Jericho Rosales: 'The Most Reliable, Efficient, Dependable Actors are the Ones Who Know Themselves'

Every year, Esquire Philippines presents Man at His Best, the local iteration of a global signature event where we celebrate extraordinary Filipino men and women reshaping society as we know it. These are the dreamers and doers who have made a profound impact on the Filipino's way of life, who are using their talents and skills to make something of themselves and inspire the rest of us to do better with our lives.

This year, we're honoring eight visionaries in film, politics, music, business, F&B, journalism, and literature. They are the Architects of Tomorrow: laying the groundwork for a better, more progressive country—embodying what it means to be a Man at His Best.

ALSO READ:

Meet Esquire Philippines' Man at His Best 2025 Awardees

Here's What Went Down at Esquire's Man at His Best 2025

When Jericho Rosales got the phone call from director Jerrold Tarog offering him the part of Manuel Quezon, it couldn’t have come at a more fortuitous time. The prolific actor, producer, musician, and businessman—always in demand in the entertainment business as much for his authentic and committed performances as for his matinee idol good looks—had recently made the conscious decision to focus on making quality films. 

While his plate was never empty, with constant projects running the gamut from soaps, TV commercials, events and online engagements, and other business opportunities, he was looking to do more work for and on the big screen. After all, it’s been years since his last couple of movies; The Girl in the Orange Dress in 2018, and the surfing film Siargao the year before. He began compiling a list of writers, producers, directors he wanted to work with and prayed to God that the right project would come along.

“’Hello, do you want to play Quezon?’ Rosales quoted Tarog as saying in that phone call. ‘Okay ka lang ba na sasaluhin mo yung role?’” Tarog was referring to the fact that President Quezon was last played in Goyo, Ang Batang Heneral, the second of his trilogy of Filipino historical films, by TJ Trinidad. Rosales said he didn’t care. It was an easy yes.

Today, as we inch closer to the release date of the third and final installment of Tarog’s so-called “Bayani-verse” in October, the public is waiting to see a new and completely different side to Rosales. The fortysomething actor has been a staple of Philippine entertainment for close to three decades, starting out as a winner of the aptly titled “Mr. Pogi” contest on Eat Bulaga and eventually expanding his resume with various stints in multiple aspects of the entertainment business. Through it all he's been one of the biggest and most recognizable faces in Philippine entertainment.

But despite the countless interviews and magazine profiles over the years, few people can claim to know who the real Rosales is. It’s a phenomenon that reminded us of arguably the most famous of Belgian artist Rene Magritte’s paintings. In "The Son of Man,” Magritte shows us the portrait of a man wearing a suit, a red tie, and a bowler hat against the backdrop of a cloudy gray sky and muted blue water. But the man’s face is obscured by a green apple, with only his eyes barely peeking out. The artist himself said it was an exploration of that which is visible but hidden, and a desire to see what’s concealed just beneath the surface.

In our attempt to explore the depths of Rosales’ personhood, we enlisted the help of his colleague and friend, Mon Confiado. The veteran actor also stars in Quezon playing Emilio Aguinaldo, which is a role he has played in both Heneral Luna and Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral. In this intimate and freewheeling conversation, Rosales and Confiado talk about the craft of acting, how they prepared for the roles in the upcoming film, and how the industry has helped shape who they are today.

JR: Did you find it challenging playing the role of Aguinaldo thrice? 

MC: Challenging talaga sa akin. Noong una pa lang, noong naging blockbuster ang Heneral Luna, nagte-theater tour kami ni John Arcilla. Nagugulat ako kasi may pagka-kontrabida ang karakter ni Aguinaldo. Pero yung mga tao, yumayakap sa akin, nagpapasalamat, umiiyak sa cinema after the screening. “Pinapatay mo si Luna! Pero pa-picture!” (Laughs) Ang challenge lang talaga sa akin ay, although parehong Aguinaldo ang role ko, iba-iba ang (acting) na kailangang ibigay sa bawat pelikula. 

MC: Ikaw naman, ano ang challenge sa 'yo doing Manuel Luis Quezon?

JR: First of all, I did not expect that I would be playing the president.

