The Bayaniverse is back after seven years
2015’s “Heneral Luna” took Filipino theaters by storm. The performances of John Arcilla and Mon Confiado, together with its seething political commentary, earned the highly acclaimed title both awards and box office success.
In 2018 came “Goyo: The Boy General.” The long-awaited follow-up to “Heneral Luna,” starring Paulo Avelino and Carlo Aquino, shed light on the batang heneral’s growth as a hero and how it came too late.
Together, these two would come to be known as the beginnings of the “Bayaniverse.” Seven years later, it will finally be followed up by the newly-announced “Quezon.”
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Starring Jericho Rosales as Manuel L. Quezon, the upcoming film follows the President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines from 1935 to 1944—emphasizing on his heated campaign against then-President Emilio Aguinaldo. Confiado will be reprising his role as Aguinaldo.
Joining Rosales and Confiado are Karylle Yuzon as Quezon’s wife, Aurora Quezon; Romnick Sarmenta as Sergio Osmeña; JC Santos as Manuel Roxas; and Cris Villanueva as the older Joven Hernando. Arron Villaflor initially played Hernando in “Heneral Luna” and “Goyo: The Boy General” and symbolized modern society looking back on the many faults scattered across Philippine history.
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Jerrold Tarog who directed “Heneral Luna” and “Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral” will also lead the production of “Quezon.”
“From our initial meetings, rehearsals and readings: this is going to be a Quezon we have never seen or read about,” said Benjamin Alves who will be playing a younger Quezon.
“I don’t know if ‘excited’ is a good enough word to express how wonderful I’m feeling right now. Thank you @jtarog Jerrold for giving me lots of moments to prep with you and the cast. Looking forward to our next sessions before we start filming and am preparing well to do my job well,” said Yuzon on Instagram.
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In an article on the TBA Studios website and according to TBA Studios president and COO Daphne Chiu, the film will be released both locally and internationally. According to Chiu, those who haven’t watched the first two films of the “Bayaniverse” will still be able to enjoy “Quezon” as a standalone title.
The film is supported by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).
