President Manuel Quezon’s Open Door Policy Tackled In Critically- Acclaimed Film “Quezon’s Game”

Actor David Bianco (leftmost), playing Dwight Eisenhower in the movie, with Philippine Consul General to Chicago Gina Jamoralin (second from left) and the Filipino-American community in Illinois who watched “Quezon’s Game”. (Chicago PCG photo)

CHICAGO 19 February 2020 – President Manuel L. Quezon’s heroic gesture in trying to rescue 10,000 Jews fleeing the atrocities of the Nazi regime in late 1930s, by his “Open Door” policy towards the Jewish refugees was immortalized  in the movie, “Quezon’s Game” which began its United States and Canada theatrical rollout last January 24.

Winner of 25 international film awards and first released in the Philippines in May 2019, the movie narrated the story, once forgotten, on how President Quezon was able to save 1,200 Jews by opening the country’s doors to the refugees, challenging the initial resistance of the United States government which at that time still maintained the Philippines as a commonwealth state in preparation for the United States granting full independence.

Philippine Consul General to Chicago Gina Jamoralin watched the screening of the movie at Century 16 Deer Park in Illinois on February 15 and met actor, David Bianco who also came to watch the movie and greet movie audience.

Quezon was played by Filipino actor, Raymond Bagatsing while then young United States Army Colonel and military aide to Quezon and future president, Dwight Eisenhower, was played by Illinois-based American actor, David Bianco. David’s wife, Jenny Bianco, a Filipino-American, played Mamie Eisenhower.

A Star Cinema/ABS-CBN Film production, “Quezon’s Game” won “Awards of Excellence” for Lead Actor, Direction, Asian Film, Cinematography, and Original Score at the 2019 IndieFest Film Awards  as well as  in other international film festivals such as the 2019 World Fest-Houston International Film & Video Festival,  2019 Cinema World Fest Annual Gala, 2018 Cinema World Fest Awards, 2019 Accolade Global Film Competition, 2019 Near Nazareth Festival, 2019 Maryland International Film Festival, and UK’s 2019 Ramsgate International Film and TV Festival. The movie was directed by Matthew Rosen and written by Janice Perez and Dean Rosen.

The movie is a must-see by all freedom-loving Filipinos and Americans who will be deeply moved by President’ Quezon’s humanity and generosity towards the Jewish refugees facing discrimination and persecution by the Nazis. More Jewish refugees could have reached the Philippines if the Japanese forces had not invaded and occupied the Philippines in 1941 which forced President Quezon and his cabinet to move to the United States to lead a government-in-exile.  President Quezon died of tuberculosis in 1944 in New York, two years before the Philippines was finally granted its full independence by the United States.  

“Quezon’s Game” will run at Century 16 Deer Park, Illinois until 20 February 2020. END

Actor David Bianco (sixth from left), playing Dwight Eisenhower in the movie, with Philippine Consul General to Chicago Gina Jamoralin (fifth from left) and the Filipino-American community in Illinois who watched “Quezon’s Game”. (Jason Dela Rosa photo)

For more information, visit https://www.chicagopcg.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.chicagopcg.com or https://www.facebook.com/PHinChicago/.