I have a story. I went to this gallery-slash-antique shop noong pandemic. Meron akong nakitang bust, ulo ng isang tao. Tinitingnan ko siya. Galit siya. Nakasigaw siya. (Sabi ko sa sarili ko), galit na galit naman ito. So medyo naintriga ako sa kanya. Pero ‘yung energy niya, parang it was too much for me. And then, fast forward, bumalik ako dun sa antique shop, nilapitan ko siya. Nag-lock kami ng eyes. And then I realized si Manuel Quezon ‘yun. Pare, as in five meters away from me. Nakatingin siya. Nakasigaw siya. It was a bust made by Graciano T. Nepomuceno. I held the head, it was this big. I said, “I'm bringing you home,” not knowing that this is the guy I'm going to play next. 

Binili ko siya, dinala ko sa bahay. And then katabi nun, ‘yung ulo ko kasi gumawa sila ng bust ko for the prosthetics. It's that energy na nilagay ko doon sa sarili ko as Manuel L. Quezon. I realized that this is what it feels like to have this much passion, this much rage, this much love, energy, and desire. Kasi pagkatapos natin mag-shoot, as in parang gumaan ang loob ko. Iba yung feeling. Parang gano'n.

MC: It's hard to play someone from 125 plus years ago.

JR: The amount of research na ginawa natin for that (was no joke). I'm sure you did your research in the very first one. For me, it was like, saan tayo magte-takeoff dito? Because Jerrold had written a specific time sa script natin—Quezon was already the Senate President and then becoming the first President of the Commonwealth. So, ang dami ng laman ng pagkatao niya. Doon ako pumunta sa research. It was heavy. Meron akong mga moments aside from the preparation. Paano siya maglakad. Ano ‘yung decision natin sa prosthetics? Ano ‘yung tatanggalin natin, ano yung iki-keep? Until I was shooting na...  

MC: During our shoot, si Quezon talaga ang tingin ko sa 'yo. Kasi, yung boses mo, yung mannerisms, yung nuances, lahat in-absorb mo eh.

JR: Kailangan eh. Naalala ko nung reading natin, I was very shy because there were about 25 actors, I think. Plus, andun si Iain Glen. But I had to be in character when I read the lines. 

MC: Reading pa lang, pinatayo mo na kami.

JR: I had voices in my head na, ‘Kailangan ba ganyan na kaagad? Eh, reading pa lang naman ‘to?’ But I had to practice kasi we were given two months. So kailangan ko i-practice kung paano siya magsalita. Kasi iba talaga siya magsalita eh—’yung tone, ‘yung voice. Yung asta niya. Kailangan nandoon sa mix. So it was a lot of muscle memory. A lot of watching videos and reviewing the materials provided by TBA. Asking the people who had connections with him. And then just absorb everything that I can. But after ng shoot natin… [sighs]

MC: Ang hirap bitawan. Parang sometimes nadadala mo pa rin. Minsan, ganon ka pa rin magsalita.

JR: So pagpag to the max. But I was really, really happy. If you ask me to do that now, be Manuel… it's such a big thing na parang, teka lang… [Chuckles]

MC: How was it working with Direk Jerrold?

JR: I love working with him because he knows what he wants and he's very clear as a leader. And being a musician, director, and writer—buo lahat sa isip niya eh. Wala na lang akong masyadong ma-adlib. E maloko ako sa set eh. (Laughs.) One time, I dared to joke around. (Nag-adlib ako). Kasama ko si Romnick (Sarmenta). Of course, everyone laughed, but in (Jerrold’s) head, he was like, “Wait, what happened? What was that? Where did that line come from?” But you know, alam niya na talaga ‘yung gusto niya. He is such a good leader. He goes to war prepared. He loves his people. He loves the actors. He loves the material like it's his own baby. He was very clear, so all I had to do was mind my homework so I get to the set prepared.  

MC: I remember during our shoot of Heneral Luna, may music sa isip niya eh. May beat. Nagkukumpas siya. Itotono ka niya. Kaya even ‘yung delivery ng lines ko, parang nakabase sa beat ng music ni Direk Jerrold. 

Before kami mag-shoot ng Goyo: Ang Batang General, sinabihan niya ako, “Kailangan mong magpapayat dito. Kasi maglalakad kayo ng napakahaba, magmula sa Dagupan hanggang Ilocos nang hindi kayo kumakain ng dalawang buwan. Tubo lang. Nagpapayat ako; I lost almost 40 pounds.

