Romeo Jay C.

Pragacha II BS Economics

2009-64098 Film 12

Ang Tanging Ina Mo, Last na ‘to!

When once upon a time, the name Ina Montecillo ringed a bell of comedy to

every Filipino who has watched the first and second ‘Ang Tanging Ina Mo’ instalment, it is suit

to say that things have not been the same after the 2010 Metro Manila Film Festival; that is,

people will remember the well-loved ‘Ang Tanging Ina Mo’ trilogy in the history of Philippine

cinema in a whole new blend.

Taking a turn based on personal experience, I may be frank too on saying I wasn’t

made ‘happy’ by the movie as much as its first two instalment had, (that of course do not

indicate any decadence of the movie’s entertainment value) but neither does it make me a liar.

What may have seem different on the third instalment that I saw was that the movie diverged

from what traditions expected on it – that it be a full hard comedy.

The breed this third instalment generated was actually one that is both

melodramatic (which can explain the main character’s having won the Best Actress) and comic,

and popular. I use the term melodramatic in that I saw how actors and their acts flew from their

usual parody on screen on reflecting their comic nature. The acting performances were excitingly

serious, i.e., does it take a genius to notice the actor’s brilliance when they effectively depicted

their scene. Worthy of mention is their scene, and I am talking of Ina’s 12 children here, wherein

they “pretend” to have loved each other after Ina’s plea that they be in good terms. Effectively

acting to portray an unsatisfactory act within that act, and balancing their emotions enough to

get the audience believing it is meritorious.

 The comic element of the movie has of course retained itself but not in as much

volume and potency as that on the first and second instalment of the ‘Ang Tanging Ina Mo,’ (and

especially on the second instalment). On this third sequel, I noticed that jokes and humour in

lines didn’t went as much. Also, some of the “punch lines” of the movie didn’t flew well. A joke

can flunk, and it’s easy to tell when there were a number of punch lines thrown in the movie but

the audience would not even smile. But the huge overall efforts in the movie to make people

laugh makes it deserving of being called relegated a comedy.

Popularity is expected when one hears the name of some of biggest actors and

actresses play comedy here in the Philippines. The incorporation of many huge stars, albeit most

who played only very minor roles, may explain in part the huge audience the movie gathered.

And this is good, as for producers who are always into profit, whatever that makes the movie’s

gross sales bigger is better.

I however find this putting of excessive roles to make appearances of popular

stars counterintuitive to the movie’s aim to be better per se. For one, I find a lot of scenes

disjointed from one another. Maybe these were so because there is a lot that the movie has to tell

and cannot contain everything in one going. But I guess the effect has been that a lot of people

and things have been shown on each scene but the overall scenes were prematurely concluded,

i.e., jokes may have been delivered better and the ideas, conveyed better.

As for the plot and the story, the movie has all-in-all been great. The film makers

have succeeded to impart to the audience how they chose the ending instalment of the ‘Ang

Tanging Ina Mo’ to be, which is to be one that is deep and reminiscent, just like all farewells.

The most brilliant thing about the story, that makes itself quickly apparent, is that the film has

made its story grow from what has been on the previous sequels.
 I think however that the story may been proven committed to its coherence when

Ina died in the end, but not of course with everyone crying; the earlier parts of the movie has

shown capability of creating humours in even fragile situations and themes such as poverty,

illness, envy, even wrath.

Ai-Ai delas Alas’ having won as the best actress for playing the role of Ina

Montecillo may be judged fair. In the end, the choice of the jurors of the film festival takes the

final toll on whose acting is best. Of course each jurors have their own preferences and methods

of appreciating movie act. For me, say, the standards I set when choosing an act deserving of a

Best Actress award is that when the actress has been able to match or can at least be compared to

the Julianne Moore’s ‘Shame on you’ act in the 1999 movie Magnolia. But Ai-Ai’s Ina

Montecillo may never at helm of this, only comparable to Cobie Smulders’ character Robin

Scherbatsky in the hit US TV series How I Met Your Mother. But between Ai-Ai and her biggest

rival for the award, Kris Aquino, I must grant Ai-Ai the title of having performed best from

among the nominees for best actress at the 2010 MMFF. And believe me, Ai-Ai over Kris in a

million way possible.

Now that the sensational ‘Ang Tanging Ina Mo’ trilogy has been completed, it has

also been concluded to an end. People and Filipinos in all ages may judge the movie differently.

In our case, it can be safe to declare that it’s worthy being a part of the definition of what we call

Philippine cinema. And true enough, movies like these are what sustains the local industry – it

proved to be the kind that viewers demand. It is a common hope that advancement on these genre

in Philippine cinema may be put in advance, and that lessons can become learned to stand as

cornerstone for improvement. Long live the Philippine Cinema!