world in a gruesome way. It could be seen and felt by the way that the coffin was firmly closed.

The president’s hands closed into tight fists as he tried to remain dignified. It was only customary for him to be there, but also to pay tribute to the dead. But the dead was more than a soldier. For him, he was more than that. For him, he was also his favored general. One that he had treated to be more than a chess piece or card in a deck. For he had treated him as well as a son.

His younger sister remained next to him, trying to conceal her own tears the same way that the young woman few meters away from her does. Of course, no one from them has the right to do so since neither was the promised future, but they have the privilege. It might be true that once before, they were loved by the same person. Just in a different time. Just in a different magnitude. But it was time to move on; since no one had worn the ring, or was acknowledged by a kiss with a vow.

It was visible among the soldiers who were closest to the dead. They were those who kept their heads lowered, and bit their lips to hide a whimper. Their eyes would trail on to that tri-colored flag that their leader doesn’t only considered to be his own, but as theirs as well. A few years ago, they were talking about him with great respect for what he had done for them, for their province, and for their country. They heralded him for his accomplishments. But now, their respect soared much more. It was a mistake for them that only a few were selected, when all of them were so eager to come along with the fight and die with their general until the end.

If there was someone who had shed too much tears already, still unsure of what happened, two people do so, except the very family. The two of them who couldn’t still believed it, for one was guilty for being not there and the other was for not being able to do anything.

Both of them were expected to say something. As a representative of the family, and the other for the rest of the survivors and of the brigade. The president decided to be opted out for words leave him before he could speak.

But as the two of them stood to acknowledge everyone, no one from them has the strength to speak first. The silence ensued for a few more before Vicente began, stammering, “Putangina kasi itong si Goyo…” Just saying the name made him stop abruptly, and he chewed the inside of his mouth as the tears started to blur his vision. He couldn’t really do continue as he pressed his hands against his eyes in shame and guilt. “Tangina…”

Julian, standing next to him, instantly closed his arms around Vicente. His own tears falling in succession at the thought that his younger brother was gone, and that Vicente, who was there, remained traumatized with the events and had been way too guilty that thoughts of killing himself had been one that he had revealed to him a few days ago. He might have lost his little brother, indeed, but he also knew that he—all of them—must remain strong because his brother would hate seeing them like this.

The casual observer of the present looked on, watching the scene unfold. He was so certain that at that moment, a shimmer of white appeared to close his own arms onto the two crying. A small smile on his face as he whispered something that he was so sure only he had heard: “Pasensya na, Kuya. Enteng. Magiging maayos lang ang lahat.”

He smiled sadly when the ghostly shimmer turned to him, and he muttered to respond, “Maraming salamat sa iyong pagmamahal sa bansang ito.”

He looked up, watching the flags of the oppressors be lowered and finally let the sun and the three stars be hoisted, with tears on the corner of his eyes. The view in front of him vanished as it was replaced by a crowd of people heading to school or to work or to home as it had been uncommon to see an eagle circle the sky of the city; but there it was, still doing its duty of protection.

He mumbled, “Magpahinga ka na, Aguila.”

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[23meraki]

Acceptance (A “GOYO: Ang Batang Heneral” one-shot)

Two weeks later, the events that happened at Tirad Pass still haunted everyone. All the way from history until the present. For too many, Tirad Pass cost them a young soldier and a hero. For Vicente, however, it had cost him not only a general or a friend; but also a brother.

Vicente was staggering as he trailed the already familiar treck up. It had been cloudy like last time, but it was still undeniably hot; even though he was absentmindedly walking the long road.

Two weeks and his heart couldn't still bear to accept it.

After everything that happened on that fateful day, when he had declared himself to be 'unfit to serve' and was asked to come along with the women and children to surrender to the Americans already to be spared from escaping, all the while that the men were back on the running... Vicente still hoped that it was all just a dream that he would wish to finally wake up from.

But the presence of the empty shells of stray bullets on the dusty soil as he made the trail, and the mark of dry blood here and there, he knew that he was the dream when the rest of the world moved on with reality. The truth hit him hard much more when he came on the spot of where it had just been sand and rocks to mark the unnamed grave.

He stopped, looking down at the spot of where he had buried his general. His best friend. His brother.

He sighed heavily and crouched right in front of the grave. His elbows onto his knees, he looked far ahead as if that will stop the building tears on his eyes.

Vicente remembered their promise to each other. That they'll be celebrating their birthdays with extravagance and flamboyance right after the battle. That they would return to Bulacan together and celebrate Christmas. But who would have thought that he would be celebrating his birthday this way?

"Goyong..." his voice hitched with just that faint call. A sob was threatening to overpower the words he wanted to say. He sighed heavily for another time. "Sinong mag-aakala na hahantong sa ganito ang lahat? Ang bilis ng panahon... dalawang linggo na pero di ko pa rin matanggap ang katotohanan. Alam ko naman na hindi ko pa rin lubos maisip kung bakit."

He sniffed. He roughly and rushly brushed the tears from his eyes as if to stop them from falling.

"Ang dami kong tanong kung bakit..." He bit his lower lip for a second. "Kung bakit naman kasi kailangan maging ganito. Maari naman pala tayong sumuko ng mapayapa sa mga Amerikano. Eh di sana di ka namatay." He hissed. "Eh di sana wala tayo rito ngayon. Na hindi ko pinipilit ang sarili kong tanggapin na wala ka na."

The soft and white fluff of clouds shyly hid the sun, but there wasn't any indication that it was to rain.

