1. Which issues in Heneral Luna do you still see in todays’ Philippine in politics?

- The most notable issue that still exists with our Philippine politics today is the greed for power.
Our downfall in history was not because of our colonizers, it was because of us. We give more
importance of ourselves and the things we want. We lost our sense of patriotism in our pursuit
of personal desires. Power made us blind of the true important things in everyone’s life. We
thought power is the only variable needed to win our wars. With that, we crush everyone in way
of acquiring it ultimately, even if it was our own dignity. Aguinaldo’s action rooted from this
thinking, which led him to his fall. This will bring us to another issue; lacking or having no
principles at all. Even now, we always play safe, where we either win or not lose; either way
there’s no risk. We choose to silence our will for the good because we are afraid of other’s
criticism. Many cabinet members in the movie lack principle; that’s why they stick to the one
that takes the most of the votes. And even though, Luna died standing by his principles, but he
didn’t die empty-handed.
2. “Walang naka-aangat sa batas… kahit pa president.” Discuss what this quote means in relation
to the political situation of the Philippines.
- This means that even having the highest and most important position in politics, it is nothing
because laws are laws. Even the president is regulated by it and even having the ultimate power,
no one can be above it. In relation to our situation in the Philippines, even our president is
limited by the people. How? As long as we hold and stand our grounds for our rights, no one will
be over the law. And if one politician tried to be over it, it’s not just a matter of fate, but also the
chains of events that will knock him down.
3. What is the ideal Political Self?
- The political self is determined by these two factors; the outer world and our own
enlightenment. An ideal political self is the state of having a strong and good collaboration of
these two. The proper perception of the world’s socio-economic side and proper
contextualization and reaction to that is what makes an ideal political self.
4. Do any of the characters in the movie represent the ideal political self? If yes/no, Why?
- No, there are none. There may be characters that possess the qualities of an ideal political self,
but there are no one possesses them all. Luna has the right principles but his arrogance only
hinders him to utilize it. Aguinaldo has the power and the favor of majority, but he lacks the right
principles. Mabini is too neutral for him to possess an ideal political self and he choose to be
silent in regards of the truths he learned. If only the good qualities exist in one or with all, then I
can consider him/ them an ideal politician.