Emilio Jacinto’s descendants find pride and pain in watching 'Pingkian: Isang Musikal'

When "Pingkian: Isang Musikal" returned to the stage this September, audiences were transported to the turbulent final years of the Philippine Revolution through the eyes of Emilio Jacinto, who eventually earned the nickname the Brains of the Katipunan.

For most of the audiences, it was history brought to life. 

For two people in the crowd, it was also a deeply personal homecoming.

Melissa Galauran, 50, and her cousin Marvin Dona, 51, are fifth-generation descendants of Jacinto. Watching their ancestor’s life unfold in music and story left them both proud and in tears.

According to Melissa, she was so overwhelmed as she remembered her grandparents who were Katipunan members. She broke down during the scenes that portrayed Catalina de Jesus, Jacinto’s partner, she said.

“Naiyak ako kasi yung tungkol kay Catalina de Jesus… Kasi masaklap yung nangyari sa kanya after ng pagkamatay ni Emilio Jacinto kasi nagpalit sila ng pangalan,” she explained.

(Yes, I cried because of the story of Catalina de Jesus… because what happened to her after Emilio Jacinto’s death was painful, since they had to change their names.)

Their family, she said, had to alter surnames to survive during those years of upheaval — Jacinto became Galauran, Jesus became Acab, Agustin became Aquino.

“Kaya malaking bagay po ito, na pinalabas po ng Tanghalang Pilipino. Kasi naalala rin si Lolo.”

(This is a big thing that Tanghalang Pilipino staged this. Because it brings back the memory of our grandfather.)

Meanwhile for Marvin, the show was more than a theatrical masterpiece. It was a public tribute to a life their family has long carried in memory.

“Nagpapasalamat kami siyempre sa pagbigay-pugay sa pagbabalik yung buhay ng aming ninuno,” he said.

(We are thankful, of course, for honoring and bringing back the life of our ancestor.)

He pointed to Jacinto’s Kartilya ng Katipunan as proof of his vision’s lasting relevance.

“At saka yung Kartilya talaga, kung nabasa niyo talagang hanggang sa ngayon nakikita pa rin natin nangyayari,” Marvin added.

(And the Kartilya, if you read it, you’ll see that it still speaks to our reality today.”)

Marvin highlighted that "Pingkian" was not only a remembrance of sacrifice but also a call to live by the principles he fought for.

“Yung possibilities niya. At yung sinasabi  na ang tao, pantay-patay tayo lahat,” Marvin said. “Sa iba, may higit sa mayaman sila. Yung iba, maitim, maputi. Pero lahat, pantay-patay tayo. Tao tayo lahat.”

(The possibilities of it, and how it shows that all people are equal. Some may be richer, some darker or fairer, but we are all equal. We are all human.)

Melissa echoed the same belief, quoting a line from the musical itself.

“Ang himagsikan niya ay nasa loob. Kaya kung gusto niyong mahalin ang bayan niyo at maging maayos ang bayan natin, manood kayo. Kasi dito mabubuhay natin ulit ang kartilya ng Katipunan, yung pinaglaban ng mga ninuno natin.”

(The revolution is within. So if you want to love our country and help build a better nation, watch this. Because here, we bring to life again the Kartilya ng Katipunan, what our ancestors fought for.”)

For Melissa and Marvin, the curtain did not simply close on a performance. It closed on a memory rekindled, a legacy reaffirmed, and a promise that Jacinto’s fight for equality and justice will not be forgotten, as long as his descendants and fellow Filipinos continue to keep his light alive.

Following a sold-out debut and sweeping wins at the 2024 Aliw Awards, "Pingkian: Isang Musikal" officially returned at the Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez in the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex, Pasay City. 

Written by Palanca Award-winner Juan Ekis, with music by Gawad Buhay-recognized composer Ejay Yatco and directed by theater stalwart Jenny Jamora, "Pingkian" delivers a riveting portrayal of Jacinto’s passion, ideals, and ultimate sacrifice in pursuit of Filipino freedom. The musical explores the complexities of youth, leadership, and nationhood in the final years of the Philippine Revolution and the early stages of the Philippine-American War.

At the heart of the musical is actor Vic Robinson, reprising his critically acclaimed role as Emilio Jacinto, also known by his nom de guerre “Pingkian”—a Tagalog term for a flint that sparks fire. 

Joining Robinson is a stellar ensemble: Gab Pangilinan as Catalina de Jesus and Florencio Reyes, Tex Ordoñez-De Leon as Josefa Dizon, Kakki Teodoro as Jose Rizal, and Paw Castillo as Andres Bonifacio, with Almond Bolante, Joshua Cadeliña, and Marco Viaña rounding out the principal cast. — LA, GMA Integrated News