Ricky Quezon Avanceña, a grandson of former President Manuel L. Quezon, confronted the filmmakers of "Quezon" during a post-screening Q&A, expressing anger over what he described as a “disrespectful” portrayal of his grandfather.
Avanceña said he attended the talkback session for the third time in a week to ask the film’s makers, particularly director Jerrold Tarog, whether the movie was meant to be a “political satire.”
According to Avanceña, Tarog responded that it was, but “tried to wiggle away from the question.” He claimed actor Jericho Rosales, who stars in the film, interrupted him and asked him to stop speaking to give other audience members a chance to ask their questions.
“You can tell a serious story to laughter.. We will leave that to the audience to decide,” Tarog said in defense of what Avancena is talking about.
Feeling disappointed, Avanceña said he was angered by what he perceived as an attempt to silence his views as a Quezon descendant.
Adding to his post, he noted to the public to watch the film and make a social media defense.
In a Facebook post on October 22, Avanceña stated, "Why were they so hell bent on making Lolo look like a monster? They could have humanized him."
“Nobody said he was a hero, so labas sya sa kabaduyan ng 'Bayaniverse'. He was a President, and the best ever most incorruptible,” he wrote in his recent online post.
In response, TBA Studios, which produced the film, released an official statement acknowledging Avanceña’s comments but maintained that "Quezon" is grounded in verified historical accounts.
“While we respect and understand his sentiments, we wish to reiterate that the film is grounded in verified historical accounts, including President Quezon’s own autobiography and other reputable sources,” the statement read.
The studio added that while the movie includes fictional elements “for thematic purposes,” its key details “are easily verifiable through public records, online research, or library resources.”
To support public understanding, TBA Studios said it has released a Study Guide and Companion Book listing the references used in the film’s research. They also noted that the public should still watch the movie to spark a meaningful conversation about the film and the history of the country.
“We encourage everyone to watch the movie so they can form their own opinions and join the ongoing conversation about the film, our history, and how it continues to resonate today,” the studio added, expressing hope that Quezon will “continue to inspire meaningful dialogue, reflection, and a deeper appreciation of our nation’s past.”
