By Vic S. Sevilla
Before Heneral Luna opened in a handful of theaters nationwide, the movie’s marketing team was in a quandary. Would Filipino moviegoing millennials, so hung up on mindless rom-coms, sci-fi thrillers and zombie potboilers, still care about a brash but brilliant Filipino general who lived a century and a quarter ago?
“We knew that we had a significant story to tell and we wanted the audience to experience the movie in the way that we did. With the help of Dakila Foundation, we went straight to the superintendents and to the principals of the different schools. I would stand before students and request them to at least make our three-day showing full house. We would show them the 15-minute teaser we did to interest them,†sterling actor, John Arcilla, describes the difficulty of marketing Heneral Luna before it turned into the monster hit that it later became.
From 105 cinemas that exhibited the film, the number went to 39 after a week’s run, until people who saw it went out of their way to promote it… not just ordinary moviegoers, but well-known personalities such as newscaster Julius Babao, singer Yeng Constantino, hitmaker Jim Paredes and TV host Vice Ganda, who openly endorsed the biopic of a largely misunderstood Filipino general.
“Suddenly, the audience took ownership of the film. It was probably because the audience saw themselves in the film. I guess the millennials realized that everything that’s happening to our country now has happened before. After that, I got hundreds of messages from people I didn’t even know — from millennials to their parents and teachers — thanking the entire team for reawakening their love for country. One parent even wrote: ‘Thank you for winning back our kids from Marvel.’â€
The other Luna
When John was asked to read for the role way back in 2012, his reaction was one of boredom and indifference. He was in New York in September of that year when Daphne Chu and Mara Andres from the movie’s production staff kept on asking him to give the role a try. John had the mistaken notion that it was for a film student’s thesis. “So I told them I will be coming home in October. I’m used to helping out students in their theses. When I got home, I bought my own general’s costume to the reading just to give them the impression that I was excited in doing the role,†John now looks back.
In truth, if there was a Luna he had been dying to portray, it was Juan Luna and not the general whom he considered as nothing but an enraged military man. He felt that Juan’s life was more interesting and powerful than Antonio’s. “At that time, I had already played several hero characters on stage for the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Pilipino — Rizal, Aguinaldo, Mabini, del Pilar, Bonifacio. I had encountered Antonio’s character in these plays and I thought that he was simply a loudmouthed, furious general. That’s all I knew of him. So I was not very excited.â€
During the reading, there were two young persons facing him — a young girl and a guy — who John assumed were film students. After the reading, he asked who the director was going to be, and the girl pointed to the guy, saying, “S’ya.†(Him)
“I never realized that it was director Jerrold Tarog in front of me. When Jerrold talked about how he envisioned the film he suddenly became a different person. I was embarrassed! I saw that they already had a complete lineup of actors to play the different roles, except for the actor who would play Heneral Luna,†he laughs.
Of tooth decay and other challenges
When the actor read the script, he realized that he had to learn more about the character. He considered it a blessing to have done more than a handful of other hero characters before who all had a relationship with the general. That gave him a better insight and understanding of who Antonio Luna was in the eyes of other people.
“I began to appreciate that he was not just a person furious at the system during his time. He was not an idiot who was barking at a shadow. His anger came from a genuine love and concern for his nation. He had to show courage because there was no chance to establish a well-trained army to fight the enemy. So he had to shout his every command and order. He had to be physical in order to be clearly understood by his men. He wanted to set an example of bravery. That was why in one scene, we see the general charging alone in the middle of the battlefield towards the Americans. He was so misunderstood,†John explains.
But the most difficult part in shooting Heneral Luna, the actor concedes, was the assassination scene. Director Jerrold shot the scene in four excruciating days. He put John under the sun and kept on pouring sugar syrup on John to simulate blood gushing from the general’s mouth, nose and wounds. John recounts the experience: “I also had to gargle the syrup every now and then. It was sticky, slimy and itchy. On the fourth day, and this was one of the most challenging parts, I had to play dead for one day. I had to ‘un-feel’ everything: the sun, the dust, the dirt, that syrup. At first they thought I was not in the mood. How could I be in the mood, I asked them, I have to be a corpse for a whole day. And corpses have no moods!â€
On the fifth day, John had to rush to his dentist because the syrup had begun to damage his teeth. “But when I saw the rushes of that scene, I felt happy. I looked so dead!†he exclaims.
Walking the talk
Because of the humongous success of Heneral Luna, it is understandable for Filipino moviegoers to associate John with the image of a Pinoy superhero. Does he feel obligated to show excessive patriotism?
“As an actor, I’ve always been patriotic. The fact that I have chosen to play inspiring Filipino characters in many of my plays and movies shows the high regard I have for the positive aspects of the Filipino spirit,†he says. Apart from the national heroes he has essayed on stage, John has also played Gen. Leon Villafuerte (Sakay) and Gen. Mariano Trias (El Presidente) on the big screen. His resume also lists more than a handful of critically acclaimed Filipino films that have been hailed here and abroad. The list includes Orapronobis, Bayani, Mulanay (for which he won the Metro Manila Film Festival Best Actor in a Supporting Role), Ligaya Ang Itawag Mo Sa Akin, The Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or winner Anino, and the highly acclaimed Sa North Diversion Road. He has also appeared in The Bourne Legacy with Jeremy Renner and Oscar-winning actress Rachel Weisz. In 2013, he starred in British-produced, Sundance Film Festival winner Metro Manila for which he was nominated in the British Independent Film Award for Best Supporting Actor.
But beyond the films and the plays, John has extended his advocacy to instill a stronger sense of nationalism among Filipinos by way of his unique “inspirational†talks. These days, he gets invited to talk in corporate conventions and leadership seminars where he delivers his message against corruption, unprofessionalism and other such problems besieging the country. Doesn’t that make him the conspicuous target of dishonest public servants, and politicians with dubious characters and motives?
“The clever thing about it is that I do my talks wearing a moustache and full general’s gear. So I can speak my message as Heneral Luna and not as John Arcilla. Because that’s ho he is. He speaks his mind without fear when it comes to corruption, nationalism and other political issues of national importance? If you’re a culprit, he will slap you without hesitation. He will speak the truth about you without sugarcoating his words. The Heneral Luna costume and look allows me to do that. If not, baka ako naman ang ma-massacre (I might get massacred)!†he says with a loud guffaw.
These days, John continues to act and sing. But the heft and substance of Heneral Luna’s character has whetted his appetite for roles that will instill a deeper appreciation for the goodness of the Filipino. He longs to do films that will make the younger generation of Filipinos feel proud of our culture, history and native courage. With half a smile, he admonishes, “Ang taong may damdamin ay hindi alipin (A person who feels is never a slave).†Spoken like a true hero.
Photography by HAROLD TAPAN / Art direction by RAMON JOSEPH RUIZ
Styling by ITO CURATA / Grooming by FLOE TAPAYAN
