Goyo: The Boy General

As the tumultuous aftermath of General Antonio Luna's assassination settles over the crumbling First Philippine Republic, Gregorio "Goyo" del Pilar, a fiery and ambitious brigadier general, receives a mandate from President Emilio Aguinaldo to track down and neutralize Luna's loyalists, now accused of treason. In Dagupan, Major Manuel Bernal, one such soldier, is apprehended at the residence of Mariano Nable José, only to be subjected to brutal torture and psychological manipulation aimed at breaking his spirit. Refusing to surrender or betray his comrades, Bernal instead spits defiance in Goyo's face, labeling him a "dog" for his unwavering loyalty to Aguinaldo; this affront ultimately seals the soldier's fate, as he meets a swift and merciless end.

With hostilities momentarily subsiding, Goyo finds himself promoted to major general of Pangasinan, and he seizes the opportunity to unwind with his older brother Julian, trusted friend Colonel Vicente Enriquez, and intrepid photographer Joven Hernando in the laid-back atmosphere of Dagupan. The summer months are filled with vibrant festivals, romantic escapades involving Mariano's alluring daughter Remedios, and a general sense of relaxation.

Meanwhile, Aguinaldo reaches out to Apolinario Mabini, his former prime minister, offering him the chief justice position in a move designed to pacify Mabini's lingering doubts. However, when Mabini presses Aguinaldo for details about Luna's tragic demise, he is met with evasive silence. Elsewhere, General José Alejandrino, a veteran of Luna's camp, embarks on a perilous journey to Manila, where he attempts to negotiate with the American generals Elwell Stephen Otis and Arthur MacArthur Jr., both adamant that any recognition of the First Philippine Republic's sovereignty must be contingent upon Filipino surrender. These talks collapse in acrimony, paving the way for an intensification of hostilities.

As Aguinaldo's army teeters on the brink of collapse, unable to launch a counterattack against the relentless American forces, he orders his troops to retreat to the relative safety of the Cordillera Range, with Goyo leading the vanguard. This grueling march is marked by unrelenting American attacks, internal divisions rooted in Luna's legacy, and the pervasive specter of hunger, disease, and desperation. The weight of responsibility grows crushing for Goyo as Aguinaldo's mother and son fall into enemy hands, further fueling his sense of duty and obligation to protect those he holds dear.

As the American army approaches Mount Tirad, Goyo orchestrates a clever delaying tactic to enable Aguinaldo and their comrades to make a swift retreat. In concert with former Luna soldiers, including the battle-hardened Lieutenant García, they construct fortifications on the mountain's slope, overlooking the treacherous pass. The Battle of Tirad Pass commences when Major Peyton C. March leads a contingent of American troops onto the scene. Initially, the Filipino forces prove resilient against the American onslaught, repelling their initial assault with tenacity and guile. With the aid of a local guide, the Americans cleverly exploit a secret path to outflank the Filipinos. Just as Goyo, having overcome his PTSD-induced struggles in previous battles, attempts to turn the tide of the battle, he falls victim to an American sniper's bullet. The news of Goyo's demise shatters the Filipino forces' morale, leaving them vulnerable and ultimately overwhelmed by the relentless American advance. Amidst the chaos, Joven and García's son Kiko flee, but Joven meets a tragic end after encountering an American soldier, plummeting off a cliff to his untimely demise. In the aftermath of the battle, the Americans desecrate Goyo's corpse, stripping it for war trophies. The fallen leader is subsequently interred on the battlefield, where he is later visited by Vicente and Lieutenant Telesforo Carrasco, who survived the brutal conflict alongside Felicidad, Aguinaldo's younger sister and Goyo's former lover.

Two years subsequent to this fateful battle, Aguinaldo falls into American hands in Palanan, effectively marking the end of the war. As a prisoner of war within the imposing walls of Malacañang Palace, Aguinaldo is visited by his trusted aide-de-camp Manuel L. Quezon, who had previously surrendered to the Americans under orders from General Tomás Mascardo. Quezon seeks Aguinaldo's counsel on whether Mascardo should surrender as well, to which Aguinaldo responds that the decision rests squarely with Mascardo. Meanwhile, Mabini is also captured by the Americans and exiled to Guam, where he pens his own account of the war, La Revolución Filipina ('The Philippine Revolution'), critiquing Aguinaldo's leadership failures during the conflict.

In a mid-credits scene, Joven is miraculously rescued by Kiko and Eduardo Rusca, Luna's former aide, decades after the battle that claimed Goyo's life. As fate would have it, both Aguinaldo and Quezon vying for the presidency in the 1935 election, while an older Rusca and Joven pay a mocking salute to Aguinaldo, their shared past a poignant reminder of the war's devastating consequences.