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| director JOEL LAMANGAN on what the film is all about |
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| SNOOKY SERNA thanking Direk Joel for her lead role in the film |
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| the entire cast of IN THE NAME OF THE MOTHER |
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| direk joel lamangan with writer eric ramos, producer dennis evangelista and this writer |
DIRECTOR JOEL LAMANGAN, writer Eric Ramos and producers Harlene Bautista and Dennis Evangelista, the winning team behind “Rainbow’s Sunset” that won the lion’s share of awards at the last Metro-Manila Filmfest, are all working together anew in “In the Name of the Mother”. This stars Snooky Serna in the title role of the mother, Carmen, a woman of three kids who was abused and abandoned by her husband. But she learns how to move on as a grade school teacher who puts up her own business and succeeds as an empowered woman.
“This is our tribute to all the mothers out there who make a lot of sacrifices for their families,” says Direk Joel. “Snooky is our personal choice for the lead role of Carmen, kasi I trust in her and it’s about time for her to shine in a material like this that will bring out the best in her.”
Snooky was profuse in thanking Direk Joel. “When the offer came to me to do this film, I had to pinch myself kasi baka nananaginip lang ako,” she says. “Words cannot express how grateful I am kay Direk for choosing me. I feel so blessed and I also want to thank God for this opportunity to do another lead role. In return, I promise I will try to do my very best to give justice to the role of Carmen. I am so humbled and I hope I will not disappoint him and all the Carmens in the world. I also dedicate this to my own mom (the late Mila Ocampo) to whom I owe so much.”
Playing Snooky’s husband, Marcial, is stage actor Teroy Guzman (last seen in “Citizen Jake”). They have three kids. Pancho Magno is the eldest as Marc, Rita Daniela is the only daughter as Precious who’s always in conflict with Carmen, and Migz Cuaderno is the youngest child, Arvin, who outs himself to his mama as gay. Playing Pancho’s wife is Empress Schuck as Ria. Diana Zubiri is Rowena, the mistress of Snooky’s husband who she later befriends and helps to move on after Marcial killed himself when he went bankrupt.
Also in the cast are Jim Pebanco as Snooky’s adopted brother, Jennifer Sevilla as Snooky’s co-teacher and best friend, Gardo Versoza as the new man in Snooky’s love life, Vince Rillon as Migz’ best friend and crush, Tabs Sumulong as Pancho’s mother in law, and Rico Barrera as Rita’s rocker boyfriend.
Filming will start soon and Direk Joel hopes to finish principal photography in time for the May 31 deadline of the 3rd Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino. We tell him that he should also prepare by now for the next Metro filmfest this coming December so that he can duplicate his success in the last festival in “Rainbow’s Sunset”.
“Actually, may inihahanda na kaming project ni Eric,” he reveals. “Ang title as of now, ‘Isa Pang Bahaghari’. We’re hoping to cast Nora Aunor as the wife, Christopher de Leon as the husband and Tirso Cruz III as Nora’s gay best friend na naka-affair pala ni Pipo noong araw. Sana, makuha namin silang lahat. Christopher here will play a seaman na nawala sa laot.
"Nora and their children all thought he’s dead. But years later, babalik siya, to reveal what really happened to him. He wants to reconcile with Nora, kaso si Nora, may alzheimer disease at hindi na siya kilala. Ang ganda ng role ni Ate Guy, sana tanggapin niya.”
