Actor John Arcilla and TBA Studios issued separate statements after Manuel L. Quezon’s grandson, Ricky Quezon-Avancena, criticized the film “Quezon” during a public talkback session.
Quezon-Avancena questioned the film’s portrayal and theme, and asked if the work functioned as a political satire.
Arcilla, who is related to the former president, said the production team should have consulted Quezon’s living descendants before release.
TBA Studios stated that the film draws from verified historical material and includes fictional elements to support its narrative structure.
The studio urged viewers to watch the film and arrive at their own assessments. The producers did not announce plans to revise or annotate the film following the criticism.