And yet, Vicente would wish otherwise. At least, he can make himself believe that the wet on his cheeks were because of the rain and not of his own tears. He gulped in hard. "Tangina naman, oh. Kaarawan ko pa ngayon, hindi ba? Pero pinapaiyak mo ako." He sniffed, closing his eyes as he lowered and shook his head. "Gago... grabe ka naman magpaalala."

Ang tanga mo naman, Enteng, he almost laughed at such a thought. On how his thinking seemed to mirror how would Goyo react if he was right in front of him right now.

"Sabi mo pa naman, sabay na natin ipagdiwang ang kaarawan ko at yung sa iyo. Dahil sabi mo... panigurado tapos na ang labanan sa panahon na iyon," he mumbled before pressing his hands against his eyes. His breathing hitched and his entire frame trembled as he tried to ease himself. "Putangina, Goyong, di mo sinabi na matatapos pala ang labanan dahil hahantong sa ganito ang lahat."

Vicente remembered that time in Dagupan when Goyo screamed that he was to die, and all he had said was to chide. Who would have thought that it would all be some sort of premonition?

"Di ko nga alam kung paano ko haharapin si Julian eh. Nakakahiya na buhay ako... samantalang ipinangako ko na proprotektahan kita." He already fell on his knees, crouching doesn't support much of his weight and his grief. Through gritted teeth, he added, "Tangina... di ko man nagawang panindigan ang pangako ko bilang kanang kamay mo." He punched the ground underneath him in despair. "Baka mas maigi pa na namatay na lang rin ako."

Yes, perhaps it had been better. But what good would it be if he was to be with his general until death?

"Goyong, patawarin mo ako. Napakawala kong kwenta. Wala akong nagawa noong namatay ka. Di naman kasi dapat maging ganito." His hands grasped for the dirt. Sand entering through fingernails that had been filled with filth and blood the last time he had been here to see his general's dead body and be forced to bury him. "Bakit kasi..." He sniffed, shaking his head another time. "Una si kuya; ngayon naman ikaw. Bakit kasi kailangan maging ganito?"

He sat back, drawing his legs close to his chest. His elbows on his knees as he kept a hand pressed against his eyes. He hated crying the most; even though he was alone. It made him feel much worse.

"Bakit ganito? Diyos ko, bakit?!" He pressed his other palm against his eye. Tears pouring out of his eyes, just as the blood on his wounded knuckles started to trickle. "Ang sakit... Ang sakit-sakit. Maligayang kaarawan sa akin, ano? Tangina..."

A few seconds later, he heard the flutter of wings and claws screeched against the stones. Vicente looked up, pulling his hand away from his tear-stricken face and stared at the bird—the eagle—that stood right there, watching him curiously with those predatory eyes. And for some reasons, the supposed-to-be vicious bird only stayed there, waiting.

Goyong? He wondered as he slowly pulled himself to reach out a hand to where the eagle was, but the bird suddenly screeched and flapped its wings, leaving him right away as it flew low in circles.

Vicente remembered that until the end of Goyo's life, the latter had lived the life of being an eagle. And truly, he slowly accepted it that his friend was now one with the clouds.

He smiled bitterly as he looked up at the sky wherein the clouds were starting to partway again to show the golden rays of the sun and the eagle still on its flight, and hear the whisper of a familiar voice be carried by the wind. He bit his lower lip for a second before saying, "Maraming salamat din sa lahat, Heneral."

The eagle screeched another time as if it responded back at him, made another round, and finally flew a much higher altitude and headed somewhere else until light shone much greatly and Vicente could no longer point out where it was.

Oo, hanggang dumating ang araw na iyon... Magkikita ulit tayo. Pero sa ngayon...

Paalam, Goyong.

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[23meraki]

The Reason Why He Exists [A "GOYO: Ang Batang Heneral" one-shot]

Julian del Pilar returned to Bulacan while his younger brother, Goyo, was assigned to be the commanding officer of the President's rearguard. As Christmas approached, Julian anticipated the return of his brother.

Julian knew that it was wrong of him to agree being separated from his younger brother. The very reason that he originally joined the revolution was because he was told by their mother to be Goyo’s anchor to the world, and never let him battle everything on his own. But when he was given the order to return to Bulacan, and gladly accepted it, he knew that it will be his undoing.

“Kuya, uuwi ka na ng Bulacan,” Goyo asked—told—him before they separate ways.

He surrounded an arm on his shoulders and laughed. “Uuwi ka naman ng Bulacan sa pasko, hindi ba?”

Goyo sighed heavily as if the heaviness of the duty placed on him weighs too much for him to carry. He looked wistfully at the sight of the square at Dagupan. “Iba ang maunang umuwi na kesa sa pasko pa. Nangungulila na ako.”

“Dalawang buwan na lang naman, pasko na,” he assured. “Ganito. Sisiguraduhin ko na pagbalik mo ng Bulacan, kumpleto kami para salubungin ka. Sabihan ko na din ang mga Enriquez. Sigurado na sasama sila sapagkat magiging kasama mo sila Vicente at Jose pauwing Bulacan.”

“Nakakapagod na, Kuya,” remarked the younger del Pilar.

He bit his lower lip, looking at Goyo as if to understand what he truly meant by those words. In the end, he sighed and shuffled the latter’s always groomed hair. “Magkita tayo sa pasko. Umuwi ka, ha, Goyong?”

“Kuya…” Goyo looked up to watch him.

