Pure Imagination

Personal Notes On Feminist Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil, Maker Of ‘Lakambini Gregoria De Jesus’ Meta Docu

LET ME BE personal about “Lakambini Gregoria de Jesus,” the meta documentary fiction film or as the press briefs have described as “meta docufiction,” especially on Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil who creatively produced it for Pelikulove and the other director Jeffrey Jeturian.

​I have always been a follower not only of the works of Ellen but her personal events as well.

​Although I might not see her often, she is always in my heart and in my mind.

​I might not be the closest of her friends but she has always made me feel a real friend.

COMPASSIONATE WOMAN

​One of the reasons why I feel her closeness is the family she comes from.

​Being one of the daughters of the socialite ViringOngkeko, I could feel Ellen’s filial affection not only to her mom or to her sis Margie Ongkeko but to women in general.

​That makes her a magnanimous female and a compassionate woman to her society.

​I also feel an affinity with Viring who has been an active guest and participant in ballroom dancing with the music of Nonoy Lopez and His Orchestra and the crooning of Amazing Diva Armie Zuniga.

​I would always see Viring in socials, particularly ball room parties either at the Manila Polo Club or Makati Sports Club or any high-end venue whenever I would meet up with Armie.

​The lady director loves her mom so much.

In some memorable nights, Ellen and Margie would lend Viring their presence in ballroom affairs even sans dancing on the floor.

​Just to keep their mother company is quite filial of the siblings.

A RARE BOOK

It was Ellen who gave me a beautiful and rare book, “1000 Movies You Must Watch Before You Die.” 

​Ongkeko-Marfil would always show up whenever I would invite her to my events like the book launching of my Filipino version of “SekSinema” at Star Mall in Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City more than a decade ago.

​Mutually, with sincerity and candor, I would always make time to attend screenings of her directed or produced films like “Pusang-Gala,” “Boses,” to name a few. Or meet up with her for some professional linkages like marketing or booking her films although they were nipped in the bud due to unavoidable circumstances.

​And as an alumnus of UP and PETA, Ellen has always been a profound and progressive artist.

​She’s a compassionate artist who promotes, first and foremost the interest of women, in particular, Filipino women and the welfare of any community to make sense of life.  

​That must be the virtue she has imbibed in the film about Gregoria de Jesus, also known as Ka Oriang.

​The film is about the heroism of De Jesus, rarely given impetus by the collective national consciousness or simply, education in general.

CREATIVE CAREER

​Jeffrey, on the other hand, has always been supportive of my writing career.

​Jeturian and I were classmates at the very first free scriptwriting seminar-workshop in 1982 of now National Artist for Film Ricardo Lee, also known as Ricky Lee.

​Award-winning Jeff initially directed “Lakambini” but somewhere along the way, it was shelved due to many hitches, one of them the backing out of financiers when it was snubbed by the Selection Committee of the Metro Manila Film Festival 2015 saying it lacked combat scenes for an action movie which the filmmakers didn’t intend.

​Jeffrey is a genuine friend however we seldom see each other.

​To jumpstart the “Lakambini” project which takes more than one decade to complete, Pelikulove assignedanother visionary, a relatively new director, ArjanmaraRebeta who did a good damn creative job.

​”Lakambini” which stars Lovi Poe, Elora Espanoand Gina Pareno as generational Gregoria de Jesus, Rocco Nacino as Andres Bonifacio is set to open on November 5 in cinemas nationwide.