Ang Tanging Ina

Ang Tanging Ina DVD Cover
Directed by	Wenn Deramas
Produced by	Elma Madua
Written by	Mel Mendoza del Rosario Keiko Aquino
Starring	Ai-Ai de las Alas Marvin Agustin Carlo Aquino Nikki Valdez Heart Evangelista-Escudero Eugene Domingo Alwyn Uytingco Shaina Magdayao Serena Dalrymple Jiro Manio Kaye Abad Angelica Panganiban John Prats Janelle Calma Bianca Calma
Music by	Jesse Lasaten
Cinematography	Sherman So
Edited by	Vito Cajili
Production company	Star Cinema
Distributed by	Star Cinema
Release dates	May 28, 2003
Running time	95 minutes
Country	Philippines
Language	Filipino Tagalog
Box office	P600.5M

Ang Tanging Ina (lit: "The Only Mother") is a 2003 Filipino comedy film, starring Ai-Ai de las Alas and Eugene Domingo. The movie was the highest grossing Filipino film until it was surpassed by Sukob in 2006. It currently ranks No. 6 after You Changed My Life (2009), Sukob (2006), its sequel Ang Tanging Ina Ninyong Lahat (2008–2009), Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo (2006–2007), and A Very Special Love (2008). Each film was produced or co-produced by Star Cinema.

The film is followed by a television series of the same name and three sequels entitled Ang Tanging Ina N'yong Lahat, Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last na 'To!), and Enteng Ng Ina Mo.

Synopsis

With three dead husbands and twelve children to take care of, what is the modern day working mother supposed to do? Ina Montecillo (Ai-Ai de las Alas) is completely clueless on how to be an income provider and a homemaker at the same time given her dwindling finances of her household. As she desperately hides from her children her efforts to make all ends meet, her children grow resentful of her as she becomes a part of their own problems, but it seems that her best is never good enough. Funnily yet, Ina rallies her cause with all the courage she can muster to be the best mother she knows how.

Plot

Ina Montecillo (Ai-Ai de las Alas) meets Tony (Edu Manzano), whom she considers "the man of her dreams". They both have four children, but Tony dies shortly after falling from a stool. After finding a replacement father for her children, she meets Alfredo (Tonton Gutierrez), and they have four more children. Alfredo dies after falling from a pedestrian overpass, and Ina meets Kiko (Jestoni Alarcon), who fathers her other four children. On their wedding day, Kiko gets electrocuted and Ina decides to stop finding another husband.

One morning, Ina wakes up finding her children Juan (Marvin Agustin), Tudis (Nikki Valdez), Tri (Carlo Aquino), Por (Heart Evangelista), Pip (Alwyn Uytingco), Six (Marc Acueza), Seven (Shaina Magdayao), Cate (Serena Dalrymple), Shammy (Jiro Manio), Ten-Ten (Yuuki Kadooka), Connie and Sweet either troubled, problematic, panicking, fighting, or confused. Later on, she finds out that her family might go poor, and so works several jobs from construction to selling bootleg DVDs just to make ends meet.

She is reminded by Por of her début, while Juan begs her permission to let him find work. Ina agrees, but finds Juan's chores at home very confusing. Ina is told by her ex-driver Bruno, who reveals he is gay, that she can earn ₱2,000 a night at a stripper club. Meanwhile, Juan meets his high school girlfriend Jenny (Kaye Abad) working at an amusement park, where he decides to apply. Tudis quits her job and tries to pursue her desired career as an artist. Tri tries to impress his girlfriend Gretchen (Angelica Panganiban) and her parents (Pinky Amador and Mandy Ochoa) with his intelligence. Por tries to convince her crush, Jeffrey (John Prats), to be escort her at her début. Pip, who is a closeted homosexual, spies on his crush doing his exercise routine. Six invites their mother to a mass treat while Seven was assigned to lead a school programme on Bakit Natatangi Ang Aking Ina ("Why My Mother Is Unique"). Shammy becomes a victim of bullying by the Nhel's brother due to his being uncircumcised and tries to protect reputation. Pip prevents them from fighting and when Nhel arrives, he accidentally mentions that Shammy is uncircumcised, causing Shammy to hate him.

