The movie 'Lakambini: Gregoria de Jesus' brings to life the story of a key female figure in the Katipunan revolution. Co-directed by Arjanmar Rebeta and Jeffrey Jeturian, it screened in local theaters and at the 2025 QCinema International Film Festival. The film marks the 150th birth anniversary of Gregoria de Jesus, emphasizing women's contributions to national liberation.
Gregoria de Jesus, known as Ka Oryang, played an active role in the Katipunan, the armed revolutionary group led by Andres Bonifacio that fought for independence from Spanish rule in the late 1800s. The film, a meta docufiction, explores her life through chapters, blending private and public histories to reposition her beyond her marriage to Bonifacio, portrayed by Rocco Nacino.
Production began in 2015 when the script was submitted to the Metro Manila Film Festival, with Jeffrey Jeturian initially directing. Funding issues halted shooting after nine days, leading to a decade-long process. Arjanmar Rebeta took over in 2018, incorporating additional research while staying true to the original intent. The result features three actresses: Lovi Poe and Elora Españo as the younger Gregoria, and Gina Pareño as the elder.
Producer Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil initiated the project in 2012, motivated by the scarcity of historical films about women. 'It’s all men: Quezon, Gomburza, Rizal, Bonifacio, Sakay, Aguinaldo,' she noted during a QCinema talkback. She sought to highlight women's roles, stating, 'Walang bayang iniluluwal na hindi katuwang ang kababaihan (No nation is born without the support of women).'
Jeturian expressed regret over the incomplete early footage but praised the final version's brilliance. Rebeta highlighted themes of injustice, linking Bonifacio's death to extrajudicial killings. Españo, who started as a bit player in 2015, emphasized ongoing injustices: 'Nangyayari pa rin siya hanggang ngayon. Patuloy pa ring may nawawala, patuloy pa ring may kawalang-hustisya.' The film serves as feminist resistance, educating on history while empowering contemporary women.