Raymond Bagatsing (left) and Rachel Alejandro in “Quezon’s Game”
Singer-actress Rachel Alejandro, who plays the wife of President Manuel Quezon in Matthew Rosen’s “Quezon’s Game,” was convinced that her lack of experience in making movies was what helped her land the all-important role in the historical film project.
“I’m so new in the medium of film,” Rachel told the Inquirer, pointing out that Loy Arcenas’ musical film “Larawan” was just her comeback film. She was last seen in “Notoryus,” released in 1998.
“I was nervous. I was just an open vessel,” she admitted. At the audition, Rachel said, she “simply did whatever Matthew told me to do, took everything that Raymond suggested with no pride whatsoever, and just went with it. I guess that worked wonders to our chemistry.”
Raymond Bagatsing plays Quezon.
“A lot of people might not know this, but Aurora and Manuel were first cousins. He was older than her by 10 years. Aurora followed him. That’s an interesting fact. In a way, you will see in the film that they are so close, and they make decisions together,” Rachel explained, adding that her disposition at the time and the dynamics in Manuel and Aurora’s relationship worked to her advantage.
Raymond agreed: “Rachel came after I read lines with another actress. Matthew told me to take note of which actress I’d feel I have chemistry with. When Rachel left, he asked me what I thought of her and the other talent, who is also a very competent stage actress. Their attack on the material was very different. Rachel and I had good eye contact. I felt I had more chemistry with her.”
The actors, as well as the film, eventually ended up bagging a total of 23 international awards, including the trophy for excellence in acting from the Cinema World Fest Awards in Canada.
The film revolves around the hidden chapter in Quezon’s life, the time when he, along with his comrades, rescued Jewish refugees from the ghettos of Germany and Austria in 1938.
What seems within their power at first turns out to be fraught with obstacles. On top of this, Quezon must battle a relapse of tuberculosis.
In his final days, before recollecting one of the least known but most uplifting stories in Philippine history, Quezon asked the question, “Could I have done more?”
To prepare for the role, Raymond said he watched Quezon’s speeches. “I tried to absorb as much as I could. I saw that not only was Quezon intelligent and lively around people, he was also very sincere when he spoke to them. When he smiled, he really smiled at them. He gave so much of himself.”
Raymond continued: “He was a great man. He was a super human but, at the same time, an ordinary and loving husband. He had vices, too, like most of us. He enjoyed drinking with his friends and smoking tobacco—that’s why he acquired tuberculosis. During the day, he worked hard as president, but at night, he partied, too. That made him more interesting.”
For Rachel, the most powerful scene in the movie does not feature her but a group of men, led by Quezon, while in a huddle. “It was a scene that was very quiet but powerful and heavy. You will get goosebumps and realize that tears are already falling from your eyes,” she recalled. “It was a group of men sharing a very heavy load. They’re going through a list of names, after they learned that the visas of some of those they had wanted to save weren’t granted. This means that those who will die and survive will all depend on them. It’s not my scene, but it pierced through my heart.”
“Quezon’s Game” premieres in cinemas nationwide tomorrow.