Ai-Ai delas Alas made her mark on the big screen as Ina
Montecillo in the 2003 hit movie Ang Tanging Ina. She entertained and
touched viewers by her willingness to accept odd jobs in order to
single-handedly raise her 12 children sired by different men.
Five years later, her children have matured and Ina wants to achieve something in life so that her children will be proud of her. Together with her best friend Rowena (Eugene Domingo), she applies for a job as a chambermaid in Malacañang. While working there, they discover a plot against the life of President Hillary (played by Gloria Diaz). However, through a series of unfortunate events, Ina ends up holding the top position in the government: as President of the Republic of the Philippines. Throughout this time, she is countered by the incumbent Vice-President Bill Bilyones (played by DJ Durano).
During the press conference of Ang Tanging Ina N'yong
Lahat, director Wenn Deramas pointed out that they steered clear of political jokes
in this movie.
"Definitely, hindi kami gumamit ng kahit na anong GMA [Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo] jokes. Gumawa kami ng sarili naming problema, gumawa kami ng sarili naming katatawanan para dahil ang pinupunto kasi nito, paano kung ang isang ordinaryong ina na katulad ni Ina dito ay maging pangulo ng Pilipinas."
Did they include political satire in this movie?
"Ang Tanging Ina kasi istorya ng pagiging nanay at ng
pamilya niya. Inilagay ko lang po ang pamilya niya at tinanong kung anong
mangyayari kung pangulo ka ng Pilipinas. Ano ang mangyayari sa anak at saan ka
mas magaling-ang paghandle sa buong Pilipinas or sa paghandle ng iyong pamilya?
"Hindi ko masyadong inaalala yung nangyayari sa gobyerno kasi sa akin,
personally, turn-off sa akin yun, e. Yung mga naging solusyon niya sa problema
ng Pilipinas, pwedeng kalokohan pero pagkatapos nating tumawa, may maiisip tayo...sana
siya nga yung Presidente."
Viewers should watch for the comic solutions to be offered by Ang Tanging
Ina N'yong Lahat when it comes to problems regarding the rice shortage,
rising oil prices, and the perennial traffic situation of the country.
According to Direk Wenn, they had four different locations to serve as the
"Malacañang" of President Ina. These include settings shot in Manila and
Malolos, Bulacan.
In one scene, Ai-Ai was shown with Alwyn Uytingco (who plays her son Pip) and when he learned that his mother is running for President, he said that he wanted to the next Presidential daughter just like Kris Aquino. It will be recalled that Ai-Ai and Kris had a misunderstanding since Ai-Ai made a joke about Kris's husband, James Yap.
Ai-Ai responded by saying, "Hindi, sinabi lang naman niya, e. Hindi naman niya inacting si Kris Aquino. Nasabi niya lang yun kasi si Kris lang naman ang presidential daughter and na anak na naging artista. Wala naman ibang naging artista na anak natin na presidente, di ba?"
But why didn't they refer to Jinggoy Estrada?
"Ay oo nga pala 'no? Oo nga, Direk, bakit hindi mo sinama? (laughs) Siguro kasi si Kris ang pinakasikat. Aminin naman natin yun, siya ang pinakasikat na presidential daughter," defended Ai-Ai.
ON KRIS AQUINO. Kris was supposed to have a minor role in this film but she did not push through with the project. Direk Wenn narrated what her role was supposed to be like in the movie.
"Actually sobrang guest yun, e. Ang dapat na nangyari nun parang ang opening si Kris tumatakbo akala mo horror film yung ginagawa. Pagdating niya dun sa rooftop, kailangan niyang tumalon sa building. Stunt woman si Ai-Ai. Isa yun sa mga trabaho niya, e. Siya yung double ni Kris. Ganun lang. Ganun lang ka-short yung talaga dapat yung nangyari. Ngayon abangan n'yo kung sino yung pinalit namin."
The press then asked Ai-Ai if she felt bad that Kris did not
push through with this project. The comedienne admitted that she felt a bit
disappointed but then she cracked a joke to lighten the mood.
"Konti pero siyempre ganun talaga. Sabi nga ng kasabihan, kapag nasarahan ka ng
pinto, may magbubukas ng bintana. At meron ding kasabihan na wag kang
maglalagay ng pinto sa tapat ng isa pang pinto dahil pagpasok mo, nasa labas ka
ulit."
ON INA'S OTHER KIDS. Some of the actors who were involved in the first
movie, Ang Tanging Ina, are no longer connected with ABS-CBN. How did
Star Cinema, the Kapamilya Network's film arm, deal with this situation?
"Yung kay Marvin [Agustin], kasi talagang sa kabila na sila ni Heart [Evangelista],
so yung pelikula nakapagadjust naman na dahil five years after ito. Settled na
si Marvin kasama si Kaye Abad. Si Heart sinabi namin lumipat sa GMA pero iba
yung ibigsabihin ng GMA namin. Sa India siya (laughs). Si Nikki Valdez talaga
namang nag-asawa at nasa Canada, so sinabi namin yun."
Ina's children will be portrayed by Carlo Aquino, Alwyn Uytingco, Shaina Magdayao, Serena Dalrymple, Jiro Manio, and Yuki Kadaoka.
Star Cinema's Ang Tanging Ina N'yong Lahat will open in movie houses
nationwide starting December 25, 2008. It is one of the eight entries
competing in the 34th Metro Manila Film Fest.