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Manuel L. Quezon's grandson clashes with filmmakers during 'Quezon' movie screening
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A heated exchange broke out during the talkback session for Quezon after a special screening at a Makati mall cinema, where director Jerrold Tarog and lead star Jericho Rosales (who portrays President Manuel L. Quezon) were present.
Ricky, who was in the audience, took the microphone to ask Jerrold whether Quezon was meant to be a political satire. When the director said yes, Ricky responded sharply, declaring, “Joke pala ito! It's a joke.”
The moment, captured on video and widely circulated online, showed Jericho stepping in to manage the situation, reminding Ricky that others in the audience also had questions. However, Avanceña insisted on finishing his statement, saying Jerrold had “opened Pandora's box” by producing the film.
“Hindi niyo alam ano ginawa niyo dahil kayo, gusto niyo kumita ng pera at sumikat... mahiya kayo,” Ricky said, accusing the filmmakers of tarnishing the Quezon family's name. “**China-channel ko ngayon ang aking lolo sa paksa ninyo, 'Pta kayo, mga p****ina niyo, kupal kayo!'”
Later that day, Ricky took to Facebook to share his side of the story, saying it was already his third time watching Quezon that week. In his post, he claimed Jericho tried to silence him during the Q&A.
“F*ing Jericho Rosales tried to block me, in effect canceling a Quezon, from a Quezon movie which sullied his reputation,**” Ricky wrote. He said he only wanted to ask Jerrold a straightforward question about whether the film was a political satire.
Ricky continued, “T***ina nilalako nila ang pambababoy sa alaala ng mga taong patay, at di nila ako hahayaan na magpahayag ng damdamin at ipagtanggol sila? At hindi naman kung sino lang ang Lolo ko, at nagbayad naman ako ng tiket.”
He ended his post by clarifying that he wasn't calling for a boycott of the film but urged viewers to watch it and then “join him in defending” Quezon's legacy online.
“Nobody said he was a hero, so labas s'ya sa kabaduyan ng 'Bayaniverse'. He was a President, and the best ever most incorruptible,” he wrote.
Produced by TBA Studios, Quezon explores the life of the late president through the rivalries and political battles that shaped his rise to power.
MEANWHILE, GET TO KNOW THESE ACTORS WHO PORTRAYED A NATIONAL HERO:
