Bulacan marks hero’s birth anniversary with call vs corruption
BULAKAN, BULACAN—Local officials here called on today’s youth to become the “Heneral Goyo” (Gen. Gregorio del Pilar) of their generation by leading the fight against corruption as the province commemorated the 150th birth anniversary of the revolutionary hero.
Mayor Vergel Meneses led provincial and municipal officials in a wreath-laying ceremony on Nov. 14 at Del Pilar’s monument in Barangay San Jose, where the general was born.
As part of the celebration, Kabesera Inc.—a heritage, historical and cultural group in Bulakan—staged the following day the musical “Goyo@150 Para sa Bayan: Dulang Musikal ng Kabayanihan” at The Pavilion of the Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center in the City of Malolos.
The production was a remake of the 50-year-old “Goyo@100,” written and directed by Kabesera members Noli Garcia and Bong Enriquez with guest director Danilo Garriz.
The musical dramatized Del Pilar’s life—from his childhood selling his mother’s rice cakes on the streets to the courage of his “Brigada del Pilar,” culminating in the fateful Battle of Tirad Pass in Ilocos Sur.
Del Pilar, affectionately known as “Heneral Goyo,” joined the revolutionary forces at 21 during the 1896 uprising against Spain. He was killed on Dec. 2, 1899, in battle against American troops.
Integrity, not greed
Enriquez, grandson of Col. Vicente Enriquez—Del Pilar’s aide-de-camp—urged the youth to uphold honor, dignity and principle over “money and greed.”
According to Enriquez, being the Del Pilar of this era means offering “purity of heart, mind and action” in helping the needy, fighting corruption and rejecting ill governance.
“It is our desire that the heroism of Del Pilar remain alive and become a legacy for the next generations. Through these presentations, we hope to inspire the youth to follow his patriotism,” he said.
Enriquez added a reminder: “Heroism is in the heart and mind, not in the pocket, as Hen. Goyo exemplified. May heroism live in every citizen, especially the youth—for the nation, not for oneself.”
Kabesera Inc. president Gemma Santos stressed that while Del Pilar died for the country, today’s youth must live for it.
The group challenged the youth to take the lead in opposing corruption in flood control projects and other public anomalies and to demand justice for victims of wrongdoing.
Community effort
Garcia, who wrote the original 1975 script marking Del Pilar’s centennial, said the new staging includes updates to make the story resonate 50 years later. The cast—ages 5 to 51—trained under Enriquez, Garcia and Garriz and rehearsed weekly at the historic Ycasiano-Enriquez house in San Jose.
Former theater actor Carlo Virano served as narrator and choreographer, with Joel Bagay, Moi Aniag and Robert Cruz handling the music. School assistant principal Michael Dungca took on duties as stage director.
On Sept. 6, the production team conducted a familiarization tour of key battle sites of Del Pilar and his troops, including Kakarong de Sili in Pandi, the San Rafael Church, the Battle of Quingua site in Plaridel and the Bulakan town plaza.
The “Para sa Bayan” cast is led by 27-year-old Theo Angelo Doon as Hen. Goyo and 34-year-old Era May Tolentino. Both are active theater performers from Bulakan, Obando and Malolos, who volunteered for weekly rehearsals starting in April.
Heritage center
Proceeds from the P3,000-ticket musical will fund the establishment of the Bulakan Culture and Heritage Community Center (BCHCC).
Former Science and Technology Secretary and Kabesera chair Fortunato dela Peña said the BCHCC will house the town’s rich cultural and historical archives. Bulakan is the birthplace of several national heroes, including Del Pilar, Marcelo del Pilar and Deodato Arellano.
Funds will also support the printing of “Bulacan Yan,” a book written by former Kabesera president Perfecto “Boy” Martin, compiling stories, photographs and historical memories of Bulakan, the province’s former capital.
Del Pilar was born on Nov. 14, 1875, and a monument now stands at his birthplace in San Jose to honor his legacy.