Julian smiled before kissing his younger brother on the forehead and clapped him by his shoulder. With that assurance, he started his journey back to Bulacan.

But on his way to Bulacan, he heard the news that Señor Presidente had chosen Goyo to lead the rearguard for their retreat out of Dagupan because of the pursuing Americans. The last thing he had known was that the Brigada Pilar was heading north to meet with General Tinio.

There were no other way for Julian and his family to find out the happenings at the whereabouts of Goyo and his brigade; one that even made the Enriquez family fumble in the dark for the status of their two youngest sons.

He had thought of asking a soldier to keep giving him tabs; but for a group that is always on the run, sending a soldier will be like asking the poor man to chase the footprints.

When December finally came, he felt the shiver deep on his bones. He felt that something wrong had happened. He disregarded it every now and then that it was nothing, and it was all due to the Christmas breeze.

Since the start of the misa de gallo, he had been anxiously waiting outside their house late at night to see his dashing younger brother return from the warfront. But no general on his great white stallion brimming with pride and the best of his appearance—no younger brother of his—arrived.

Then, at Christmas Eve, still waiting outside their home, he saw two familiar figures, looking like they’ve battled through hell, had been staggering on their walk as they kept hold of the reins of their own horses.

The Enriquez brothers stopped, seeing Julian standing from his seat with words that were too hard to speak out.

“Si Goyong?” Julian managed to inquire, shaken despite knowing the conclusion already with the mere presence of the two—with those dead-look on their eyes and the smear marks of a bloody fight on their dirty uniforms.

Vicente’s face hardened, unable to look Julian on the eyes. His silence was much more of a deafening scream of the truth that couldn’t be said.

Julian immediately rushed to him, almost stumbling to reach him. In response, Vicente caught him, embracing him as he let his younger brother, Jose, took the reins of his horse, and letting Julian cry on his shoulders—almost howling.

At that moment alone, the rest of the del Pilar had seen the commotion upon hearing Julian crying; and they gasped with realization of the worst.

Julian knew that it was wrong of him to agree being separated from his younger brother. Because, at the moment where his brother needed him the most, he wasn’t there to protect or even remind him of his strength. And now... what?

He just lost the very reason why he exists.

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[23meraki]

Falling (A “GOYO: Ang Batang Heneral” one-shot)

Among the sixty men who've come with General del Pilar during his last stand at Tirad Pass, only eight of them managed to survive. And his best friend and aidé-de-camp, Colonel Vicente Enriquez was one of them. Vicente knew that the reason he lived was to tell the tale. But it took him ten realizations before he finally snapped back to reality, and accept the truth.

The counting undoubtly started with ten...

There was the eerie howl in the wind when he first saw his friend walked away, leaving everything behind for him to watch out for.

He was losing hope. He knew that this was a lost battle ever since he saw those Americans with their rifles raised and aimed at them. It had been visible that their enemies' armaments were way superior to those of them, but there was no turning back now at this moment.

Then, it dropped to nine...

He watched the lieutenant and a soldier followed. He has every urge to come along, but he knew too well where he was needed. And it was here that he must remain.

A finger hooked on the trigger as his hands held his own rifle tightly made him shiver and woke up that even though this would be a lost battle, the strategic victory would be theirs as the main objective of this last stand of theirs wasn't to save their skin, but to protect other people.

The lucky eight who lived to tell the tale.

He knew that whosoever lived their lives in war will see themselves staring at the end of that respective line. Those who held a sword will meet the same end. But all he does was to save the innocent and fight for this land he loved.

Someone tapped him by the shoulder, causing him to turn to the pale-faced lieutenant.

It started just thirty minutes before seven.

A whisper on his ear that echoed after it was said. Like some atomic bomb that was dropped, causing too many others to murmur and gossip about.

His entire world stopped. Every strength and courage he has left his body. He leaned against the fortified wall as his hands shook in keeping a great hold of his rifle.

Tangina naman, he cursed to himself.

And the number they had that was once six decad.

Soldiers scrambled upon having the conclusion of the lieutenant being present and the soldier back on their field. They scattered, running like some wild animals wanting to save their own skins from the predators that were closing around them.

His eyes flared in anger as he took his revolver and aimed it at those who dared to flee. He screamed, desperate, as if that would make everyone stop and snap back to fight another time. Even he was just making a fool of himself.

When his own hand was shaking and his finger was so hesitant on pulling the trigger, he knew that whatever morale was lost.

Just five hours since the clock started ticking.

He remembered their childhood.

Being neighbors, he looked up at him just as how they became playmates. He considered him as an older brother just as how he had his own.

But when things turned under way, and he was asked, "Paano namatay si Etong? Para alam ko kung paano ang mamatay para sa bayan.", he knew that such fates were already tied and predetermined before everything else.

Two decades and a four ended it all.

When among all else who could've been chosen, he was appointed as the aidé-de-camp. It was a great honor that swelled his heart.

He looked up at that beacon of light and hope among the youth. And he would always smile at how great that ray of gold was.

How affectionate his name was said every now and then. It had been the absolute proof of how much trust was thrusted onto him.

The three sites where the trenches had been made.

He grumbled as he walked away that night, "Alam ko rin ang putok ng baril."

Perhaps he was just too blinded not to see it right away, but now, he does. He has his own limitations, but this was what he considered as the tipping point.

Even compensations could've been made. He was still willing to do everything for him. Even the fight to death. That was why he had carefully chosen their men, despite asking for who were with them.