Dito sa Quezon, ganun din, tinotono niya ako. This was after 10 years, so iba na si Aguinaldo. Iba na ulit ang beat nya. 

JR: I remember him being very, very patient. Kasi I would be called at 4 a.m. or 5 a.m. As night owls, siyempre minsan kulang ang tulog ko. Pag kulang ang tulog ko, minsan parang kahit kabisado ko ang lines nahuhulog ang mga salita, di ba? And then, hindi ko masakyan ‘yung hinihingi niyang kumpas. But I remember him just being very, very patient and just chill.

MC: Hindi nagagalit, no?

JR: Hindi siya nagagalit. Never ko siya nakitang nagalit. And I love that about a director, you know. Cool na cool lang. Hindi tayo nate-tense. As a leader, he sets the tone. 

MC: Ang isang nakakatuwa dito sa Quezon, meron tayong import na Hollywood actor, si Sir Iain Glen. How was your experience working with him?

JR: In a nutshell, working with Sir Iain Glenn was like working with a five-star general. Sometimes we have bad habits. And you see someone who's very, very professional na kita mo talaga yung discipline niya as an actor. He goes to the set prepared, he knows the lines very, very well, and he's excited.

May isang bagay na gustong-gusto ako about him: he does not watch himself on the monitor. He hates seeing himself sa monitor. It reminds me of myself when I was a lot younger; ayokong tinitingnan ang sarili ko sa monitor para hindi ako ma-conscious, so I can be myself lang. 

(During the shoot), talagang nagbibigayan kami. Yung scenes namin parang boxing match siya eh. Kasi nag-uupakan lang kaming dalawa eh. In history, magkaaway sila. But he's so generous. He's so inspiring. He’s a high-caliber actor, pero off-cam, sobrang down-to-earth.

JR: When Heneral Luna first came out, gaano ka-excited na panoorin siya sa sinehan?

MC: To be honest, noong una, hindi ako ganun ka-excited. Kasi akala ako, ‘yung ginawa namin is “one of those” lang. Ang dami ko ng nagawang mga historical films, pero halos lahat flop. Nung binasa ko ang script, sabi ko, ang boring naman, pinagtataga lang. Pero nung pinanood namin, na-shock ako sa execution. Patay na, tinataga pa e. Ang gory.

Nung first three days ng showing, flop. Out of 120 or 140 cinemas, naging 40 na lang nationwide. So, ang lulungkot namin. Pero nung weekend, nag-pick up siya, kasi itong mga ilang nakanood, nag-post sa social media. Hanggang sa pumipick-up ulit at ibinalik sa cinemas nationwide. Six months na nagte-theater tour pa kami. Mula noon, nahilig na din ako sa history.  

Napaka-exciting gumawa ng historical film ng TBA. Maitatanong mo: Bayani ba si Luna? Bayani ba si Goyo? Bayani ba si Manuel Quezon? Interesting, di ba?

JR: Interesting, because yung pagkakasulat ng pelikula and pag-deliver ng mga actors sa mga characters, for me it's different kapag pinanood mo talaga sa big screen. At saka ‘yung pagkaka-direct at pagkaka-shot nila, larger than life ‘yung mga characters. Ganito kagiting ang ginawa nila. Ganito kabaliw yung pinagdaanan. Ganito ka-grabe yung tiniis at ipinaglaban nila.

I'm just really excited to watch Quezon with others. And I want to hear what others will say after watching the film. Yung reaction nila after. This is something beyond ticket sales. It's not just educational, but cultural, di ba? Pagka-Filipino natin, mabubuo. So that's just how proud I am, and how excited and thankful I am, not just to be a part of this film, but to actually be experiencing this whole movement. 

MC: Mararamdaman talaga nila na tao itong mga heroes natin. May mga flaws din sila. Marami rin silang kapalpakan, marami rin silang nagawang mabuti. 

JR: How different are you from Aguinaldo?

MC: Sobrang malayo. Kasi, unang-una, wala akong kahilig-hilig sa politika, personally. Wala akong involvement sa politics. So, ang layo ko kay Aguinaldo. Ang connection ko lang kay Aguinaldo talaga, pumupunta ako dun sa bahay niya, yung mansyon niya sa Kawit, Cavite. Yun lang ang paraan ko para mag-connect sa kanya.  

