LOVE IT OR HATE IT, 'QUEZON' ISN'T A FILM YOU CAN EASILY IGNORE

Jericho Rosales' portrayal of Manuel L. Quezon, the first president of the Philippine Commonwealth, is powerful, nuanced and brimming with conviction. He inhabits the role with intelligence and emotional honesty, showcasing his depth and maturity as an actor. No surprise if he takes home multiple Best Actor awards next year.

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LAST WEEK, ON THE PRODDING OF MY SON PAOLO, I finally watched “Quezon.” I had been meaning to see it since it was billed as the third and final installment of TBA Studios’ impressive Bayaniverse Trilogy, following “Heneral Luna” (2015) and “Goyo” (2018).

I must admit, I know very little about Manuel L. Quezon. Still, to his credit, he was the leader who opened the country’s doors to Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution in the late 1930s — a humanitarian act also portrayed in the 2018 film “Quezon’s Game,” starring Raymond Bagatsing as the late president. This gesture of compassion is said to be one of the reasons Filipinos can travel to Israel visa-free to this day.

In fact, my grade school and high school barkada, Suzette Hahn-Lopez, shared a touching personal story. Her grandfather Fredrich Hahn, grandmother Gertrud, and their only son, Alfred (Suzette’s father), were among the Jewish refugees who fled to the Philippines. They later founded Hahn-Manila, distributors of BMW. Suzette told me they even have a photograph taken upon their arrival in Manila — an image that remains proudly displayed at the Israeli Embassy here.

Curious about the movie's mixed reception, I asked a couple of friends — both respected voices in the film industry — for their candid thoughts. “Quezon” has stirred lively debate, especially after Ricky Avanceña, the late president’s grandson, publicly criticized director Jerrold Tarog for allegedly “tarnishing” his grandfather’s reputation.