"Pare-pareho tayong naghirap papunta dito ni wala isang tinubuan sa inyo ng bayag?" he inquired, and with it all, he was proud to say that there had been men who would match the two of them who were so willing to do everything for their country.

At that moment, despite the fear, he was happy to make him proud.

Two who've witnesed it themselves.

And yet... at the time that he was most needed... he wasn't there to be his guard.

His hands brushed through his cold body, him doing so just to close his lifeless eyes looking at the expanse of nothingness. The warmth of where a smile would be was just a mush of blood and exploded muscles and bones. But all that remained was a body that he buried himself.

He closed his eyes tightly, breathed in as if to calm himself, and his hands closed to tight fists. Silence ensued so loudly inside his skull with signs telling him that it was all over; and there was another day to fight for it.

He can't help wondering if it was acceptable to finally allow him to break loose from the chains of the world. Perhaps there was freedom with death, and it had given his friend the independence that could be compared to that of a mighty bird.

It might be the end for the two of them—endpoints so different from the other—but they were still in war.

And when you were in war, they said that there was no time for grief, for any mourning, and for regrets. That the dead stayed dead. That peace could be won in the contrast of killing to survive.

They said, on a battlefield... the heart stopped feeling, and the mind stopped remembering.

One tragedy that wasn't supposed to be.

"Enteng... salamat."

Zero.

They were wrong.

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[23meraki]

Drink It Up [A “GOYO: Ang Batang Heneral” one-shot]

Slight Jovente (if you squint)! Vicente's greatest flaw was leaving Joven under the care of the del Pilar brothers after a party one night. It served him a lesson that he would never allow such thing to happen again.

Vicente should have never allowed the del Pilar brothers to be left unattended. Like small children, despite him being younger than those two, were a pain; especially when they were left on their own dwindling with bottles and bottles of liquor throughout the night.

Once, the elder del Pilar had been singing with a slurry voice that woke up the entire neighborhood that earned them deadly glares the following morning for the chaos they've caused at a time that was supposed to be lights out. And there was a moment that the younger del Pilar dared his brother and him that he could fly by climbing a nearby tree, almost slipping countless of times before reaching the highest branch, and jumped shouting that he was an eagle; it ended with a fractured leg and painful nights of curses out of the young general.

Due to this, Vicente promised that he would not be drinking too much that he would immediately lose sight of his senses and do something incredibly stupid as those two. Somehow, he had gotten used to the idea of being the arbiter between the brothers when they were handling drinks.

He just returned back to the barracks after rounding the guards if they were at their posts for the night. And when he returned, he was surprised to find out that the del Pilar brothers were not only drunk, but has another drinking companion.

"Magandang gabi, Koronel!" Joven laughed with an audible slur on his voice. He looked somber, glasses crooked and his hair had been disheveled. He raised a hand up, holding a half-empty bottle of one of the strongest liquors that the del Pilars usually showered themselves on after a celebration. "Inom po tayo, Koronel!"

Julian huffed his dismay. "'Wag mo na alukin iyang si Enteng, Joven. Di mo iyan mapapainom." He chuckled loudly. "'Yan nga pala ang nanay namin ni Goyong."

"'Di niyo ako nanay, mga ulol," Vicente scolded. He sighed heavily, knowing that being mad over the matter will not resolve this current case. He drew closer to the three, especially to Joven, as if to take away the bottle. "Amin na nga iyan!"

"Ayaw ko po!" Joven scolded, drawing the bottle closer to his chest. He hiccuped before he could even said, "Mahal ko po 'tong bote."

Goyo cracked a laugh at that, pouring himself another round of wine. "Enteng, ang hina mo naman pala. Mas mahal pa pala ni Joven ang alak."

Julian covered his mouth with a hand as if that will stop him from laughing. "Goyong, 'wag ganyan. Magseselos si Enteng. Tignan mo, iiyak 'yan!"

Vicente glared dangerously at the two del Pilars that didn't had any effect given that the two were laughing already without care all due to the implication that there was alcohol involved. "Tama na nga iyan. Mga tarantado talaga—" He immediately stopped when he felt someone pulling him away. Trailing his eyes where, he realized that it was Joven who've focused his attention on the sword that had been sheathed on the scabbard by his side, the latter currently holding it by the end to take it.

"Koronel," he trailed off, hiccuping as he remained embracing the bottle by an arm. "Pahiram po. Dali na."

Vicente chided Joven's hand away but it remained firmly closed around the scabbard. "Joven... 'wag ka naman sumabay."

Joven pouted with a heavy frown on his face and immediately closed his hand around the grip of Vicente's sword, swiftly unsheathing it, much to Vicente's surprised. He raised the gleaming sword above his head, shouting, "Humanda na kayong lahat!"

The del Pilars laughed with amusement, trying to suppress their laughters—Julian fell from his seat; while Goyo's shaking hands faltered, causing the last contents of his cup to fall from the corner of his lips then to his clothes.

Vicente's eyes were wide as he tried to calm Joven down and take the sword from him. Helpless at such a situation, he closed his arms around Joven. "Joven! Akin na iyan! Bago mo pa masaktan ang sarili mo!"

"Fuego!" Joven waved the sword over his head, laughing and shouting. He struggled against Vicente's grip, wanting to get away as he raised his hand with the bottle. "Sino ka?! Bitawan mo ako! Walang makakatalo sa akin!"