Things take a turn for the worse as Ina causes more problems for her kids: she prevents Juan from marrying Jenny, while Tudis refuses to help her in job-seeking. She exposes her life as a stripper to Tri, Gretchen, and Gretchen's parents, which causes Tri and Gretchen to split. She unsuccessfully fulfils Por's million-peso début and also learns that Pip is gay, then ruins Six's "mass treat" after thinking it was a "trick or treat" event. Seven hasn't told her of the programme yet because she doesn't want to be humiliated. Cate reveals that Ten-Ten is deaf and Shammy has a high fever after having himself circumcised by an unlicensed doctor. Finally, Ten-Ten goes missing. Ina rushes in a taxi to Shammy in hospital while still in her stripper outfit, causing her cabbie Eddie (Dennis Padilla) to fall in love with her. During their subsequent family meeting, she emotionally explains to the children that she took on several jobs not because it was her obligation, but because she loves them. Her complicated speech has the opposite effect, with Juan deciding to run away with Jenny. Rowena (Eugene Domingo) comforts the careworn Ina, who thinks of how to solve everything.

After quitting her job at the club, Ina takes a bus ride where she sees a suicide bomber in front her, alerts the passengers and tells them to evacuate while she fights the bomber. Gaining the upper hand, she is able to jump out of the bus just in time as the bomb detonates, killing only the bomber and giving her minor injuries upon landing. As news of the incident flashes on television, her family arrives at the hospital and mourns a corpse under a sheet thinking it was Ina, who emerges a few moments later in a wheelchair. She eventually fixes everything: she permits Juan, who returned, to date Jenny but not wed her; she convinces Tudis to get her job back and Gretchen to reunite with Tri; she accepts Pip's sexuality while Six forgives her; Seven finishes her programme; she forgives Shammy, who recovers from his infection, while she finds the still-deaf Ten-Ten in a local church.

Por meanwhile finally celebrates her début, and as Eddie snaps a photo of the Montecillos, the rocket in his back pocket ignites and sends him into the sky. Ina's voiceover explains that Eddie survived the explosion and they eventually married but they couldn't have anymore children after the rocket exploded in his trousers. In the end credits, the family is shown teaching Ten-Ten sign language together, so that he can communicate with the family.