JR: How do you get into your character? You practice method acting, pero hindi halata. 

MC: Ayoko kasing maging OA kasi ang dami natin sa set. Pero method acting talaga ang style ko. Nagpapayat ako para dito sa role. Nakikipag-usap ako nang normal sa mga tao sa set, pero in my head, nagto-throw lines ako. Minsan nga, parang nakikipag-usap lang ako sa hangin eh. Kasi ayoko lang mag-method-method doon. 

JR: You’ve done numerous films and TV shows. It’s just unbelievable. But, who's Mon Confiado when you're not acting? Are there days when you're not shooting? (Laughs)

MC: Very minimal, to be honest. Kasi yung level ko as a character actor, ito yung tipo ng artista talaga na parang tanggap ng tanggap (ng projects). People know me as a character actor…

JR: I hate that. I hate being tagged as a character actor.

MC: Wala namang character actor. Actors lang tayo lahat.

JR: This industry should forget about the character actor tag. I have high respect sa'yo. We've worked together in Panday, Sellblock, Pacquiao: The Movie. You’re one of those actors who, number one, I get excited to work with; number two, I get intimidated to work with; and number three,  I get excited to talk to, because you bring to the set your passion. This is your life. This is you.

MC: I am an actor. To be honest, ‘yun lang talaga nakikita ko gagawin ko.

Kaya lahat ng kaya kong tanggapin, ginagawa ko. Medyo mahirap. Minsan nakakalito eh. Like yung sinashoot natin itong Quezon. Pagpunta ko sa set natin, si Aguinaldo ko. Lilipat ako sa kabilang set, ibang kontrabida ako. May isa pa kong ginagawa. Bading naman ako dun.

JR: Never ka nagpa-checkup? (Laughs.) 

MC: Maybe because I love what I'm doing. To be honest, na-inspire din ako sa mga katulad mo. Bilang matinee idol kasi, iba ang kalibre mo. Hindi lang pa-cute. Kumbaga talagang tinatrabaho mo ang bawat character, roles na ginagawa mo.

JR: Same. Kasi mahal ko siya eh. I'm very grateful kasi doon ko nalaman na mahal ko pala yung trabaho ko talaga. Hindi ako nag-college eh. Sabi ko, hindi ko alam kung ano yung course ko na gusto kong kunin. Aside from wala kami pang matrikula. But, when I became an actor, doon ko na na-realize na ito pala ang gusto kong gawin. Every project, we're studying, we're learning new things. Kailangan mong maging mathematician, eskultor, manunulat, sportsman. You have to imbibe the character physically and mentally. So, it's like a full package. And you get paid, and you get to inspire people. I think that you're so lucky when you find a job that you really, really love. 

MC: Matinee idol ka. Sikat na sikat ka. But when you make certain decisions for your career, naba-bash ka. Do you get affected?

JR: The honest answer is siyempre, hindi naman tayo bingi eh. Tao lang tayo. Pero I guess with experience, you’d realize that the most reliable, efficient, dependable actors are the ones who know themselves. I would get affected, but over the years, I've learned acceptance. This is the nature of our job. This is who I am. I spent a lot of time and effort na kilalanin ko ang sarili ko. And I just love my job so much.

JR: I used to hate so many things about my job because hindi ko pinagbibigyan yung sarili ko. Lahat ng ine-expect ko na mangyari sa sarili ko, inaasa ko sa soap opera. Kasi yun ang mundo ko e. Pag matinee idol ka, kasama ka sa isang love team, ‘yun na lang ang ginagawa mo paulit-ulit. Love stories There's nothing wrong with that. But there's also the stage. There’re commercials. There's also film, which I love so much. So ‘yung film dreams ko, binubuhos ko sa isang area ng industry natin. So nagkakaroon ako ng sobrang daming frustrations. Bakit ganito? Bakit ganyan? 

Fast forward… I spent 40 years getting to know myself and up to now, I'm still getting to know myself. But I'm enjoying the process. Now I’ve accepted it. I understand na soap opera is soap opera. Stage is stage. Ads are ads. Series are series. And films are films. Magkakaibang media yan. So nung pinagbigyan ko ang sarili ko, I’m going to do film, sumaya na ako.  