Vicente was surprised with Joven's strength. He cursed under his breathe upon hearing the sound of a gunfire and a bottle shattering closeby. He knew that it would be one of the del Pilar brothers. Then, Joven slipped from Vicente's grasp, causing him to fall face-first to the ground with a surprised shocked. He helplessly watched Joven tripped, sprawling to the ground.

"Tangina nga naman," he mumbled under his breathe.

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[23meraki]

But I never sleep, gotta bury me six feet deep where the sun don’t shine (A “GOYO: Ang Batang Heneral” one-shot)

We all know that for some time, the soul of a recently departed remained at this same plane; until their souls were at peace over something. For Goyo, the only way for his soul to leave the realm of the living was to be buried at least. To finally sleep. Six feet deep. Where the sun don't shine.

When the bullet hit him, for some reasons, he was expectant of the pain. Of course, it was normal, usual, a given. However, the agony didn't last long. Perhaps, he was too much dead already to feel a much longer pain; not even feeling the fall to the ground, or hear the silence that ensued, or see what happened next.

It had been a quick death, at least. Compared to many others he had known—Etong cornered to death at San Rafael; Maestrong Sebio surrendered by his men at the fall of the Kakarong de Sili Republic; another young general falling in defense of Cavite; Supremo's untimely death; General Luna's end at Cabanutuan; and too many others—some whose death were his own fault.

He was actually expectant that he'll be waking up the next time right in front of the gates of hell. At least, he knew where he was actually heading. And it wasn't a paradise at all in comparison to heaven. He knew that Saint Peter won't be calling his name. But, somehow, he was hoping to wake up somewhere else than the gruesome reality that hit him.

But he remained there. He opened his eyes, watching with great wonder why American soldiers closed around him. He knew that he was dead, for he shouted with all his might and nothing happened. He watched with great horror as they stripped him out of his uniform, his boots, his satchel, his hat, his medallions—everything—leaving him on his undergarment alone.

They didn't looked back after that. Not even caring to do something to honor the dead. But why would they?

The moment that the first shot was fired at Tirad, it was evident who were the preys. Being the general, he was the best catch of the game. He was the lead prey, and what do predators or hunters do when they hit their intentions? They took all of its worth and left it for others to find.

He was no longer the heralded hero. At that moment, on his death, he realized that he was just a small particle of the world. That on his death, the world would still continue living. Years later on, he would be forgotten, and his life would just be fleeing in the memory of those who truly wished to remember him.

But, for him, at this moment, he was just the Gregorio del Pilar from Bulacan, who was meant for too much greatness in life, but decided to die in order to allow others the chance to live.

Ang kayamanan ng buhay, kahit di man magagawang mapalitan, ay di mabibigyan ng halaga kung hindi dahil sa kamatayan, he thought. Lahat naman ng tao ay namamatay, may nauuna lamang.

At least, as a soul, he managed to move away from the bloody mess of where the bullet hit him. Entering by his nape and exiting his cheek with a blast. It destroyed his face, filling him with great horror. He couldn't stomach looking at himself that way—cheek blown away, blood oozing at the brutal wound, eyes no longer bearing the spark of life, his body abandoned for someone else to feed on.

Crows circle overhead, weary of taking their part. But even if he shooed them away, he wouldn't be able to do anything. Seeing too many deaths, he already knew what happened to a corpse exposed to the air. The rigor mortis, the smell, and the decomposition.

Sana ligtas lang si Enteng, he said to himself after a few hours of his death.

Ano kaya ang naging reaksyon ni Señor Presidente noong nalaman niya? He inquires after twelve hours.

Pasensya na, Kuya. His regrets settled heavily on him the next day.

Tadhana ko ba na manatili rito? He challenged on the second day.

On the third day, he finally saw someone other than his degrading corpse left there and the view of Tirad. All he had done for the past days were to conceptualize, inquire and repent, even if it was too late. For on that third day, there arrived Vicente and Lieutenant Carrasco.

Both of them appeared lost and broken. They were silent at first, stopping upon seeing his body right there, and without other words after a minute of silence, the two reluctantly do the job that Goyo had been waiting for.

But the moment that the two finished excavating at least a pit, his body being placed onto the spot, and they started covering his unusual grave with rocks and sand, Goyo felt something weird.

He looked down on his feet first, seeing them slowly disappearing. His hands followed as he watched his own self dissipating. He turned one last time to where Vicente and Carrasco were, still on the process of burying him with cold and distant eyes. Still grieving; not for the lost battle, but for the loss of a friend and a general. For him.

He murmured something in the wind as a sad smile crossed his face as he looked up at the otherwise cloudy sky with an eagle flying overhead.

A few seconds later, he completely disappeared. 

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[23meraki]

Strict Parents [A “GOYO: Ang Batang Heneral” one-shot]

Joven, son of Miong and Pule, was conflicted between his two suitors: the General and the Colonel. Miong wanted the General. Pule wanted the Colonel. Joven has to choose.

Joven was told by his parents that if he was to choose a man, it would be someone with achievements, great deeds, decency and a good reputation. Being the good child, he said that he will make sure that if he was to ever love, it would be a man as that.

The news of a great brigade led by a young man named General del Pilar was stationed to set up camp close to their residence. It wasn’t a surprised; since his dad had always favored the General. Well, because he was a ‘General’. What to expect then? The man had accomplished too much for his young age.

So, when the General went on to their house with nothing but on his very best alone, his dad was all smiling. Especially when the General speaks, “Magandang araw po, mga ginoo. Pumopogi po tayo ngayon ah.”

