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A poet, a pharmacy graduate, and a leader of the precursor to the Philippine Military Academy.
That’s how veteran actor John Arcilla introduces viewers to the other side of General Antonio Luna, a role he will be playing in the upcoming historical epic Heneral Luna.
Asked about his preparations for the role, John said he had to groom his moustache.
He also saw the role as a gift.
“Bago dumating ang project na ito, marami na akong role as hero ng ating bansa. Ang era sa akin ay familiar na,” John said in an interview on Aquino & Abunda Tonight.
John found it important to reconcile what history says about Gen. Luna.
“Iba kaysa sa fiction na character. Kasi kapag fiction, mas madaling pagkasunduan ng writer, director, at actor. Kapag totoong tao, mayroon kang kino-consider na accounts, may negative and positive, which I really have to embrace,” John said.
Set during the Philippine-American war, Heneral Luna follows the life of Gen. Luna, as he tries to lead his countrymen against colonial masters, and to rise above their own raging disputes to fulfill the promise of the Philippine Revolution.
The short-tempered Luna also faces an enemy more formidable than the American army: his own treacherous countrymen.
John also said he can relate to Gen. Luna’s temper because he came from a family that had a “tough love” approach.
“Mabilis magalit, pero naisip ko nung ginagawa ko siya, na hindi lahat ito ay uncontrollable. Yung iba ay calculated,” he said.
Heneral Luna is set for release on Sep 9. The film is directed by Jerrold Tarog.