Cast

• Ina Montecillo (Ai-Ai de las Alas): Ina is the wife of Alfredo, Tony, Kiko, and Eddie, and is Juan, Tudis, Tri, Por, Pip, Six, Seven, Cate, Shammy, Ten-Ten, Connie & Sweet's mother. She is Rowena's best friend. She loves her children very much, and will do anything to fulfill their desires. She has worked as a construction worker, illegal DVD seller, vendor, stripper, and other jobs you can think of. She later becomes the savior of several passengers in a bus explosion. In the end, she solves all the problems of her children, and her children becomes proud of her once more. She also marries Eddie, but they can't have another child because of Eddie being involved in a fireworks accident.
• Rowena (Eugene Domingo): Rowena is Ina's best friend. She is very supportive towards her, and will do anything to make Ina happy.
• Juan Montecillo (Marvin Agustin): Juan is Ina's first child. He has graduated from college, and is the helper of the family. When Juan reveals to his mother that he has proposed to Jenny, Ina scolds him, and he pleads Jenny to join him in escaping their families. In the end, Ina forgives him, and he and Jenny continued their relationship. Years later, they migrate to New Zealand for a new life.
• Getrudis "Tudis" Montecillo (Nikki Valdez): Tudis is Ina's second child. A college graduate, she was the only one in the family who was working. She then decides to quit her job, and pursues her desire to become an artist. In the end, she takes her job back, and is contented to be one of the helpers of her family. Years later, she migrates to Canada where she meets the man of her life.
• Dimitri "Tri" Montecillo (Carlo Aquino): Tri is Ina's third child. He is a smart student in his college, and was dating Gretchen. But when Gretchen's parents figured out his mother was a stripper, Gretchen breaks up with him. This spoils him, and decides to absent school days. In the end, Ina fixes their relationship, and he and Gretchen get back together. He also decides to continue his studies.
• Portia "Por" Montecillo (Heart Evangelista-Escudero): Por is Ina's fourth child. She has a sassy personality along with a girly flair to her nature, and also has a crush on Jeffrey. She was the one giving her mother the heaviest problem of all, for she desires the "perfect début". In the end, she had her début, with her family and friends invited. She also decides to break up with Jeffrey years later, before migrating to Dubai as a missionary.
• Tirso "Pip" Montecillo (Alwyn Uytingco): Pip is Ina's fifth child. He is secretly gay, and his family doesn't know it either. He is in love with Nhel. In the end, Ina accepts his personality, and he & Nhel begin dating.
• Sixto "Six" Montecillo (Marc Acueza): Six is Ina's sixth child. He is a smart student, and is fond of declamations and orations. When he invites his mother to a "mass treat", Ina misinterprets it as a "trick or treat" event, humiliating him. In the end, he forgives his mother. Years later, he migrates to United Kingdom to work there as a nurse.
• Severina "Seven" Montecillo (Shaina Magdayao): Seven is Ina's seventh child. She is also an intelligent student, and is very fond of essays and programs. But when she becomes the leader of a program with the theme "Bakit Natatangi Ang Aking Ina (Why My Mother Is Very Special)", she becomes afraid Ina will humiliate her. In the end, she finishes the program, and becomes proud of her mother once more.
• Catherine "Cate" Montecillo (Serena Dalrymple): Cate is Ina's eighth child. She is a bit of a tomboy, and doesn't attend her school frequently. She causes some of the problems of her siblings such as Six's mass treat and Ten-Ten's disappearance.
• Samuel "Shammy" Montecillo (Jiro Manio): Shammy is Ina's ninth child. He was uncircumcised, disappointing him. He takes the chance to be circumcised by an illegal doctor for PHP 50. This causes him to have high fever, another problem to the family. In the end, he says sorry to his mother for being impatient, and later was cured.
• Martin "Ten-Ten" Montecillo (Yuuki Kadooka): Ten-Ten is Ina's tenth child. He was revealed to be deaf by Cate, surprising his mother. He was also lost one morning, worrying his family. Later on, Ina finds him in the local church. Also in the end credits, his family teaches him the sign language to communicate with them.
• Jenny (Kaye Abad): Jenny is Juan's college girlfriend. Eventually, they become co-workers at an amusement park. Later on, Juan proposes to her, which she accepts. After Juan was scolded by his mother, they both escape their families and lived their own life. But after finding out Juan wasn't ready yet, they both decide to return to their respective homes. In the end, she and Juan continued their relationship. Years later, she and Juan migrated to New Zealand for a new life.
• Gretchen (Angelica Panganiban): Gretchen is Tri's high school girlfriend. She comes from a rich family, wherein her parents gives the best for her. After her parents find out Ina was a stripper, she decides to break up with him. Later on, Ina pleads to her to continue her relationship with Tri. In the end, she and Tri get back together.
• Jeffrey (John Prats): Jeffrey is Por's high school crush. He also becomes Por's escort at her début. Years later, Por breaks up with him.In the second tanging ina, he became the boyfriend of Seven at first Ina doesn't agree with their relationship but comes to understand it in the end.
• Eddie (Dennis Padilla): Eddie is a taxi driver whom Ina met when Shammy was in the hospital. He was in love at first sight with Ina. He was later involved in a fireworks accident, damaging his bottom. He marries Ina, but because of the accident, they can no longer have another child.
• Tony (Edu Manzano): Tony is Ina's first husband. He is Juan, Tudis, Tri & Por's father. During a gamble, Tony is blocked by spectators. He stands on a stool, trying to see the two fighting insects. He later outbalances, breaking his spinal cord & column.
• Alfredo (Tonton Gutierrez): Alfredo is Ina's second husband. He is Pip, Six, Seven & Cate's father. He had a fatal fall from an overpass, breaking his back.
• Kiko (Jestoni Alarcon): Kiko is Ina's third husband. He is Shammy, Ten-Ten, Connie & Sweet's father. During their wedding day, the bell's ribbons were electrified accidentally. Thus, when he pulled the ribbon, he was killed shortly.
• Gretchen's Parents (Pinky Amador) and (Mandy Ochoa): Gretchen's parents are well-behaved, and will give anything for their daughter. At first, they liked Tri, but when they saw Ina as a stripper in the club, they convinced their daughter to break-up with Tri.

