GREGORIA de Jesus, heroine of the Philippine revolution, gets immortalized on the silver screen through a film entitled Lakambini (Woman Leader) to be directed by Jeffrey Jeturian and Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil.
and Julio Nakpil (right)
The screenplay of the film, which won first prize in the 2014 Palanca Awards, is by Hall-of-Famer Rody Vera.
Referring to the recently shown Bonifacio, Ang Unang Pangulo and the upcoming Heneral Luna, Ongkeko-Marfil says, “We are excited to be making this history-themed film, and we’re glad the genre is enjoying a resurgence lately. We hope to contribute to the effort of reaching out to the younger generation.”
Known as the “Mother of the Philippine Revolution,” Gregoria de Jesus who is celebrating her 140th birth anniversary this year, was Andres Bonifacio’s wife. Oryang, as she is nicknamed, fulfilled many sensitive and dangerous missions for the organization. When she entered the Katipunan, she took the symbolic name of Lakambini. She was entrusted the important work of guarding the Katipunan’s documents, seals, paraphernalia and revolvers. After the death of Andres through execution, Oryang found love again in the person of another Katipunero, commander-musician and Bonifacio’s trusted aide Julio Nakpil.
Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil (below)
The seeds of the film were planted in 2012 when Ellen contacted Rody to write a script about the life story of Oryang. Serendipitously, Gregoria’s London-based granddaughter Jamie Oakes, a friend of both Ellen and Rody, was visiting Manila and she brought them immediately to Bahay-Nakpil to do research.
The screenplay is based on information culled from historical documents, and interviews with various descendants whose fondest memories of their Lola Gorya included her cooking. The film traces her story from her adventures with Andres to her married life with Nakpil, as she mixes ingredients of various dishes she prepared daily for her family.
“Through this, we hope to unravel the secrets of our history, and hopefully, the secret to our future,” adds Direk Ellen who elaborates that she was motivated to bring Oryang’s bio to the big screen because it is a story that needs to be told. “I thought that this is one perspective that has not been fully threshed out, one story that has not had closure,” she explains.
The creative team includes musical director Lutgardo Labad who made the scores for acclaimed films Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kay Ngayon?, Ang Tatay Kong Nanay, Bona, and Magnifico, and award-winning cinematographer Neil Daza.
In spite of his busy schedule as a TV and movie director, Direk Jeffrey accepted Direk Ellen’s offer to collaborate because of the script and the nature of the project. He declares, “It’s going to be my first historical film. It’s not everyday that you get hold of a story like this that has a big value in terms of nation building and civic consciousness.”
To be produced by Erasto Films, Lakambini is currently in its pre-production stage and will begin principal photography by the first quarter of 2015. This early, the film has gotten support from the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW). In a statement, PCW Executive Director Emmeline Versoza said, “PCW is one with Erasto….it is high time to highlight the roles and contributions of women in the records of Philippine her story through film.”