The Filipino Studies Program at the University of Hawaii at Hilo invites the public to a free screening of “Heneral Luna” from 5:30-8 p.m. Friday in the Science and Technology Building, Room 108.
The Filipino Studies Program at the University of Hawaii at Hilo invites the public to a free screening of “Heneral Luna” from 5:30-8 p.m. Friday in the Science and Technology Building, Room 108.
This film was the official entry of the Philippines to the 88th Academy Awards and the most acclaimed Filipino movie in 2015.
The movie relates the life of Gen. Antonio Luna, who fought for the freedom of the Filipinos from Spain and America. His fiery desire to free the Filipinos often was doused by the coldness of the elite who would rather connive with the occupying forces than to set the country free.
The ruling elite and the principalia, or noble class, were not his only problem. There was the incessant infighting in the newly formed cabinet and the stubborn resistance in the military whose loyalty was toward President Emilio Aguinaldo. Luna’s assassination signaled the untimely end of true, nationalistic and patriotic leadership of his kind.
An educated revolutionary leader, Luna’s patriotism was reflected in his literary works. By virtue of the Treaty of Paris in 1898, Spain ceded to America its possessions, namely, Cuba, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Philippines. Spain was paid $20 million for the sale of the Philippines. Luna equated the sale to that of livestock and houses. His analytical comments and scathing oratories in the legislative assembly did not go unnoticed by the elite and principalia at that time.
The screening is sponsored by the Seed Ideas, Fil 330, students of the Filipino Studies Program and MAAPS. For more information, contact Rodney Jubilado at 932-7209 or rodneycj@hawaii.edu.