Pepe Diokno's film "GomBurZa," starring Enchong Dee, Dante Rivero, and Cedrick Juan, will ignite patriotism in every Filipino when it premieres at the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival on Dec. 25.

During the film's grand media conference held at the TV5 Media Center on Nov. 13, Enchong, who will portray the role of Padre Jacinto Zamora, one of three Filipino priests executed allegedly for orchestrating the Cavite mutiny in 1872, shared that doing the film made him more patriotic.

"I can say that I'm so proud to be a Filipino. I love this country, I would fight for this country. And if my way of saying that to people and my way of inspiring other people to love this country more is through my films, then I would gladly take it, and I will gladly take more projects," he said.

Enchong loves that this film shares a piece of Philippine history with the younger generation.

"I am so happy that I get to share this film and show it to the younger generation and be like, kapag minahal niyo yung bansa natin, mas malaking yung chance natin na palakihin yung antas ng bansa natin. So I hope after watching this film more Filipinos will love our country," he added.

(I am so happy that I get to share this film and show it to the younger generation and be like when you love our country, we have a greater chance to increase the level of our country, so I hope after watching this film more Filipinos will love our country)

Co-actors Dante Rivero and Cedrick Juan said that portraying the historical priests inspired them to tell the true story and experience of GomBurZa.

"Yung nagpa-alab po sa akin ay yung katotohanan na maikwento ang pagkamatay nung tatlo pari," Dante said.

(What ignited me was the fact that the death of the three priests could be told)

"Nag-alab sa akin yung parte na may chance pala, pwede pala na kahit hindi ka kilala na makaland ka ng role na pinapangarap mo or like such a significant role lalo na hindi lang siya fictional character, lalo na ay nasa history natin, dun ko naisip na it's more than just that, the film shows nationalism," Cedrick said.

(The part that ignited me is that there is a chance, even if you don't know it, you can be given the role you dream of or like such a significant role, especially since he is not just a fictional character, especially in our history. That's when I thought it was more than just that. The film shows nationalism)

Director Pepe Diokno said maintaining the film's historical accuracy took them into a more extensive dive into the history of three priests while focusing on their creative freedom in projecting scenes with more intense drama.

"There was space for us to experiment and have some creative license when it comes to storytelling,” the director said.

Dubbed the biggest historical film of the new decade, ‘GOMBURZA’ is set to reawaken the Filipinos’ burning passion for national justice, equality, truth, and independence as it presents a cinematic presentation of the fateful lives and martyrdom of the three Catholic priests – Fr. Mariano Gomes, Fr. Jose Burgos, and Fr. Jacinto Zamora (GOMBURZA).

The story revolves around the time when Padre Pedro Peláez (played by Piolo Pascual) began and led the secularization movement. Through this movement, the priests inspired the educated middle class as well as the liberal intellectuals and students, including the brother of Jose Rizal, Paciano Mercado (portrayed by Elijah Canlas). The advocacy for the Filipinization of the Church continued despite the execution of Gomes, Burgos, and Zamora as their death never silenced the enlightened.

The GOMBURZA execution in 1872 was the inspiration of Jose Rizal in writing his novel ‘El Filibusterismo,’ and also sparked the Philippine Revolution that was led by Andres Bonifacio and the Katipunan. National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquín even said, “If there is a date we can designate as the beginning of a nationalist consciousness, it is February 17, 1872.”

This historical drama, aside from three lead actors, brings together a powerhouse cast with outstanding actors and actresses who will make their mark in their special roles: Pascual, Canlas, Khalil Ramos, Ketchup Eusebio, Epy Quizon, Jaime Fabregas, Tommy Alejandrino, Neil Sese, Arnold Reyes, Nanding Josef, Paolo O’Hara, Sue Prado, Carlitos Siguion-Reyna, Sheenly Gener, Elora Españo, and more.

The film is also the second collaboration of Diokno with multi-awarded cinematographer Carlo Canlas Mendoza.

Catch this historical epic in cinemas nationwide! “GOMBURZA” opens on Dec. 25, as an official entry to the 49th Metro Manila Film Festival.