I attended the media launch of Lakambini — a film that finally puts the spotlight on Gregoria de Jesús, the Lakambini of the Katipunan, and the true Mother of the Philippine Revolution.
During the press conference, producer Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil shared her decade-long journey in producing this epic historical film — a ten-year labor of love that mirrors the perseverance of the woman whose story it tells.
The cast — Rocco Nacino, Elora Españo, and Gina Pareño — spoke passionately about portraying national heroes Andrés Bonifacio and Gregoria de Jesús, describing the experience as both humbling and transformative.
Meanwhile, directors Arjanmar H. Rebeta and Jeffrey Jeturian gave a rare look behind the scenes, explaining how the film blends history, fiction, and documentary storytelling to breathe new life into one of the country’s most misunderstood heroines.
After more than a century of being relegated to the margins of history, the revolutionary heroine Gregoria de Jesús, known as the Lakambining Katipunan, finally takes the spotlight in her own film.
The meta-docu-fiction Lakambini Gregoria de Jesús is set for release on November 5, 2025, coinciding with the 150th birth anniversary of Gregoria “Ka Oriang” de Jesús. Revered as the Lakambini of the Katipunan, she is among the three heroes honored this year by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), alongside Emilio Jacinto and Gregorio del Pilar.
The film stars Lovi Poe as Gregoria de Jesús, supported by Rocco Nacino as Andrés Bonifacio, with the special participation of the late Spanky Manikan, Paulo Avelino as Julio Nakpil, and Gina Pareño.
Lakambini is a creative blend of herstory, interviews, and archival material — including footage from an unfinished biographical film first shot in 2015. It reclaims Oriang’s place not just as a revolutionary’s wife but as a patriot, warrior, and leader, showing her courage amid colonization, betrayal, and loss.
“Gregoria de Jesús’s life is a testament to resilience and struggle,” said Producer Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil. “Her unfinished quest for justice mirrors our own ten-year battle to bring this story to the screen. Lakambini affirms that Filipino women are not just companions to heroes — they are revolutionaries themselves.”
Based on the Palanca Award-winning script by Rody Vera, the film is directed by Jeffrey Jeturian and Arjanmar H. Rebeta.
“We wanted to answer why her voice was silenced for so long,” shared Director Arjanmar H. Rebeta. “By bringing her words, poetry, and letters to life, we challenge Filipinos to see that true heroism knows no bounds. Lakambini is a cultural reawakening.”
Supported by the NHCP, Lakambini Gregoria de Jesús stands as both a cinematic and cultural milestone — finally giving the Mother of the Philippine Revolution her rightful place in the nation’s story.
Lakambini Gregoria de Jesús premieres November 5, 2025, in cinemas nationwide.
For block screenings, contact Pelikulove at pelikulove@gmail.com
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