Tanggap ko na ang nature ng soap. Pwede ako mag-soap ulit ‘pag may time at kung gusto ko. Pwede ako mag-stage ulit kung gusto ko. Pero ngayon, ang focus ko is film. I prayed to God, ito na yung plan ko. I started looking for the writers, producers, directors that I want to work with. Then biglang tumawag si Jerrold. “Hello, do you want to play Quezon? Okay ka lang ba na sasaluhin mo yung role?” I don't care! (Laughs). And it started going that way.

Mahirap ang trabaho natin. Sadly, sometimes, it's the industry that makes it hard for the actors. I think right now, we’re becoming more aware of the creatives’ needs and how this industry can become a better place. 

Kung paputok ako, ako yung sinturon ni Judas. Puputok nang sunod-sunod. Pag natapos na, next. Ayoko yung gagawin ko ang isang bagay nang  paulit-ulit. Sorry, no offense. Ganun lang talaga ako. 

Would I do MLQ again? Parang hindi na siguro. New adventures na sa susunod. I’m that type of artist na I see everything as a new adventure. 

MC: Meron ka bang dream para sa local film industry?

JR: I just wish that every creative in the industry, every person who works in front and behind the camera can see how valuable and how beautiful and how exciting this whole industry is, this job is. 

We can say, ‘sana may ganitong batas, sana may ganyang batas.’ But if no one understands how beautiful and how special a creative's life is, whether you're a photographer, cinematographer, videographer, editor, sound designer, prop guy, lightsman, hairstylist, makeup artist… (bale-wala rin ang batas). It's such a fulfilling job that should be rewarded greatly. 

MC: Ako naman ang dream ko, sana, yung market natin maging mas worldwide na. Kasi tama ka sa sinabi mo kanina. Ang gagaling ng mga Pinoy eh. Deserve natin mag worldwide market. Ang problema la talaga natin ay budget. Pero yung talent, yung galing, pagmamahal sa trabaho, nandiyan lahat eh. Kung masusuportahan talaga tayo ng gobyerno, tingin ko kayang-kaya natin na umusbong pa sa buong mundo. 

MC: Ilang years ka na sa industry and kailan ka nagsimula?

JR: Twenty-eight years. I started in Mr. Pogi, (a talent contest in Eat Bulaga). I hosted the show after that kasi isa ‘yun sa mga premyo. And then nag-workshops na ako to become an actor in ‘97, ‘98. 

MC: Nahirapan ka ba nung umpisa?

JR: It was the best gift because number one, wala kaming pera. Bilang artista hindi lang ako kumikita, may nangyayari na sa buhay ko. Meron akong isang wish dati na gusto kong mangyari sa buhay ko. Meron akong binili na notebook planner. Malagyan ko lang isang schedule yun related sa gusto kong gawin, like VTR ganyan… sobrang happy na ako. 

I remember, in-encircle ko yung date, nakalagay dun ‘Hair Asia Philippines.’ Kinuha akong model ng Hair Asia. Sobrang tuwang-tuwa na ako na may schedule ako na related sa trabaho na ito. 

Dati, pangarap kong makasama sa Ang TV. Ito yung nakakatuwa eh. Nawala yun Ang TV and pumalit dun Kaybol, Ang Bagong TV. And naging part ako ng Kaybol.

MC: Sobrang amazed ako sa'yo kasi you started from nothing. Hindi mo kinakalimutan kung paano ka nagsimula. Sabi mo nga, hindi ka nag-college. Pero ang talino mo, your personality is amazing. Grabe yung inspiration na binigay mo sa aming lahat. As a person, as an actor, as an artist. 

JR: Nothing has changed, if you ask me. And right now, we’re both chasing this endless satisfaction of being able to step into another person's life through the characters that we play. To learn from these people, enjoy this energy pag nasa set tayo. Nothing has changed. And I think we will be actors hanggang kaya natin. It's the best job. 

Interview: Mon Confiado and Jericho Rosales

Production: Esquire Philippines Team

Editor-in-Chief: Paul John Caña

Sittings Editor and Creative Direction: Igi Talao

Photography: Paul Sugano

Videography: Greeko Junio, Mig Mabanta

Grooming: EJ Caro

Stylist: Gi Gumapac

Shot on location at Art Underground, San Juan City

Special thanks to Art Underground (Tedrick Yau) and The Moment Group (Marga Buenaventura and Maita Quesada)