Benjamin Alves’ favorite Filipino hero is his ‘Goyo’ character Manuel Quezon

Kapuso star Benjamin Alves is happy to be playing his favorite Filipino hero in the upcoming period film "Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral."

In an interview on Thursday after the press launch of the film, which is a sequel to 2015 hit "Heneral Luna," Alves said that he tends to agree with the logic of former soldier and president Manuel L. Quezon, based on what he's read.

"Pagiging critical thinker niya, all of his logic, I agree with it. It makes sense to me," he said.

"I haven't delved into the politics and everything he's done, but 'yung quotes pa lang niya, parang, oo nga no," he added.

Alves—who graduated summa cum laude from the University of Guam in 2012 with a degree in English literature, finishing the four-year course in two and a half years—had to go through extensive readings in preparation for his role.

His reading materials were even thicker than the script he was given.

"It's very thick material, it's thicker than the script that I got," he said.

The actor said he enjoyed finding common ground between Quezon and himself.

"Nakakatuwa. As an actor hahanapin mo talaga yung kung saan kayo nagmi-meet sa gitna. Ano ba yung kailangan ni Manuel Quezon from me, para maibigay ko?" he said.

Look: Benjamin Alves at the Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral press launch pic.twitter.com/0i0HrZhI5M

— Jessica Bartolome (@jacbartolome) August 23, 2018

Alves first auditioned for Quezon in "Heneral Luna" six years ago, and had limited scenes and lines in the film.

In the upcoming sequel, he will have a bigger role.

In the third and last film, his character Quezon will be the central focus.

Younger Quezon

Quezon is generally known as the second president of the Philippines, but in the timeline of Goyo, he is a mere soldier still.

"They told me six years ago, all we know about Quezon is he's our president. The older version. You're gonna see a younger Quezon, still trying to find his identity, still trying to find who he is," Alves said.

He stressed that it's important to watch "Goyo" to understand the timeline of events of the entire trilogy.

While the focus of the second film is Gregorio del Pilar, there will be events involving Quezon that will shed light on his character and set the momentum for the final movie.

"The timeline is gonna show you how it's going to be treated," Alves said. "Paano nga ba siya naging ganito?" 

"Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral" will premiere on September 5, 2018. — BM, GMA News