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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Movies and TV devider Congress holds special screening for filing of the Lakambini honoring women heroes

Congress holds special screening for filing of the Lakambini honoring women heroes

A historic occasion uniting film and legislation to champion women's role in nation building

Published Nov 2, 2025 08:30 am
Lakambini: Gregoria de Jesus honors the revolutionary spirit of Ka Oryang in a unique cinematic event. In photo from left, at the special Purple Carpet Premiere Screening: Creative Producer Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil; Directors Arjanmar Rebeta and Jeffrey Jeturian; cast members Gina Pareño,Rocco Nacino, and Elora Españo; National Historical Commission of the Philippines representative Rosario V. Sapitan; and Historian Xiao Chua. The movie is set to open in cinemas nationwide on Nov. 5, 2025.
Lakambini: Gregoria de Jesus honors the revolutionary spirit of Ka Oryang in a unique cinematic event. In photo from left, at the special Purple Carpet Premiere Screening: Creative Producer Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil; Directors Arjanmar Rebeta and Jeffrey Jeturian; cast members Gina Pareño,Rocco Nacino, and Elora Españo; National Historical Commission of the Philippines representative Rosario V. Sapitan; and Historian Xiao Chua. The movie is set to open in cinemas nationwide on Nov. 5, 2025.
Lawmakers are set to file the Lakambini Act of 2025, a proposed measure that seeks to institutionalize the study of Filipino women heroes in the curricula of all public and private educational institutions. The bill aims to promote historical awareness and recognize the vital role women have played in nation-building.
To mark the occasion, Congress will also hold a special screening of the film Lakambini: Gregoria de Jesús, which celebrates the courage, leadership, and contributions of Gregoria de Jesús to Philippine history.
The filing of the Lakambini Act of 2025 will be sponsored by Akbayan, led by Representatives Dadah Kiram Ismula, Jose Manuel “Chel” I. Diokno, and Percival V. Cendaña, together with fellow advocates of women’s empowerment, Dinagat Islands Representative Arlene “Kaka” J. Bag-ao, Mamamayang Liberal Representative Leila M. de Lima, and Albay 1st District Representative Cielo Krisel B. Lagman. They collectively seek its immediate passage to honor and institutionalize the study of Filipino women heroes in schools nationwide.
This milestone coincides with the 150th birth anniversary of Gregoria “Ka Oriang” de Jesús, commemorated last May 9, 2025. 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.
“Amid the noise and challenges of corruption that persist today, we are grateful for comrades who continue to believe in the power of film to shift mindsets and inspire change. This special screening and the filing of the bill are a welcome gesture that affirms how storytelling and legislation can work hand in hand to honor our women heroes and move society forward,” said Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Creative Producer of Pelikulove.
Through this collaboration, Pelikulove and its government partners commit to celebrating history through film, bridging education and storytelling, and ensuring that the legacy of our heroes, especially women heroes who remain underrecognized, continues to inspire generations of Filipinos.
“This bill honors our Filipina heroes and ensures their stories are taught to future generations. We thank Akbayan for leading this effort and for making it happen,” Ongkeko-Marfil added.
The film Lakambini: Gregoria de Jesús stars Lovi Poe, Gina Pareño, and Elora Españo as Ka Oriang, with Rocco Nacino as Andres Bonifacio. It also features the special participation of Paulo Avelino and the late Spanky Manikan as Julio Nakpil.
Based on the Palanca Award-winning script by Rody Vera, a Palanca Hall of Fame awardee, the film is brought to life by award-winning filmmaker Jeffrey Jeturian and emerging creative director Arjanmar Rebeta.
Described as a creative meta-documentary, Lakambini Gregoria De Jesus blends herstory, interviews, anecdotes from descendants and historians, the voices of artists, and an unfinished biographical film narrative first shot in 2015 into a bold new cinematic format.
More than 10 years in the making, the film reimagines the life of Gregoria de Jesús for today’s audiences.
The filing of the Lakambini Act of 2025 marks the beginning of renewed efforts to highlight Gregoria de Jesús’s enduring legacy and the continued relevance of our heroes’ stories today.
Lakambini will open in theaters nationwide on Nov. 5, 2025. For block screenings, please contact Pelikulove at [email protected].
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