By Dennis Gorecho
All that I knew about Gregoria de Jesus is that she was the wife of revolutionary Gat Andres Bonifacio, or Mrs. Andres Bonifacio.
Then I recently saw “Lakambini: Gregoria de Jesus” when it was screened at the University of the Philippines Film Center. It is a 2025 meta-docufiction film directed by Arjanmar Rebeta and Jeffrey Jeturian.
The film is a tribute to De Jesus, also known as “Oriang,” and her role as a leader and “lakambini” (woman leader) of the Katipunan. Her life story is also featured in “Gregoria Lakambini,” a new stage musical by Tanghalang Pilipino.
Beloved by revolutionaries Andres Bonifacio and Julio Nakpil, Oriang’s quest for justice mirrors the film’s journey to reclaim the legacy of a forgotten heroine.
The meta-docufiction film premiered on November 5, 2025, and uses a unique approach by weaving fictional reenactments with the documentary footage of the original 2015 production rejected from a film festival.
The film starred Lovi Poe, Elora Espano and Gina Parreño as Oriang, Rocco Nacino as Bonifacio while Paulo Avelino and Spanky Manikan as Nakpil.
The film “Lakambini” took 12 years to finish due to many reasons, from financial to political to creative difficulties.
“That is why one of our loglines is that ‘her unfinished quest for justice mirrors our own struggle to reclaim the legacy of a heroine’; 2025-1897 = 128 years from the trial and death of the Katipunan. So 12 years is actually short,” says the film producer Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil.
Marfil added that some reasons are gender-based, some for the very reason that she is not well-known or acknowledged, oftentimes forgotten except as Mrs. Andres Bonifacio.
“Lovi, Gina and Elora — I can only thank the universe for this blessing; each of them gives a different side to our heroine,” said Marfil.
Andres was 29 and Oriang was 18 when they met in 1892 during the early years of the Katipunan and fell in love with each other.
The revolution, led by Bonifacio, exploded on August 21, 1896.
“I went through a number of adventurous experiences during the revolution. I had no fear of facing danger, not even death itself, whenever I accompanied the soldiers in battle, impelled as I was then by no other desire than to see unfurled the flag of an independent Philippines and, as I was present in and witnessed many encounters. I was considered a soldier, and to be a true one I learned how to ride, to shoot a rifle, and to manipulate other weapons which I had occasions actually to use,” De Jesus said in her autobiography “Mga Tala ng Aking Buhay.”
In her letter called “Kasulatan,” Oriang expresses bitterness over General Emilio Aguinaldo declaring himself president at the Tejeros Convention and over Bonifacio’s subsequent execution. The letter provides personal and political context surrounding the split between Bonifacio and Aguinaldo and the events leading up to Bonifacio’s death.
Bonifacio and his brother Procopio were arrested after charges of sedition, treason and conspiracy were laid against them for allegedly organizing against the revolutionary government led by Aguinaldo.
On May 9, 1897, Bonifacio was meted with death sentence and was executed the day later in the mountains of Maragondon, Cavite.
Oriang searched for his body for 30 days, even calling spirits to help her find her husband.
There was a lack of closure as Bonifacio’s body has never been found and this contributed to Oriang’s enduring sorrow, intense grief and trauma.
After the death of Bonifacio, Julio Nakpil, one of the generals of the revolution, took care of the widowed De Jesus. The two fell in love and were married on December 10, 1898. She had one son from Bonifacio and five children from Nakpil.
Together with Emilio Jacinto and Gregorio del Pilar, Oriang is one of the three heroes being commemorated this year on their 150th birth anniversary. They were all 22 years of age in the 1897 revolution.
A bill filed in Congress calls for the study of women heroes to be included in public and private education.
One of the interesting scenes was when the old Oriang heard from the radio that Emilio Aguinaldo lost to Manuel L. Quezon in the 1935 presidential election.
She chews slowly, and spits — not in anger, but in vindication. And she whispers the line from scripture, “Walang lihim na hindi mabubunyag” (Nothing concealed will not be revealed).
She spat her nganga and sarcastically smiled while crying as if it was a form of revenge on Aguinaldo’s misdeed to her life.
She brought strength to women at a time they were portrayed as weak. She had proven that in every man’s success, there is always a strong woman behind him.
While Bonifacio has been immortalized as a symbol of freedom and love of country, Oriang should likewise be remembered as a heroine and mother of the Philippine Revolution.
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“Peyups” is the moniker of the University of the Philippines.
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Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the Seafarers’ Division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan Law Offices. For comments, e-mail info@sapalovelez.com, or call 09175025./WDJ