While the film is shown in a nonlinear narrative, the following is the chronological order of events that happen in the film.
In 1901, Major Manuel Quezon meets Eduardo Rusca and Joven Hernando on his way to surrender to the Americans. Quezon gives a coin to Joven as a reminder that "principle is most important" and promises to make the Quezon name famous. The two become friends, with Quezon entering politics and using his patronage to provide Joven with his own newspaper, Alerta.
Quezon's political star rises during the American period, as he establishes himself as a leader of the Nacionalista Party and a populist Senate president who is seeking to achieve independence for the Philippines while discreetly receiving support from the Americans and the elite. At the same time, he has a love-hate relationship with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sergio Osmeña, and grooms a young legislator, Manuel Roxas, to undermine Osmeña. When Leonard Wood becomes governor-general and complains to Washington about the corruption of Filipino leaders and the Philippines' unpreparedness for independence, Quezon leads his colleagues in a prolonged political standoff against Wood. Quezon seeks the support of Emilio Aguinaldo, now the head of the Association of Veterans of the Revolution, in denouncing Wood, but is enraged when Aguinaldo sympathizes with Wood instead.
Quezon tries to charm Wood in a drinking session, but is instead blackmailed by Wood into desisting from further agitation for independence by presenting an archive of his previous legal cases including rape and bigamy. Wood later dies in office and a jealous Quezon scuttles an agreement made by Osmeña and Roxas with the Americans for Philippine independence and secures his own deal, albeit made on similar terms. This allows him to run for president of the upcoming Commonwealth. He convinces a reluctant Osmeña to become his running-mate by promising to give him the presidency after one term. At the same time, he insults Aguinaldo for supporting Wood, leading Aguinaldo to contest the presidential election against Quezon.
Quezon commissions Joven and his daughter Nadia to make hagiographical films of him, unaware that the Hernandos are also making unflattering versions of them. Joven also publishes an expose from Pedro Janolino revealing Aguinaldo's responsibility for the assassination of Antonio Luna.[a] As Quezon proceeds to confiscate Aguinaldo's farmstead and withdraw his pension, Aguinaldo and his running-mate, Raymundo Melliza, learn that Quezon abandoned his first wife, Ana Ricardo, during the revolution before marrying Aurora Aragon. Ana is invited to an event attended by Aguinaldo and Quezon, enraging the latter, but Aguinaldo loses his nerve and fails to expose Quezon. Meanwhile, Joven goes to a campaign sortie by Aguinaldo in Malolos, only to see Janolino sabotaging the event by staging a funeral-themed protest. Melliza angrily points out to Joven that Janolino is Quezon's sergeant at arms in the Senate. Disillusioned, Joven writes an article in Alerta denouncing Quezon as a deceitful and corrupt politician, resulting in the newspaper's closure.
After Quezon wins the 1935 election and is inaugurated as president, Joven confronts him about Alerta's closure. Quezon denies involvement, and the two debate over truth and compromise before Joven returns the coin Quezon once gave him. Joven, Nadia, and Rusca watch the critical Quezon films at the Hernandos' cinema, but are interrupted by Quezon, whose secretary, Manuel Nieto, has been spying on the Hernandos. Joven chastises Quezon for his corrupt ways and lust for power, but Quezon reminds him of how his patronage gave the Hernandos their livelihood. Joven ends his association with Quezon, who hands back the coin they gave to each other.
Despite his promise to Osmeña, Quezon arranges for a constitutional amendment allowing his reelection. As tuberculosis further weakens him and with World War II breaking out, he is inaugurated in Corregidor. As he is wheeled back inside the Malinta Tunnel, he lashes out at Osmeña, knowing that the latter will live to see an independent Philippines while he will not, exclaiming "I am the Filipino people, I am the Philippines!"
An epilogue reveals that Osmeña became president after Quezon’s death but lost to reelection to Roxas, who became the first president of a post-Commonwealth republic, while Aguinaldo outlived Quezon, Osmeña, and Roxas.
In the mid-credits scene, a radio set plays "Mambo Magsaysay".
It was reported that the sequel to Goyo would be about President Manuel L. Quezon, with Benjamin Alves and TJ Trinidad set to reprise their roles as younger and older versions of Quezon respectively.[11][12] However, director Jerrold Tarog's work on the sequel was postponed after Star Cinema hired him in 2018 to direct Darna. While Tarog focused on filming for Darna, producer EA Rocha stated that pre-production work on the potential Quezon film would continue.[13]
In 2021, Tarrog teased the potential script co-written with Rody Vera on Twitter, stating that it was still to be submitted for approval.[14] In early 2024, it was revealed that film was still waiting for greenlight approval. The project would later receive a "large budget production fund" support from the Film Development Council of the Philippines as part of its CreatePHFilms Funding Program Cycle 1 of 2024.[15]
In 2025, TBA Studios confirmed that the filming of Quezon will commence in March of the same year,[16] with Mon Confiado reprising his role as Aguinaldo.[17]
Casting
On February 18, 2025, TBA Studios announced that Jericho Rosales will portray the role of Quezon.[18] Also joining the cast are Karylle will portray the character of Quezon's wife Aurora, Romnick Sarmenta who portrays Sergio Osmeña, JC Santos as Manuel Roxas and Cris Villanueva as the older Joven Hernando.[18] On February 19, 2025, it was announced that Aaron Villaflor will portray as Joven Hernando.[19] On March 16, 2025, it was confirmed that Iain Glen has been cast in the film and will portray the role of governor Leonard Wood.[20] On March 26, Joross Gamboa released an image of himself as part of the cast and was named by Confiado as Eduardo Rusca, one of Antonio Luna's companions in the first Bayaniverse installation Heneral Luna.[21]
Filming
In a social media post, TBA studios announced the start of their filming for Quezon on March 18, 2025. Jericho Rosales also shared in his social media account an image of him playing Quezon on the first day of shooting.[22][23]
Quezon is the latest addition to TBA Studios Bayaniverse, a cinematic series of historical films that includes Heneral Luna and Goyo: The Boy General. Director Jerrold Tarog, who co-wrote and directed both Heneral Luna and Goyo, returned to helm the project.[22] Filming concluded on June 11, 2025.[24]
Release
On July 4, 2025, TBA Studios released a poster for the film and announced that it would be released in Philippine cinemas on October 15, 2025.[25] The official trailer was released on August 19, 2025.[26] The film is also scheduled for release at the 45th Hawaiʻi International Film Festival on October 26, 2025.[27]
Ahead of its general release, a red carpet premier was held for Quezon at SM North EDSA in Quezon City on October 12, 2025.[28]
Reception
Box office
The film released on October 15, 2025, alongside The Marianas Web and Black Phone 2 and earned 6 million on its opening day.[2]
Critical response
Fred Hawson of News.ABS-CBN.com gave the film a positive response with a rating of 9 over 10 and wrote; Rosales's Quezon was fiercely egotistical up to his ultimate declaration of "I am the Philippines!" before the final fade to black.[29]
Philip Cu Unjieng of Manila Bulletin also gave a positive feedback to the film and said: "Ultimately, Quezon is a potent history lesson that bears significantly on why the system is so broken, up to this juncture of our nationhood."[30]
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