#heneralluna

October 26, 2025

I finally watched the new "Quezon" movie, and it really sticks with you. But first, let me explain the food situation! I was so wiped out from accumulated stress that I slept straight for 10 hours yesterday and another 10 hours today. I missed breakfast and lunch, so this entire cinematic experience is being fueled by an emergency mission to grab Jollibee and a huge popcorn tub! My stomach is just as excited as my brain is for this historical drama! 😂

I'm so glad I saw a post on TikTok today… I had no idea that the final installment of the trilogy was already showing! I had already watched and loved both "Heneral Luna" and "Goyo - Ang Batang Heneral" years ago, so I was thrilled to finally see the conclusion about the big boss himself. Thanks, TikTok algorithm!

Speaking of the viewing experience… The theater was practically empty! My screening time was 2 PM on a Sunday, and there were only about 12 of us watching the film. I'm not sure if people aren't into history or just aren't aware the film is out, but it was a very quiet, immersive watch.

The film itself does a fantastic job of showing that Manuel L. Quezon was a brilliant man. There's no doubt he had the political skill, the charm, and the sheer intelligence to lead the country toward independence. You see exactly why he was such a popular and powerful figure who dominated Philippine politics for decades.

But what the movie truly excels at is showing the darker side of his ambition. This wasn't just a story about a hero… it was about a master manipulator. The film reveals how often Quezon used his brilliance to outmaneuver rivals, control narratives, and consolidate power. He was charming, yes, but he was also ruthless and focused solely on his own vision of leadership. You realize that the foundations of modern Philippine politics… the drama, the maneuvering, and the strongman mentality… were firmly established by him. He was willing to bend the rules and blur the lines between what was good for the nation and what was good for Manuel L. Quezon.

The Succession Question: Why the Numbering Matters

The whole thing raised a huge question for me about the presidential count: Why is Sergio Osmeña considered the 4th President of the Philippines, and not the 3rd?

Constitutionally, this doesn't make sense.

• Manuel L. Quezon was the 2nd President. His term as Commonwealth President expired in 1943.

• Sergio Osmeña was his Vice President and should have immediately become the 3rd President upon Quezon's expiration of term, but Quezon got the Constitution suspended to stay in power during the war.

• When Quezon died in 1944, Osmeña finally took office as the Commonwealth President-in-Exile.

• But then, Jose P. Laurel governed the country de facto (in reality) as the head of the Japanese-sponsored Second Republic from 1943-1945.

The official count skips the Laurel regime, which was declared legally invalid by the US and the Commonwealth. If we only count the legitimate Commonwealth line, Osmeña should have simply become the 3rd. But because of the confusion, the war, and the desire for a clean break with the Japanese occupation, Osmeña is listed as the 4th.

This small historical detail … the jump from 2nd to 4th perfectly illustrates the messy, brilliant, and deeply ambitious politics that the film exposes. The battle over the presidency didn't just happen in the halls of government; it played out through death, war, and constitutional crisis.