Jericho Rosales on doing ‘Quezon’ biopic: ‘Nabuhay ang pagka-Pilipino ko’

Posted by ReyFort Media

MANILA — Playing the late President Manuel L. Quezon in the highly anticipated biopic “Quezon” reignited actor Jericho Rosales’ pride in his Filipino heritage and deepened his love for the country. 

In a media conference on Tuesday afternoon held at The Manila Hotel, Rosales described “Quezon” as a blessing that came at the perfect time for him.

“Nag-usap kami ni Jerrold (Tarog) kanina pareho kaming palakol sa history, noong nasa high school. And I really never liked history, bored me to death and I was just like falling asleep always. And because of this film parang nabuhay ang pagka-Pilipino ko. It’s such a blessing. The timing was perfect,” Rosales said.

Rosales recalled that  when he was asked by Tarog do “Quezon,” he immediately agreed without understanding the real meaning of portraying a president or the movie itself. 

Now, the actor understands the importance of history and how it helps Filipinos love the Philippines.

“May meaning pala ‘yung pag-play ng presidente ng Pilipinas,” he said. “I understand now how important history is. And, I understood that the reason why I fell asleep in history class noong bata ako because I didn’t care about  the country. It’s care that actually makes you move. It is love that makes you move. You love your family, then you move; you love your friends, then you move. You do the things that no one would ever do for them because you love them.”

He added: “And because of this film I saw how important it is for everyone to take responsibility and actually knowing and understanding saan ba tayo nanggaling? Sino ba itong mga hinahalal natin? Sino ba itong inilagay natin? But it’s very important for us to understand what we love most about our country so that we will be proud again. And through history diyan mo malalaman bakit ko ba mahal ang Pilipinas. So naiintindihan ko ngayon because of this film, now I am more involved.”

Rosales also shared his thoughts on the current issue of corruption in government. For him, corruption can not be solved by one person alone, but by all Filipinos working as one.

“Corruption is just like a pimple. It’s the by-product of puyat, oil and everything that we eat. Going back to the question kung ano ang mapupulot natin dito sa pelikula na ito? Play the trailer ten times if you need to because the answer is there. All the words that he selected, that he cut, has a meaning there,” Rosales said.

“Saan ba nanggaling ito? Bakit ba nakakalusot? Hindi trabaho ng isang tao ang pag-solve ng corruption. Trabaho natin, buong Pilipinas, bawat isang Pilipino. Kaya namin pinili ‘I am the Philippines’ because we also should take responsibility. What do we need? What do we actually need? Then we write it down and announce it? We need a website so we can check everything, what’s happening around us.

We need information, we need this, we need that, we need to fact-check everything because it is our taxes. It is our money. We serve each other. How do we solve it? We all have the answers, not one man, not one person,” he continued.

Last month, TBA Studios announced that beginning October 15, the film’s opening day, students and teachers can watch the film in Philippine cinemas at a discounted price of P250.

Following its October 15 premiere in Philippine theaters, “Quezon” will have its international festival debut at the 45th Hawai’i International Film Festival on October 26 at Consolidated Kahala Theater and October 28 at Consolidated Kapolei Theater. 

It will also have screenings in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the Middle East. (R. deveza/abs-cbn)