But Joven’s father was grumpy as if he easily saw right through the General’s bad reputation. Joven heard from his position upstairs, his dad saying, “Wala si Joven dito.”

Joven flushed. Saddened by the lie.

“Magandang araw,” his dad greeted, brimming with a smile. “Hinahanap mo ba si Joven? Tawagin ko la—”

“Mukhang anak ko ang napili mong lokohin sa lugar na ito, ah,” interrupted his father.

The General tipped his head to the side, unsure of what those words meant. “Po?”

“Pole…” his dad trailed with a strained smile.

The frown on his father’s face deepened. “Miong…”

“Si Joven ay nasa itaas, General del Pilar,” answered his dad, still looking on at his father. “Paniguradong matutuwa si Joven na malaman na umaakyat ka sa kanya ng ligaw.”

The General, who was so blinded with love, grinned happily. Tipping his cap first as of a nod, before dashing on to the direction of the staircase, all the while saying, “Maraming salamat po, mga ginoo.”

His father wasn’t happy. Joven found out that the General has a long string of lovers, and has the reputation of leaving a lover on every town he went. His father wanted a descent man with a good reputation.

As it figures, one time when the General visited them, General del Pilar’s aide-de-camp, Colonel Enriquez, who’ve came along with the General before, had set his eyes as well on to Joven.

So, like the General, he garnered his strength and courage, made his way to the house with flowers plucked by the riverbank, and though shivering in fear, he met Joven’s parents at the sala. He made his way to mano, saying in almost a stutter, “Magandang araw, mga ginoo. Maari ho bang makita si Joven?”

Joven squirmed. Excited.

His father was smiling gently. “Napakarespeto mo naman. Pababain ko lang saglit si Jo—”

But his dad immediately stood from his seat, eyes dark, blaring with haunting aura, crossed the room to reach the Colonel, and shove a piece of paper to him. Threateningly, he said, “Kung gusto mo makita si Joven, eto ang litrato. Pakatitigan mo.”

The Colonel took the picture, shivering, as he felt like Death was standing right in front of him. “P-po?”

“Miong…” His father snapped with a furious smile, indicating trouble.

“Pole…” His dad’s eyes narrowed, looking intently at the Colonel. The latter could swore that he almost peed on his pants.

“Iho, si Joven ay nasa itaas,” remarked his father. “Paniguradong magagalak siyang makita ka.”

“M-Maraming salamat po,” the Colonel replied as he took his hat, fumbling to keep his hands from shaking. The flowers were almost withered on how tightly he closed his hands around it.

When his parents couldn’t decide, conflicted on who to choose, since their opinions were divided, they finally turned to Joven.

“Joven, mamili ka? Sino sa dalawa?” Asked his dad.

“Yung mangogoyong heneral o si Koronel Enriquez?” Inquired his father.

His dad was shocked with the words used. “Teka lang. Baka dapat ang pagpilian ay: si Heneral del Pilar o yung nangangatol na koronel?”

His parents bickered on against each other. Dictating the pros of their chosen suitor, and downgrading with cons the other one. In the end, his parents had decided to ask the ultimate question.

“Sino ang mas mahal mo sa aming dalawa?”

“Kayo pong dalawa,” Joven didn’t hesitate answering.

“Alam namin yun, Joven,” assured his dad.

“Pero isa lang ang pwede mo piliin,” added his father.

Joven looked down with a light blush on his cheeks. He fumbled on with the gold ring and a made-shift withered flower formed into a ring that adorned his fingers. “Sa totoo nga lang po… naka-oo na po ako sa kanilang dalawa.”

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[23meraki]

Interrupted  [A “GOYO: Ang Batang Heneral” one-shot]

"Kapag nagkita kayo ni Julian..." It was the last time that Julian del Pilar was mentioned by Goyo before he was abruptly interrupted from saying the rest to his aidé-de-camp, Vicente Enriquez. What was he actually supposed to say at that time if he was given the chance to continue?

Goyo was troubled by last night. He would be lying if he would say that he had a good night sleep, when it had been so visible with just a look how exhausted he was. The dark circles underneath his eyes were prominent, just as how the stance he carried himself showed as if he was carrying the entire world on his shoulders. Walking seems to be both a remedy and a curse—remedy that he could put that tiredness towards something else, and curse for the silence that lingered on with the truth of everything that was currently happening.

He heard Vicente sighing heavily next to him, a parallel call of fatigue like that of his.

“Hindi naman siguro tayo aabutin ng pasko dito, ano?” Vicente told him with an audible hint of depression. “Kating-kati na ‘ko umuwi ng Bulacan.”

Bulacan… he pondered. His heart tightened when the place that had been closest to his life was mentioned.

Vicente elbowed him by the side to snap him back to attention. “Hoy… di ka uuwi sa Bulacan?”

He stopped walking, bit his lower lip and sighed heavily before facing his aidé-de-camp. “Kapag nagkita kayo ni Julian…”

Sabihin mo na naging maayos lang ang lahat, he thought. Sabihin mo na pag-pasensyahan niya na di ko magagawang tuparin ang pangako naming pag-kikita muli. Sabihin mo na lagi siyang mag-iingat, pati din ang aming mga magulang at mga kapatid. Sabihin mo na nawa’y bumalik ang dati niyang ligaya at kisig tulad ng dati kung ako ma’y mawala. Sabihin mo na sana’y maipagmalaki niya ako bilang nakakabata niyang kapatid; bilang sundalo na inialay ang buhay para sa kanyang pagmamahal sa bayang ito. Sabihin mo na nagpapasalamat ako sa lahat-lahat ng kanyang suporta. Sabihin mo na naisin ko man makita siya muli, ay hindi ko na magagawa pa. Sabihin mo na ‘wag niya sisihin ang sarili niya sa anumang mangyayari. Sabihin mo na… mahal ko siya, aking kapatid, at ‘di ko sinasadyang humantong sa ganito ang lahat.

