Why Jericho Rosales won’t watch ‘Quezon’ until you do
Jericho Rosales is stepping into one of the biggest roles of his career—playing Manuel L. Quezon in Jerrold Tarog’s “Quezon”—and yet, he has deliberately refused to watch the finished film.
“I refused to watch it, except for the 10-minute preview because I was forced to,” he told reporters recently. “I’ve read the script 100 times. I will watch it during the premiere with everyone else. I no longer feel the pressure, more on excitement. I’ve never been more excited about a project than this.”
It’s an unusual choice for any actor, especially one who has led blockbusters and dramas for years. But Jericho’s decision fits what the film itself aims to do: close the gap between history and its audience. He wants to be surprised, to react alongside the people he’s hoping will support the movie.
“No offense to my previous producers, but this one is pretty special,” he said. “I just can’t wait for everyone to watch it because the people I’ve worked with here are all excellent. Jerrold’s writing is funny and heartfelt, and you will be able to feel all the emotions. I’ve never been so proud.”
If Jericho is saving the big screen for later, he hasn’t held back elsewhere. At the launch of National Artist for Film Ricky Lee’s books “Agaw-Tingin” and “Pinilakang Tabing,” he was among the chosen performers to read excerpts aloud. “Of course, it’s nerve-wracking, but when you think about being asked to share your voice and your time, it’s no longer about me—it’s about what I’m reading,” he said of the event, which coincided with the 2025 Manila International Book Fair.
What made it more meaningful was that Ricky himself picked the piece for Jericho. “He told me, ‘I know it’s your dream someday to become a director and producer, so you’ll be able to picture it now.’ I’m just so honored to have this experience with everyone invited to the launch.”
Jericho has long dreamed of directing, though he knows it begins with writing and, less glamorously, managing finances. Still, he often sought Ricky’s advice. “He’s always been very generous. He would always tell me, just go and trust your heart. For me, that’s a huge thing.”
For now, his focus is firmly on promoting “Quezon.” The campaign has been no small feat, taking him and his co-stars across provinces for forums and school visits. “I’ve never promoted a project this heavy. This is very important to me,” he said.
The film, the third in TBA Studios’ so-called Bayaniverse after “Heneral Luna” and “Goyo,” aims to use history not as a dusty relic but as a tool for empowerment. “I’m just happy to jump on board into this mission to use history to empower Filipinos.”
For Jericho, Quezon is more than a figure in textbooks. He’s a leader whose brilliance and contradictions still resonate. “If you watch the film, it’s guaranteed that you will feel something and you will start questioning things. It was made for us to understand why the Philippines is what it is right now.”
That relevance is hard to ignore, especially as corruption scandals dominate the headlines. “How many times has this happened to us? We don’t remember them, and when it happens again, here we go again. Our history, and what’s happening currently, we have to remember. We should unite and fight for what we deserve and develop a way of transparency and consistency. There has to be a check and balance.”
For him, this is the true meaning of pride in being Filipino—not blind optimism, but active care. “I care. To be a proud Filipino, we need to care about this country.”
So no, Jericho won’t sneak into a private screening. He wants the same first-time experience as the audience. “At least I can share my experience doing it—I feel prouder as a Filipino. I feel more empowered. I feel enriched and despite everything that’s happening, I feel encouraged.”
“Quezon,” directed by Jerrold Tarog and produced by TBA Studios, opens nationwide on Oct. 15. /edv
