There’s this rare vicarious feeling of nostalgia when given the chance to hear and experience a story of our country’s revolutionary era that we’ve never lived through, especially through the female lens, one who was expected to just be a traditional, meek, “all-suffering” and “all-enduring” wife and a mother during the Spanish colonization period.
Just recently, Centro De Turismo in Intramuros opened its doors for Tanghalang Pilipino to host a stripped-down, acoustic live-jam session of “Gregoria Lakambini: A Pinay Pop Musical” with its whole celebrated cast bringing pure talent and intricate storytelling told through raw vocal power and harmonies.
The fact that a story from the past is being narrated by an all-women cast through a very modern musical approach, it already made an impact on the audience and made the past resonate with a gallery of viewers of the present generation.
For someone who has not seen the production in its first run, it is easy to see that even through its music alone, this retelling didn’t minimize Gregoria “Oriang” De Jesus‘ story just as cautionary tale of a wife with a tragic love story. Instead, they amplified her story as a fully realized woman who deserves to be recognized as a hero of our country and an inspiration to women. It perfectly balanced accounts of her personal life to historical tales of her patriotism in one beautifully woven narrative, without leaving one more emphasized than the other.
If this session alone leaves the audience feeling empowered and captivated—especially women—then one can only imagine how much more of an experience we would have when this Pinay Pop vocal powerhouse finally brings this show back to a proscenium.
Written by National Artist for Literature Nicanor “Nic” Tiongson and Eljay Castro Deldoc, with the brilliant musical minds of hitmaker Nica Del Rosario and Matthew Chang—in collaboration with FlipMusic Productions—reframing the story of a historical figure and tales of her bravery through a modern Pinay girl group, bears the title of the country’s first ever Pinay Pop Musical.
Directed by Delphine Buencamino, the one-of-a-kind musical production brought a powerful cast that didn’t just capture the audience’s heart alone; their sold out shows from 2025 to 2026 have manifested into a total of 8 nominations during the 16th Philstage Gawad Buhay Awards, and went home taking four major awards, from Outstanding Book of a Musical, Outstanding Musical Score, Outstanding Female Featured Performance for a Musical for Heart Puyong, and the top award of Outstanding Musical.
The cast and creative team at the 16th Gawad Buhay Awards. Photographed by Dix Perez for Rank Magazine.
The story shifts the narrative and lens from male-centred heroes in our history to placing Oriang from margins to the center to tell her story in our history. Rather than treating her as the wife of Andres Bonifacio who supported him and the Katipunan, the musical retells her story beyond the facade of what history books say about her. Her courage and dedication for our country’s freedom played a significant role in Philippine history that deserves more than just an honorable mention.
With Oriang’s character being played by one of Tanghalang Pilipino’s powerhouses, from Best Actress winner Marynor Madamesila, along with exemplary actresses from the premier Philippine production company’s Actor’s Company like Anya Evangelista as Andres Bonifacio, Heart Puyong as Emilio Aguinaldo, Sofia Sacaguing as Julio Nakpil, Ynna Rafa and Murline Uddin as ensemble, Frances Marie as swing, and Sarah Monay as Gregoria De Jesus understudy, there’s no doubt that we’re in for a different kind of awakening.
Staging a musical with an all-female cast playing every single role already breaks the gender roles found in just about every historical revolutionary figure’s stories, where men are always portrayed as central characters.
Image courtesy of Tanghalang Pilipino.
Oriang’s journey as a revolutionary lies on the very fact that she has challenged conservative traditions and gender norms forced upon Filipino women by the colonizers. She did the opposite of what women were expected to do and became a radical image that broke free from conservative ideals and became a hero herself.
This musical perfectly weaves into the real-life stories of women who may be having their own struggles, looking for a sense of belonging, and inspiration from those who also want more—straight from the story of a woman who wanted and believed that she can do and be more.
In and of itself, seeing women in battlefields, participating in political debates, and generally taking the role of men even in this theatrical play alone already leaves women feeling empowered and men enlightened. This reinforces the very known fact that women, since then and until now, can take up space and do what men can do.
“Gregoria Lakambini” does this powerfully by hyping and empowering women who listen through the wealth of infectious beats of their pop tracks and choreographies, making everyone feel like they’re also their own modern Oriangs, fighting not just together but as one.
Image courtesy of Tanghalang Pilipino.
True to fandom culture, in the mold of P-Pop groups with their army of supporters, the show has already made the audience create a community where they can collectively relate and share thoughts. But one cannot be called a fandom without a name. Hence, the birth of the name “Lakambesties,”even going the lengths of splitting into two camps, “Team Andres” (Andres Bonifacio) and “Team Julio” (Julio Nakpil).
But beneath all these is a deeper story, especially through a political and social lens. Mirroring our current landscape, the internal conflicts told in this musical still ring true up until today. And each story serves as a call to action not just for women but for everyone.
Having experienced the live performances of “Gregoria Lakambini: A Pinay Pop Musical”, the ultimate thrill gets built up leading to an opportunity to experience the full-scale performance of this thought-provoking production on a much elevated and larger scale.
From CCP’s Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez at CCP Complex to the grand Proscenium Theater at Rockwell, Makati. Undoubtedly, ‘Gregoria Lakambini’ is an absolute unmissable must see. And may Gregoria De Jesus’ dedication for our country remind women to go beyond the barrier set for them.
Image courtesy of Tanghalang Pilipino.
The Tanghalang Pilipino 40th Season run of “Gregoria Lakambini: A Pinay Pop Musical” is set to run for three weekends only, from November 13 to 29 at Proscenium Theater, Rockwell Center, Makati.
Tickets and more details are available on Ticket2Me.
With additional text by Leo Balante
Rank Magazine is a Co-Presentor and Premier Media Partner of Tanghalang Pilipino’s 40th Season.
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