Jericho Rosales rediscovers his love for the Philippines in ‘Quezon’

October 11 ------ For someone who once admitted he hated history class, Jericho Rosales surprised even himself when he said, “Because of this film, nabuhay yung pagka-Pilipino ko.” In playing President Manuel L. Quezon in the much-awaited eponymous historical biopic, the actor found himself awakening not just a character from the Philippines’ past, but his own long-dormant sense of love and responsibility for the nation. “It’s such a blessing,” he said. “I understand now how important history is. And I understood [in doing this film] that the reason why I fell asleep in history class when I was a kid was because I didn’t care about the country. It is care that actually makes you grow. It is love that makes you move. We need to understand what we love about our country so we can be more involved and be proud of it again.”

That awakening feels particularly timely. “Quezon,” directed by Jerrold Tarog and produced by TBA Studios, opens in cinemas on October 15 amid a public climate thick with disillusionment. In a year when corruption scandals have once again dominated headlines, Jericho’s words strike something deeper than nostalgia. Corruption is something we’ve all helped create. It’s a byproduct of what we’ve allowed to feed into the system. “So, it’s not the job of one person to solve it — it’s the job of every Filipino. We all have answers. Not one man. Not one person. Everyone needs to take responsibility to know and understand where we came from, for us to realize what we must do.”

The actor’s realization mirrors the film’s broader ambition — to make history relevant, not remote. As Tarog explained, “Ever since, the thesis of the ‘Bayaniverse’ trilogy has been to find the parallelisms between the past and the present.” The filmmaker, who also directed “Heneral Luna” and “Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral,” said “Quezon” completes the cinematic journey not by glorifying heroes but by confronting how power and politics continue to shape us. “It’s not about choosing the right leaders,” he said, “but trying to see what has changed ever since — and more importantly, asking, what hasn’t?”

Set during the American occupation, “Quezon” traces how the young politician maneuvered alliances and rivalries on his way to becoming the first president of the Philippine Commonwealth in 1935. It’s a portrait not of myth, but of ambition and the uneasy compromises that come with leadership. “He’s just such a huge, huge personality,” Jericho said of the man he portrays. “The pressure was like; how do you portray someone who ran for president in the 1930s? What was going on in his mind? Was it about power? What was it about his charm, his charisma? Even his voice was different, the sound, the tone, everything. It’s the most challenging role I’ve ever played.”

In fact, the challenge demanded more than acting. Jericho shared how Quezon began to inhabit him even outside the set. “There were times that I would even surprise everybody,” he said, laughing. “I’d catch myself talking or moving like him without realizing it — our household staff even asked me once, ‘Sir, why do you seem so old?’ You have to bring him home.”

Behind the humor, though, lies something almost spiritual — an encounter with the idea of leadership itself. When asked if Jericho would ever run for president, he replied without hesitation: “The short answer is no. Because if you don’t have it in your heart to care and serve, it won’t happen. I love my craft, and I can’t do this and lead the country. What we’re asking for is the heart of a president.” That heart is what TBA Studios hopes to capture in the film’s storytelling. As Jericho’s journey suggests, “Quezon” is not just about one man’s rise to power, but about the qualities that make a leader worth remembering — and a nation worth fighting for.

TBA Studios President and COO Daphne Chiu-Soon calls “Quezon” “a big-screen spectacle to be fully appreciated in theaters.” She described it as a film that “isn’t just a movie — it’s an event that demands the big screen,” made possible by the studio’s world-class production values and ensemble cast.

Besides Jericho, the film features Benjamin Alves, Mon Confiado, Arron Villaflor, Cris Villanueva, Romnick Sarmenta, Karylle, JC Santos, and “Game of Thrones” actor Iain Glen as US Governor-General Leonard Wood. In keeping with TBA’s commitment to make history accessible to younger audiences, the studio mounted educational forums and an election-style mall tour leading up to the release. Through its “Bayani Ba ’To?” initiative, over 11,000 teachers and students engaged with the film’s themes across multiple cities. Students and educators can also watch “Quezon” at a special ticket price of P250 upon presentation of a school ID in major cinemas nationwide.

Following its Philippine release on October 15, the film will premiere internationally at the 45th Hawaii International Film Festival and continue screenings in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the Middle East. Produced by Chiu-Soon with Fernando Ortigas, E.A. Rocha, and co-executive producer Jericho Rosales, “Quezon” concludes the studio’s acclaimed trilogy that began with rebellion in “Heneral Luna” and idealism in “Goyo,” culminating now in the political awakening of a nation’s leader.

In the end, “Quezon” reminds us that patriotism isn’t about power or perfection, but presence — the quiet act of caring enough to know, to question, and to serve. And if there’s one truth Jericho Rosales carries home from this role, it’s that love, indeed, is what moves us forward.

Source: manilatimes.net