MMFF’s biggest winner, Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last Na ‘To), to screen in 8 US cities this January

Jan. 3, 2011 - PRLog -- ABS-CBN International’s Starry Starry Store is starting the New Year with a big bang, bringing to U.S. shores on January 7 the most awarded entry to the 2010 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.”

“We want 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,” said Kerwin Du, ABS-CBN International’s head of theatricals. “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 gift for our kapamilya in the U.S.”

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

From January 7-13, 2011:

LOS ANGELES
Cerritos Stadium Cinema
12761 Towne Center Drive
Cerritos, CA 90701

SAN FRANCISCO
UA Stonestown Twin
501 Buckingham Way
San Francisco, CA 94132

MILPITAS
Century Great Mall
1010 Great Mall Drive
Milpitas, CA 95035

SAN DIEGO
UA Horton Plaza
475 Horton Plaza
San Diego, CA 92101

LAS VEGAS
Regal Village Square Stadium
9400 W. Sahara Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89058

SEATTLE
Regal Meridian (NEW VENUE!)
1501 7th Ave
Seattle, WA 98101

HONOLULU
Regal Dole Cannery Stadium 18
735 Iwilei Road, #B
Honolulu, HI 96817

From January 7-26:

NEW JERSEY - BERGENFIELD
Clearview Bergenfield Cinemas
58 South Washington Avenue
Bergenfield, NJ 07621
www.MovieTickets.com

For more information, please visit www.abs-cbnglobalmovies.com.  Check out also the trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJavOWccmkM



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About ABS-CBN International
ABS-CBN International was created over 15 years ago to be of service to all Filipinos. With the launch of The Filipino Channel (TFC), the company became the first and most successful Filipino broadcaster in the U.S. The company offers telecommunication, retail, theatricals, money remittance and cargo services, online audio and video streaming, IPTV, along with philanthropic support for Filipinos and the communities they now call home. Based in Redwood City, Calif., ABS-CBN International is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ABS-CBN Corporation, the Philippines’ largest entertainment and broadcasting company. For more information, visit www.abs-cbnglobal.com.