Gregoria de Jesus, woman warrior, in a ‘Pinay pop musical’
Gregoria “Oryang” de Jesus (1875-1943), who would play an important role in Philippine history at the turn of the century, grew up in Caloocan as the obedient daughter of a practicing Catholic couple. Her father strongly disapproved when Andres Bonifacio—a much older widower and, on top of that, a mason—began to court her.
Nevertheless, headstrong Oryang was bent on marrying Bonifacio and her father eventually gave in, on condition that they marry in church, which they did.
Bonifacio had founded the revolutionary—and anticlerical—organization Katipunan. This time, it was the Katipunan which would object to their marriage in the Catholic Church. And so Andres and Oryang were also wed according to the rituals of the radical movement.
From then on, Gregoria de Jesus entered the mainstream of Philippine history.
Harrowing ordeal
In the landmark musical “Andres Bonifacio: Ang Dakilang Anak-Pawis” (1979) by composer Jeremiah “Jerry” Dadap, Oryang (first played by soprano Jay Valencia Glorioso and then in a recent production by soprano Bettina Icban Dadap), Oryang stood by her man.
We follow her odyssey as she accompanies Bonifacio to Cavite, the bailiwick of his rival Emilio Aguinaldo, where the pro-Bonifacio Magdiwang is ranged against the pro-Aguinaldo Magdalo.
The journey to Cavite becomes a nightmare, as Aguinaldo’s hit men assault Bonifacio and his brothers (Procopio and Ciriaco).
Oryang—as confirmed by historians—is violated by Agapito Bonjon, better known as Colonel Intong. And she spent two weeks searching—in vain—for her husband’s remains in the mountain jungles of Maragondon, Cavite.
Oryang endured all this, and emerged stronger from her harrowing ordeal.
After the war, she married musician and former Gen. Julio Nakpil, and died in March 1943 at 67 years old.
All-girl show
Comes now Tanghalang Pilipino’s “Gregoria Lakambini, a Pinay Pop Musical,” a new all-girl production that traces the transformation of Oryang from a spirited girl growing up in Caloocan to her metamorphosis as Gregoria Lakambini of the Katipunan, standing beside Bonifacio in love and through fire, revolution, and death.
The story is told through song and dance a la Bini, the P-Pop girl group now hugely popular among young audiences. Marynor Madamesila plays Gregoria, with Flip Music supplying the musical accompaniment. The story is by playwright Nicanor G. Tiongson and Eljay Castro Deldoc, with music by Nica del Rosario and Matthew Chang, and direction by Delphine Buencamino.
“Gregoria Lakambini” runs Nov. 14-Dec. 14 at the Black Box Theater (Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez), CCP Complex, Pasay City.
In historical as well as dramatic accounts, Gregoria de Jesus is often depicted in a supporting role as Bonifacio’s wife, however brave and loyal.
But now, with “Gregoria Lakambini,” she is for the first time on center stage.
