How Epy Quizon prepared for Mabini role in 'Heneral Luna'

 

When Epy Quizon auditioned for director Jerrold Tarog's "Heneral Luna," the actor initially had no idea which role he was auditioning for.

 

So when he was told that he was up for a role as Apolinario Mabini, he had to admit that like most Filipinos, his knowledge of the so-called "Brains of the Revolution" was limited.

 

"Sabi nila, si Apolinario Mabini. I looked at his picture, at ang pinakita pa sa akin ay 'yung nasa 10-peso bill pa. Nakita ko 'yung hairline at sabi ko, 'Ah, hawig kami ng noo,'" he said in an interview with Howie Severino on "News To Go" on Monday.

 

"I remembered the Mabini in my head. We all have different Mabinis, so the best thing to do is convince the majority of one version. When they research about Mabini, the first thing they're going to look at is Wikipedia, so binuksan ko ang Wikipedia and there it said 'Sublime Paralytic.'"

 

After discussions with the director and the production team, they decided to go for a more subdued take on the performance that would help him get the message of the character across even better.

 

"Iba 'yung picture namin kay Mabini. 'Yung pagka-grand niya is in his words and not how he says it," said Quizon. 

 

"Siya ang nagdikta nung rebolusiyon, siya ang nag-strategize ng political system ng Kapatiran noon. That's how we should remember Apolinario Mabini. Siya 'yung chess player; chess pieces lang tayo."

 

Quizon recently caused a social media buzz when he shared his sadness over being asked by younger people why Mabini was seated throughout the film — which meant that they didn't know about his paralysis.

 

But he believes that the film works to push the younger generation to learn more about heroes like Mabini.

 

"The contribution is telling the millennials to get your book and read about history, read about our forefathers," he said.

 

"You can never say that I'm a proud Filipino without knowing these people. If you don't know them, get your book. Let's go back to these people who helped shape our nation so we can proudly say that we are Filipinos." —Bianca Rose Dabu/JST/KG, GMA News