Uncredited:

• Connie & Sweet Montecillo: Portrayed by twin baby girls, Connie & Sweet are minor characters in the film. They didn't cause too much distress to Ina, but are very frequent in crying. (Note: They are important characters for they are Ina's eleventh and twelfth child, and is a major character in the sequel Ang Tanging Ina N'yong Lahat, wherein twins Bianca & Janelle Calma portrayed them.)

Sequel

In 2008, the Star Cinema brought the second installment of Ang Tanging Ina film series which still starred Ai-Ai de las Alas, Eugene Domingo, and several others. The film revolves around Ina (Ai-Ai de las Alas) who lately became the President of the Philippines and overturns the Philippines by ruling it into a whole new dimension of enjoyment which eventually causes her a lots of serious problem about the country and with her family as well.

Ang Tanging Ina (TV series)

Ang Tanging Ina
Genre	Comedy, Drama
Created by	ABS-CBN
Starring	Ai Ai de las Alas John Estrada Eugene Domingo Roderick Paulate Tuesday Vargas
Country of origin	Philippines
Production
Running time	30–45 minutes
Release
Original network	ABS-CBN
Original release	August 17, 2003 – June 5, 2005

After the hit blockbuster movie, it also became a hit TV sitcom (2003–2005). In the TV series, They change the last name of the cast from Montecillo to Macaspac, Inspired from the Character of Kristine Hermosa from the Iconic Teleserye Pangako Sa'yo.

Cast

• Ai-Ai de las Alas as Ina Macaspac
• Marvin Agustin as Juan Macaspac
• Nikki Valdez as Getrudis "Tudis" Macaspac
• Carlo Aquino as Dimitri "Tri" Macaspac
• Heart Evangelista - Escudero as Portia "Por" Macaspac
• Ketchup Eusebio as Tirso "Pip" Macaspac
• Marc Acueza as Sixto "Six" Macaspac
• Shaina Magdayao as Severina "Seven" Macaspac
• Serena Dalrymple as Catherine "Cate" Macaspac
• Jiro Manio as Samuel "Shammy" Macaspac
• Yuuki Kadooka as Martin "Ten-ten" Macaspac
• Eugene Domingo as "Rowena"
• Dennis Padilla as "Eddie"
• Roderick Paulate as "Goliath" - Ina's long-lost brother
• Tuesday Vargas as "Kring-Kring"
• John Estrada as "Geronimo"
• Archie Alemania as "Richard"

Notable Guest Cast

• John Prats as "Jeffrey" (Portia's Boyfriend)
• Angelica Panganiban as "Gretchen" (Tri's Girlfriend)
• Anne Curtis as "Barbie" (Portia's friend)
• Geoff Eigenmann as Portia's suitor
• Alwyn Uytingco as Tirso "Pip" Macaspac (Guest Appearance)
• Alma Moreno as "Ness"
• Ernie Baron as "Weatherman" (TV Patrol Guest)
• Elizabeth Ramsey as "Ina's Mother"
• Freddie Webb as Elvis "(Ina's Long Lost Father, Appeared on last episode)"
• Edu Manzano as "Tony"
• Jestoni Alarcon as "Kiko"
• Regine Velasquez as Herself
• Jericho Rosales (Guest)
• Maricel Soriano as "Julia"

Trivia

Alwyn Uytingco originally played the role of "Pip" in the movie, but in the Ang Tanging Ina (TV series) he was replaced by Ketchup Eusebio.

External links

• Ang Tanging Ina at the Internet Movie Database