MANILA -- In 2018, Filipino actor Raymond Bagatsing portrayed Manuel L. Quezon in the ABS-CBN Film Productions’ "Quezon's Game," winning best actor at Cinema Worldfest Autumn Awards, IndieFilm Festival, and 7th Urduja Heritage Film Awards.

This year, another film about Quezon's life is in the works, with TBA Studios producing and Jerrold Tarog directing. According to the producers, casting for the film's key and supporting roles is presently ongoing and will be announced shortly.

Asked what he thought of the new "Quezon" movie, he told ABS-CBN News: “I’m sure iko-compare. Hindi naman maaalis. ‘Yung gumawa ng ‘Heneral Luna,’ malaki talaga sila mag-budget.”

“It’s very hard and challenging. First and foremost, dapat hindi ka mapahiya. It’s very challenging. Kailangan marami kang intindihin dun sa character at kailangan maniwala ang tao. You have to move people since it’s a figure of inspiration. Dapat mapagpatuloy mo ‘yun kasi wala na sila eh. In a way, ikaw ‘yung bumubuhay sa kanila,” he added. 

Actor Raymond Bagatsing. Photo by Josh Mercado

Bagatsing gave this advice to the actor who will play the same role, having received praises for his convincing depiction of Quezon.

“Manuel L. Quezon is an intellectual. He’s not just any bayani. Iba ang Heneral Luna. Iba ang Goyo. He spoke very well. He spoke English and Spanish. His Tagalog is fluent. All those have to be considered. How would you present yourself. ‘Yung speech mo. How would you present the people believe you to be such a man of the Filipino people but also a man of the US. He was representing USA. Mataas ang level nun. You really have to do research. I’m sure alam naman nila kung sino ang kukunin nila,” he shared with ABS-CBN News. 

“You’ll find out your work is good kapag napanood na. Makakakuha ka ng feedback. You’re always somewhat nervous,” added Bagatsing. 

Ageless

Whether his roles in films and television shows are sexy or serious, Bagatsing always takes care of himself by finding time to exercise and eating well.

“I work out almost every day. I’m always biking and doing martial arts. I’m doing hapkido now with a Korean master. I also do calisthenics, body weight training, bar, exercises. Kailangan kong mag-work out. Kailangan kong isingit. It helps clear my mind. My body is healthy. I haven’t eaten meat for 25 years. I was pure vegetarian for 18 years. Ngayon, seafood lang ang kinakain ko. May days na vegetarian ako,” he revealed. 

The actor similarly refuses to announce his age, believing that age defines one's mind and body. He feels better and younger without believing in the idea.

“I always say ageless. When you say an age, your brain, your whole body will believe you. Your whole body says, ‘Eh kasi kung halimbawa 59 ka, dapat 59 ka rin umarte.’ I don’t feel any difference. I’m a little wiser. I always say ageless. I guess that works. Minsan, I even forget,” Bagatsing confessed.

On portraying father roles, he added, “Lately, ang binibigay nila sa akin ay father roles. Pero, I think, even when I was younger, they gave me father roles. Kaya ko naman. They always give me older roles. Okay lang naman. Pero napapansin naman ng tao na ‘Uy, hindi yata mukhang ganoon ang age.’”

TBA Studios set to start production on historical film ‘Quezon’

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