Veteran actor John Arcilla, who famously portrayed General Antonio Luna in the 2015 historical biopic ‘Heneral Luna’, has voiced support for Ricky Quezon Avanceña, grandson of former Philippine president Manuel L. Quezon, following the latter’s outburst against director Jerrold Tarog and the new film ‘Quezon’.
Arcilla, who is also a distant relative of Quezon through his mother Eustacia Gonzales of Baler, expressed his empathy for Avanceña in a comment on the latter’s viral Facebook post, saying the filmmakers should have consulted the Quezon family before producing the film.
“Ricky, I, or anyone else, cannot blame you. Our family is still very much alive; they should have considered consulting the direct descendants and relatives,” Arcilla wrote. “The reason no one has made a film about Juan Luna, for instance, is that his wife’s family does not want the story told from someone else’s point of view—and I am not sure if that principle applies here as well, especially since the direct descendants who are still alive were not even consulted.”
The actor, who worked with Tarog and TBA Studios on ‘Heneral Luna’—the first film in the so-called Bayaniverse trilogy—acknowledged that while filmmakers have the freedom of artistic expression, the descendants of historical figures have every right to react when they feel their family’s legacy has been misrepresented.
“All the people involved are my colleagues and friends, and while I cannot apologize on their behalf—because, as you said, they have their own principles and freedom of expression—I believe that if the living family and descendants feel bothered by the matter, you/we are fully entitled to our reactions, or even to seek proper clarification or action if necessary,” Arcilla added.
He also weighed in on Tarog’s description of ‘Quezon’ as a satire, saying that while the style of the film’s early sequences appeared satirical, the tone and content did not convey it clearly.
“Still, I understand that the ‘satirical’ angle might be the film’s best defense. It looked satirical in the way they styled the early rigodons of political opponents and some of the ‘actings,’ but the content itself doesn’t feel like one,” Arcilla noted.
“The preachy and direct characterization of our Lolo’s persona according to what the film wants to paint was explicitly stated by the fictional Joven—who represents the audience—right to his face. That’s what truly feels bothersome. I feel you, ‘nsan.”
The controversy erupted after Ricky Quezon Avanceña confronted Tarog and lead actor Jericho Rosales during a post-screening Q&A session in Makati City. In a video that went viral, Avanceña accused the filmmakers of “disrespecting” his grandfather’s legacy after Tarog described the film as “satire.”
“So you admit this is a satire? So ‘wag natin papaniwalaan—joke pala ito. It’s a joke!” Avanceña said before throwing the microphone and walking out.
He later took to Facebook to vent his anger, writing that the filmmakers “sinalaula ang alaala ng isang pamilyang nagbuwis ng buhay,” and calling the film’s portrayal a form of desecration.
Despite his outrage, Avanceña clarified he was not calling for a boycott: “I’m not saying don’t watch the movie. Watch it, and then join me in a social media defense, mga Quezon followers.”
He described his grandfather as “the best ever, most incorruptible” president and said the film reduced him to a caricature.
During the same event, Jerrold Tarog explained that the film was intended as “a conversation with the Filipino public.”
“If you take the film by itself, you will only see the negative side. The film is a conversation with the Filipino public. Since it is a conversation, we would have already known his accomplishments,” Tarog said.
Jericho Rosales, who plays Manuel L. Quezon, also defended the film’s nuanced approach: “There are no perfect people. I was trying to wrap my head around this person who has led the country to independence and done great things—and still is so flawed,” the actor said.
Interestingly, another attendee who also introduced herself as a descendant of Quezon reportedly praised the film, calling it her favorite among Tarog’s works.
‘Quezon’, released on October 15, is the third and final installment of TBA Studios’ Bayaniverse trilogy, following ‘Heneral Luna’ (2015) and ‘Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral’ (2018). It stars Jericho Rosales as Manuel L. Quezon, Karylle Tatlonghari as Aurora Quezon, Mon Confiado as Emilio Aguinaldo, Iain Glen as Leonard Wood, and Cris Villanueva as journalist Joven Hernando.
The film chronicles Quezon’s rise from soldier and lawyer to becoming president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines (1935–1944), exploring his political battles with Aguinaldo, Osmeña, and Wood amid the American occupation.
Amid the ongoing debate, both historians and descendants of historical figures are now calling for a deeper discussion on the balance between artistic license and historical fidelity—a conversation that, as Tarog himself said, might be exactly what Quezon was meant to spark.
