Lakambini: Gregoria de Jesus

Lovi Poe, Flora Espano, Gina Pareno,
Rocco Nacino, Paulo Avelino

"Walang lihim na 'di nahahayag ..."

The Red Carpet Cinema 3
Edsa Shangri-la Mall

On any normal day, you won't find me sitting in a cinema watching locally produced films. But surely, once in a blue moon, I would make exceptions. Mostly, my preference veers towards history themed movies. 

Because you see, I grew up abroad where the only concept of anything Filipino is to attend June 12 (our Independence Day) activities which required wearing a Filipiniana outfit, eating Filipino food, and mingling with other Filipinos. In the distant past, we (my sister and I) even performed at a program showcasing our rich cultural heritage by dancing a folk dance called Pandanggo sa Ilaw. I was about 11 years old, garbed in a local attire which was very itchy and gave a perfunctory rendition. 

But I digress. Back to "Lakambini", an autobiographical narration of the life of Gregoria de Jesus, the wife of our hero, Supremo Andres Bonifacio. Her life is presented through a documentary and movie type. She is portrayed by three different (in acting style, in physical appearance) highly talented actresses. Depicting Oryang (as she is fondly called) during the various phases of her colorful and well lived life. Her post Bonifacio (after he was killed) and active role in the Katipunan and the revolution. As well as the last chapter of life as an aged heroine married to Julio Nakpil, musician/composer and a distinguished Katipunan general.

First, a brief backgrounder on the making of this docufiction. It was first started in 2015 to be included in that year's Metro Manila film festival. Shooting merely for 9 days, the donors backed out of the project after it was not picked for the MMFF. For 10 long years, the film was up in the air as the original creative producers scouted for sponsors. The hybrid "finished" product was weaved together with interviews of historians, some of her descendants, and the producers recounting their struggles during the actual filming along with the movie form with real actors and actresses portraying the myriad of personalites like Bonifacio, Nakpil, Josephine Bracken and even the Rizal sisters among others. A fitting tribute to mark the 150th anniversary of Gregoria de Jesus' birth in 2025 to make sure that her heroism is not merely a footnote in our history.

So the question remains "Was I as a Filipino history 'newbie' satisfied with this narration about Gregoria de Jesus? Well my answer is both. Yes and No.  Hear me out.

Yes, because it is rare that the audience is given a glimpse into the life of a female Filipino heroine. Most film tend to glorify our male heroes, with women merely in supporting roles or worse with no speaking lines, at all. Believe it or not, even in this day and age, we still live in a patriarchal society where women don't get enough recognition for their roles in the course of nation building. So even if this tribute to Oryang looks hodge podge with its non linear style of combining reel and fiction with actual footage of conversations with notable personalities, it is innovative and commendable to feature genuine role models for women to emulate. 

As for the negative aspect,  I believe there was not much depth and it lacked substance for me to form a valid opinion about Gregoria de Jesus. Don't get me wrong, I'm not diminishing her significant role in Philippine history. Just that perhaps, it might be better if it was a full length movie with a nice blend of fiction coupled with straight forward historical accuracy. A definitive account of the life and times of Gregoria de Jesus.