Ang Tanging Ina Nyong Lahat

Synopsis

With the one, big, happy family that she has, any woman would admire Ina Montecillo (de las Alas) as the embodiment of a perfect mother. But after more than thiry years of doing everything for her family, she realises she has not done anything for herself. Ina then embarks on a journey of finding her self-worth that eventually lands her to ruling as President of the Philippines.

Ina revolutionises Philippine politics by departing from the traditional image of stoic and uptight leader, and introducing her own style of leadership as a hilarious and caring mother. She gains the trust and support of the Filipino people, but her popularity and immersion in politics changes her, earning her children's disdain. In the end, Ina has to make the hardest decision of her life: whether to continue as "mother of the nation" or return to being the mother of her own children.

Plot

The film begins with Ina Montecillo (de las Alas) at the funeral of her fourth husband, Eddie (Padilla). She and her best friend Rowena (Domingo) then work as a stunt doubles for a film directed by her former employer, Bruno. Four of her children are Overseas Filipinos: her eldest, Juan (Agustin), migrated to New Zealand with his girlfriend, Jenny (Abad). Tudis (Valdez) settled in Canada, where she meets her future husband, a house painter, who in Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last Na 'To) is Troy (Rafael Rosell). Portia/Por (Evangelista) left for India after her breakup with Jeffrey (Prats), and there she joined GMA (Global Missionaries of Asia). Six to (Acueza) migrated to United Kingdom to work as a nurse.

Of her eight remaining children, Tri ( Aquino), is a law student by day and a call centre supervisor at night. Pip (Uytingco), her out gay son still pursues his dream; queuing for what he thought were auditions for PBB, a soldier gave him a bag of rice from what was actually a rolling store called Pila ng Bigasang Bayan. Seven (Magdayao), is the one in charge of her younger sibling and doing household chores. Cate (Dalrymple) has a dignity to stop everything. Shammy (Manio) is doing something bad instead of studying, but he can be a businessman. Her deaf-mute son Ten-ten (Kadooka) is very quiet while her twin daughters Connie and Sweet (Bianca and Janelle Calma) are quite naughty. Ina had her eatery business, which became bankrupt because of Rowena.

On the night of her 46th birthday, she prepared a surprise for her children, but none of them remembered. She decided to study in a university as a working student, taking on a series of odd jobs. Her first stint was as a waitress, but she was fired after removing her uniform in front of patrons due to the heat. She next decided to work in an ice plant, but she resigned after Rowena visited her. After that, she continued her studies.

Rowena and Ina went to Malacañan Palace to seek employment. They refused the positions of governess to the Presidential children (thinking it meant governor) and chambermaid (thinking it meant a selector of chandeliers), they got jobs as maids. They catch a glimpse of President Hillary Dafalong (Díaz), and they scrambled to greet her but were stopped by the Presidential Security Group. They tried and failed to speak with her several times until Ina eavesdropped on Vice-President Bill Bilyones (Durano) discussing a plot to assassinate President Dafalong. At a public function, Ina and Rowena tried to inform the President of the plan but failed because of the absent-mindedness of the crowd, and President Dafalong is killed. As a result of the sudden death of President Dafalong, Ina is forced to blow the whistle on Vice-President Bilyones, who immediately calls for a snap election in which he loses to Ina by a landslide.

While settling into her new role as President Montecillo, Ina's relations with her family become increasingly strained. Her twins, Sweet and Connie, are then kidnapped by terrorists after the girls thought they could ease things by leaving the Palace. They eventually retrieve the girls and subdue the terrorists, and Ina then decides to resign after realising the value of her family. Ina hands over the reins of power to her Vice-President, Ren Constantino (Picache) who accedes as the new President of the Philippines.

On her 47th birthday, Ina wakes up and thinks that her family forgot again. They fete her with a surprise party to also compensate for forgetting her 46th birthday. As the closing credits roll, now-President Constantino roams around her office in the Palace, looking at the official portraits of past presidents. The last portrait shows Ina as President Montecillo, surrounded by her entire family.

Cast

Sequel

In 2010, the Star Cinema once again brought the third and the last installment of Ang Tanging Ina film series starring Ai-Ai de las Alas, Eugene Domingo, Marvin Agustin, Nikki Valdez and several others including Jon Avila and Rafael Rosell who are the new cast. The film tells the life of Ina after she quit her position as the President of the Philippines without knowing that she is suffering from brain tumor and very afraid to tell it to her children.

Awards

|}