He closed his eyes for a moment to begin a new.

Sabihin mo na patawarin niya ako.

He sighed heavily again and opened his mouth. But before words could even make it out of him, they heard Señor Presidente screaming and their own soldiers fighting one another, that led the two of them to run towards the chaos.

It only later transpired to him that he has too many words to say that couldn’t be said in a second. And that he wasn’t even able to say anything at all.

It was only after Tirad Pass and when he finally met Julian that Vicente remembered that Goyo wasn’t able to say what he wanted to tell his brother in any case.

“Julian…” he called softly, a tear trickling down his eyes silently, remembering the pain. “Nabanggit ka niya sa akin. Sabi niya…” His voice grew almost inaudible. “Sabi ni Goyong sa akin na, ‘Kapag nagkita kayo ni Julian…’”

The tears were falling now in great succession.

“Yun yung huli niyang sinabi tungkol sa ‘yo.” Vicente tried to keep himself from sobbing, but emotions overruled him. “Yun na yun. Hindi niya na nagawa pang ipagpatuloy.” He said, no longer trailing since there were no words after that, “‘Kapag nagkita kayo ni Julian.’”

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[23meraki]

What Happened at San Rafael (A “GOYO: Ang Batang Heneral” one-shot)

Anacleto Enriquez, the Hero of San Rafael, was the man whom Goyo idolized the most; that when he died, Goyo immediately asked Anacleto's brother, Vicente, his soon-to-be aidé-de-camp, how the previous had fallen in order to know how to die for the sake of their country out of that love.

The moment that he saw the Church doors opened, he knew that it would be the end. And he knew that it was meant to be. And that there was no other way. And that he was somehow glad that it was just him here. And that there was no greater honor but to be here fighting.

And that it would all be over in a flash.

The rattle on the church door finally gave in after five hours of hoarding and keeping it shut. After five hours of struggling to remain on guard, keep their lives with them, and think of a way to divert the reality of what was to happen.

But was there any other way?

Before leaving Paombong, he had called his younger brother’s attention, pulling him aside from the group. His action bewildered the latter, causing Vicente to ask him, “Bakit, Kuya?”

He gulped in hard before biting his lower lip and shook his head. He brushed away his hand as if realizing what he had just done. “Wala,” he assured. “Pagod lang ata ito panigurado. May sumagi lang sa isip ko.”

“Ano iyon, Kuya? Nakakakaba ka. Alam mo iyon? Minsan, kung umasta ka, Kuya, para ka ring si Goyong,” Vicente chided with a small chuckle, trying to brighten the mood.

He smiled softly. “Talaga ba? Paano mo naman nasabi?”

Vicente stopped for a second to think, before answering, “Basta, Kuya. Pakiramdam lang rin naman. Na parang halos magkatulad ang inyong tadhana.”

“Kung ganoon, ipaalala mo sa akin ang iyong sinabi para akin ring masabi sa kanya, Enteng,” he said. “Ibig-sabihin rin ba nun ay nakikita mo rin siya bilang iyong kuya?”

The younger Enriquez surrounded an arm of his around his shoulders and laughed a little. “Nagseselos ka ba, Kuya?”

He shook his head with a warm soft smile. “Hindi. Sa katunayan… ako’y nagagalak na malaman na ganoon ang tingin mo kay Goyong.”

Who would have thought that it would be the last time that they’ll be talking? That the two of them will be separated when they were meant to be together?

“Fuego!” He screamed, unsheathing and raising his sword, commanding the soldiers to aim their rifles steady onto the approaching Spanish soldiers whose only itention as well was to kill everybody on sight.

Not even minding if they would be the elderly, women or children. The enemies were just firing aimlessly with the sole intention to leave no survivors.

He also aimed his own gun, managing to fire at least two before being hit by a bullet from the enemy. He was first scraped just by the shoulder. Then, onto his thighs and chest. He fired two others, three others, and four others; too few to the many bullets that had already pierced his skin and organs that caused his uniform to be stained by his own blood.

Enteng, nasaan ka?

His thoughts remained with him than to worry over his own safety and his own men and other people who were either dead or in the verge of dying now as the church’s floor started to pool with blood a few centimeters high.

Sana’y nasa ligtas ka na lugar.

He coughed and choked on his own blood, just as another volley of bullets hit him. His body betrayed his mind and his heart’s will to continue fighting.

But he knew that at that moment, there was no used. And he had already accepted the truth.

That the real details of what happened on that day of his death would be a mystery for the future to just guess exactly the events.

But, at least, despite the future fumbling with the darkness of the past, they would know that he had fought for something that everyone must continue fighting for—the love for our own motherland.

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[23meraki]

Fanfiction [A “GOYO: Ang Batang Heneral” one-shot]

Modern Jovente AU. It all started with a fanfiction and a discovery; then to a meeting.

Joven just published his latest fanfiction. He knew that his writings had reached countless of readers already, but he remained calm all the time to suppress himself from all the positive reactions and the negative ones that were truly opposed to the pairing he had envisioned. He always told himself that it was those people who doesn't accept such reality, or fantasy, or whatsoever.

