Publisher's Note

Publisher’s Note
by CK May is the month of flowers not just in the Philippines but also here in Calgary. A lot of my neighbors have done their spring cleaning and unfortunately I cannot cope up with them. I remember that during this time of the year my husband, Hank gets busier day by day. He takes care [...]
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37th MMFF’s biggest winner, Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last Na ‘To)

37th MMFF’s biggest winner, Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last Na ‘To), to screen in 3 Canadian cities this January
Star Cinema’s Best Picture entry is also among filmfest’s top-grossers

Toronto, Canada, January 3, 2011 – ABS-CBN Canada is starting the New Year with a big bang, bringing to the Greater Toronto Area and Calgary on January 7, the most awarded entry to the 37th Metro Manila Film Festival: Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last Na ‘To), the third and final (supposedly) installment of the Tanging Ina (The Special Mother; The Only Mother) franchise from ABS-CBN’s Star Cinema. The film bagged 7 of the 21 awards handed out at the “Gabi ng Parangal” (Awards Night) last December 26 held at the Meralco Theater in Pasig City, Philippines.

Comedy Queen Ai-Ai delas Alas was named Best Actress for reprising the role of Ina Montecillo, the serial monogamist, repeatedly widowed mother of 12 children, beating Marian Rivera of Super Inday and the Golden Bibe and Carla Abellana of Shake, Rattle & Roll XII. Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last Na ‘To) also won as Best Picture and is currently among the top three entries in the box-office. Other winners from the film are Wenn Deramas for Best Director, Eugene Domingo for Best Supporting Actress, Xyriel Manabat for Best Child Performer, Best Screenplay and Best Story for Mell Del Rosario, and Best Musical Score for Jessie Lasaten. The film was also given a Special Citation, the Gender Sensitive Award.

In Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last Na ‘To), Ina Montecillo (Ai-Ai) returns after her accidental stint as President of the Philippines, seemingly enjoying life as a former president, gracing various public occasions and ceremonies and savoring the benefits that go with them. But she later finds out that such good things don’t last: she is diagnosed with a malignant tumor and given just several months to live. Her problem is how to tell her brood of 12, many of whom are experiencing their own personal crises and struggling to get along.

Ina’s eldest, Juan (Marvin Agustin), is overcome with debts. Daughter Tudis (Nikki Valdez) has marital problems. Tri (Carlo Aquino) is doing well but refuses to help his siblings as he resents being forced to be the family breadwinner during Juan’s absence. Por is gone, doing missionary work in Africa. Gay son Pip (Alwin Uytingco) discovers that he has a daughter, a result of his alcohol-induced indiscretion. Beautiful Sev (Shaina Magdayao) is getting married to a much older man who her family thinks looks like, uh, a catfish (Empoy).

Meanwhile, Ina’s reliable BFF Rowena (Eugene Domingo) is distracted by an unexpected pregnancy from her May-December love affair with Frank (Jon Avila). As Ina starts seeing look-alikes of her departed husbands, she goes into panic mode. But who can she turn to?

If the plot looks more like a tearjerker than a riotous comedy, it is because the movie will actually elicit cheers and tears from the audience. As director Wenn Deramas said, “There is nothing funny about dying so the challenge was how to present it in a hilarious way without entirely losing the seriousness of the situation.”

ABS-CBN Canada wants to start the year with a family film offering that brings loads of laughs but also hammers home a reality-based positive message about life and love for everyone. “Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last Na ‘To) captures all of those as evidenced by the reviews, box-office reception and awards it has garnered back home. This is a good New Year gift for our kapamilyain Canada.

Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last Na ‘To) will be shown in the following theaters and cities:

From January 7-20, 2011:

CALGARY, ALBERTA
Sunridge Spectrum Cineplex
2555-32nd St NE
Calgary, AB T1Y7J6

MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO
Square One-Empire Studio 10
100 City Centre Drive
Mississauga ON L5B 2C9

SCARBOROUGH, ONTARIO
Coliseum Scarborough
300 Borough Drive,
Scarborough ON M1P 4P5

37th MMFF’s biggest winner, Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last Na ‘To)

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