Wednesday, December 18, 2019

HOUSE OF REPS Files RESOLUTION Honoring Award-Winning Film “QUEZON’S GAME”


When TBA Studios, Globe Studios and Artikulo Uno Productions released Jerrold Tarog’s Gregorio del Pilar historical epic “Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral” last year, its mid-credits scene teased a potential sequel to its audience, one following Manuel L. Quezon (portrayed in-movie by Benjamin Alves) the same way “Goyo” was teased in its2015 predecessor “Heneral Luna.” Before Tarog can start work on that, Star Cinema jumped the gun with its own Quezon bio-drama, “Quezon’s Game,” which starred Raymond Bagatsing in the lead role. The movie has been a heavy-hitting award-winner sweeping all categories it was nominated for in two international film festivals.

And the national government has taken notice of this too according to ABS-CBN News, considering that the House of Representatives just filed, on Wednesday December 18, a resolution to commend the movie “Quezon’s Game,” which premiered this past May, for its cinematic quality and merit that has earned it multiple overseas film festival awards. Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante authored the accolade for “Quezon’s Game” in House Bill 628, congratulating the film, cast and production staff for winning in 12 categories at the Cinema World Fest Awards in Ottawa, Canada last year, along with the four wins in this year’s WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival.

On the text of House Bill 628, Rep. Abante noted that “Quezon’s Game” contributed to the enrichment and enlivening of Philippine history with its spotlight on a remarkable action done by Manuel Quezon as President of the Philippine Commonwealth. A year before World War II broke out, Quezon (Raymond Bagatsing) developed an ambitious plan with several prominent figures to help European Jews fleeing the anti-Jewish pogroms of Nazi Germany to flee to safety by travelling through the Philippines. He did so despite reservations from the US government and concerns of his wife Aurora (Rachel Alejandro) who worried that his added work could exacerbate his tuberculosis.

"[Quezon’s Game] serves as a reminder and eye-opener to the pivotal role that the Philippines played in the rescue of Jewish refugees during the Holocaust," says Rep. Bienvenido Abante. "It is a film that truly promoted and popularized our nation's historical and cultural heritage.” The movie was a collaborative effort between ABS-CBN’s Star Cinema studio and OTP content platform iWant.

Image courtesy of LA Times

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