But how could he stopped writing? After all, his works featured him and a handsome young man named Vicente.

His followers knew that he was a young man with a great crush over the other. Majority of them even encouraged him to speak up, and even started calling the man to notice him. Oh, he wanted to. He just simply does not have enough guts to do so.

He was haunted by his writings every now and then. He would often stare at the distance imagining one scene then another, and would take notes on his notebook dialogues that he would prefer to write on. His works were mostly soft, sweet and romantic. Most of them were one-shots, leaving readers at the edge of their seats and not unveiling too much. And probably, that earned too much more followers than intended.

Yet, his latest published work was more than that. There was this kiss, and this embrace, and this declarations of love. It was one that was truly out of his league. Joven had written this one because he couldn't take it out of his head until his idea finally took the form of words.

Joven sighed heavily as he scrolled on through his phone for the latest comments and favorites. He had been standing on the line for the next bus, heading home from school. It was only during these moments that he could check on the analytics of his works; for no one from his friends knew that he was writing such things, not even his parents at home.

"Uhm, excuse me," the man behind him remarks. "Hindi ba iyan yung pinaka-latest na rinelease nung writer na shini-ship si Joven at Vicente?"

He bit his lower lip, afraid to turn to the man. "Ah, oo nga po." He chuckled lightly. "Hindi ko inaasahan na makakakilala din ako ng iba pang nagbabasa din nito."

The man chuckled. "Nasabihan lang ako nung mga ka-tropa ko. Ang landi kasi ni Goyo. Sinabihan siya ng isang liniligawan niya na may nagsusulat daw tungkol sa akin. Haka-haka pa nga ay nasa parehong unibersidad din natin."

Joven froze, finally looking behind him to see the man standing right next on the line. "Po?"

"Mahal kita, Koronel," the man read on. "Tadhana ang nagdala sa atin upang magkatagpo."

He flushed, almost looking away of not quite believing his eyes.

"Nakakatuwang malaman nga na sa wakas ay nasabihan ako ni Goyo ng isang magandang balita."

"Po?"

"Si Goyo ang nagsabi sa akin na baka mas malapit pa sa akin kesa sa iniisip ko yung taong nagsusulat ng mga fanfiction na ito. Ang galing mo magsulat! Parang totoong nangyayari," he remarked. He offered his hand for a handshake and smiled. "Oo nga pala. Vicente Enriquez."

He hesitantly took his hand for a shake. "Joven Hernando po." His mind was running wild, telling him to do not freak out or even suddenly call him as "Koronel" as how his character Joven had been calling the man of his dreams in the fanfiction. But at that moment, he wished that he has the same courage as the character Joven has with all his Jovente stories.

"Oo, alam ko." Vicente leaned closer by his ear to whisper in a sweet voice just as how his Vicente character had done on his latest work. "Mahal."

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[23meraki]

Dreams [A “GOYO: Ang Batang Heneral” one-shot]

When Goyo entered the Katipunan, he had chosen the name “Aguila”. And the names that we wished to be called mirrors our dreams... right?

Goyo has the tendency to show off his very best to the others.

He ensures that his uniform and everything that goes along with it are polished and shined. He wears it very proudly. His fingers trailing the bars on his epaulettes; the cap that he often tips when he nods; and the jacket of his uniform that radiates his status being part of the elite class. After all, to be part of the small percent of the population highly speaks “class” and “elegance”.

Perhaps, it had been all his reason to choose such a career than any other. Aside from that vanity wherein he can show off to the entire world as he traveled from one place to another with his job, meeting countless other girls around the globe, he had always looked up at the sky. Envisioning what it will be like to fly. And when that dream had finally been reached... his ego grows much more.

There are times that he will look at the mirror and admire his beauty. He will often leave the flight deck during cruising, dependent of the autopilot with the first officer keeping watch, just to trail on the cabin in search of a beautiful lady, or even continue his courtship to one of the flight attendants that will swoon over him and one whom he’ll forget upon landing. Before every flight, he’ll ensure that he gets to be the one to do the pre-flight inspection, just so that he can brandished his new and always shined shoes that he once mentioned to have brought from Italy (the last time had been from France) after a short break there, and his watches that are always different every day.

His actions made him earn a nickname among the passenger service agents—“Captain Heartbreaker”; and by the ramp agents calling him—“The Pretentious Captain”.

For Goyo, he has the right to do so. No one knows how much money his family had spent to reach this dream. How many exams he needed to pass, check-rides and hours to accumulate before reaching his current position. His pride is embedded on the licenses that he had earned. The very reason why he felt so free every time he does fly.

He thinks that he is an eagle whose thirst for flight will never be quenched.

“Hoy! Tangina, Julian,” Vicente called out to the older del Pilar, eyeing the younger man next to Julian, with a distinct slur on his voice. He had been on control of the number of drinks he was having; afraid that he would be scolded again. For if there was a drunk del Pilar; expect that they were to do something stupid, and lead them to be injured for weeks. “Ano na naman sa tingin mo iniisip nitong si Goyo? Puñeta... kailangan ko bang kunin ulit yung mga tali?”

Julian was closed to his own limit; the very reason why Vicente was already pulling the bottle of alcohol away from his reach. For the last time, he had been singing quite loudly that woke and angered the neighbours. He then turned to his younger brother who was smiling with his eyes already half-closed and almost chuckling, visibly drunk. “Oo. Bago pa ito umakyat ulit ng puno, magkabali na naman, at sabihin na nakakalipad siya.”

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