On February 18, TBA Studios announced that Jericho Rosales, a Filipino leading man best known for his roles in romantic teleseryes such as Pangako Sa ‘Yo, will be playing former President Manuel L. Quezon in the upcoming historical biopic Quezon, directed by Jerrold Tarog.
“Meet the man of the nation,” wrote the production studio in social media posts teasing the film.
Quezon will be the latest addition to TBA Studios’ “Bayaniverse,” a cinematic franchise that includes films highlighting major figures in Philippine history. While the franchise’s first two films — Heneral Luna and Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral — focused on the lives of famed generals Antonio Luna and Gregorio del Pilar, respectively. Quezon will explore the former president’s life as a lawyer and soldier prior to stepping into the presidential role. This latest installment is highly anticipated because it has been seven years since the last “Bayaniverse” film, Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral, was released in 2018.
However, TBA Studios’ announcement has been met with mixed reactions. While some share their excitement about the film’s anticipated 2025 release date, others have commented on the studio’s choice of leading man.
“I thought si TJ Trinidad,” commented one Reddit user on the announcement. “He resembles Quezon more than Jericho.” Trinidad, who played an older version of Quezon in Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral, was teased in a post-credit scene as the potential actor to portray the former president. Some netizens have commented on Rosales’ racial appearance, with one Facebook user writing, “Quezon is mestizo. Rosales is moreno. Clearly a miscast. TJ Trinidad is the best choice for the role.”
Regarding the recasting, TBA Studios President and COO Daphne Chiu told Rolling Stone Philippines in a statement: “TJ Trinidad has business commitments outside of showbiz that he’s currently focused on. He has expressed his full support for the film, especially Jericho Rosales and Benjamin Alves, who will portray Quezon in different versions. TJ sent a message to TBA Studios, saying, ‘Thank you TBA, and good luck to the cast and crew. Can’t wait to see this on the big screen!’ We love TJ and wish him all the best in his endeavors.”
Rosales, also known as Echo, gained prominence through his roles in popular teleseryes, particularly Pangako Sa ‘Yo, which cemented his status as one of the country’s major romantic leads. Beyond acting, Rosales has also showcased his musical talent, notably lending his voice to sing the theme song for Pusong Ligaw. “Tapos kakanta siya ng ‘…Ikaw pa rin ang hanap ng pusong ligaw,’” one Reddit user jokes upon hearing the news that Rosales will be playing Quezon. The biopic marks the actor’s return to the big screen since 2018, when his last film, the romantic comedy The Girl in the Orange Dress, was first released.
Rosales, for his part, seems to be excited about what he can bring to his portrayal of the historical figure. “Here, you will see Quezon as a person,” says Rosales in a press statement. “He’s not written as a hero. He is cunning, he is charming, he is intelligent. Quezon is such an interesting character to play; there are so many things I can put into the role to build Quezon as a character. That adds to the pressure, but at the same time, I am very excited.”
