''A Mother's Story'' is a 2011 Filipino

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Independent film An independent film, independent movie, indie film, or indie movie is a feature film or short film that is film production, produced outside the Major film studios, major film studio system in addition to being produced and distributed by independ ...

about Medy (

Pokwang Marietta Tan Subong (born August 27, 1972), known professionally as Pokwang, is a Filipinos, Filipino comedian, actress, television host and singer. She started in a reality show on ABS-CBN and subsequently appeared in dramas and sitcoms of t ...

) who became an

illegal immigrant Illegal immigration is the migration of people into a country in violation of that country's immigration laws, or the continuous residence in a country without the legal right to do so. Illegal immigration tends to be financially upward, wi ...

in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

and her struggles as she achieves legal status. The film deals with what the OFWs go through in the United States. This is the first film produced by

The Filipino Channel The Filipino Channel, commonly known as TFC, is a global subscription television network owned and operated by the Philippine media conglomerate ABS-CBN Corporation. Its programming is composed primarily of imported programs produced and distri ...

and distributed by ABS-CBN International and

Star Cinema ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc., trade name, doing business as Star Cinema and also known as ABS-CBN Films (since 2018), is a Philippines, Philippine film studio, film, television production company, production and distribution (marketing), di ...

. The film had its premiere in

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

on November 6, 2011. The film was released in Philippine cinemas on January 8, 2012.

Plot

Medy (

) is a makeup artist living in the Philippines with her family, composed of her jobless husband (Nonie Buencamino), a son (Aaron Junatas, and later,

Rayver Cruz Raymond Oliver Cruz Ilustre (born July 20, 1989), better known by his screen name Rayver Cruz (), is a Filipino actor. He is the younger brother of fellow actor and dancer Rodjun Cruz. He is currently an exclusive actor of GMA Network. Per ...

), and an infant daughter. She regularly does the make-up of a popular concert star, who later on chose her as a personal

make-up artist A make-up artist, also called a makeup artist, and often shortened to MUA, is an artist whose medium is the human body, applying makeup and Prosthetic makeup, prosthetics on others for theatre, television, film, fashion, magazines and other simil ...

in a concert tour in the

. While in America, she met her former classmate Helen (Beth Tamayo) who convinced Medy to stay in the country to be an illegal migrant worker. She decides to take Helen's offer, in hopes that working abroad will bring the prosperity her family seeks. Following her friend's suggestions, Medy works as a front desk operator at a children's drama studio. Medy quickly becomes a natural at her job, becoming a favorite among students, particularly with a young girl named Cherry. When Medy learns that her earnings are not enough to cover the medicine for her sick daughter Queenie (

Xyriel Manabat Xyriel Anne Bustamante Manabat (; born January 27, 2004) is a Filipino actress. She began her acting career as a child actress after finishing third runner-up in the talent search program '' Star Circle Kid Quest: Search for the Kiddie Idol''. ...

), she follows Helen's suggestion to work as a stay-in housekeeper for a couple who works as lawyers. While working for the couple, Medy endures verbal and physical abuse. She also is barred contact with her family in the Philippines, with the couple going so far as confiscating her passport from her, so she cannot leave. Medy endures the hardship in hopes of a better life for her family, and with the help of Cherry, the student in the dance studio who turned out to be the couple's daughter. Medy also has Helen, whom she trusts to send her earnings and other gifts to her family. After seven years, Medy decides to leave the abusive couple. Fortunately, Cherry takes pity on her, and illicitly gives her passport back. Medy then seeks legal advice from a lawyer named Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel, who advises her that she has a strong right to file a case against the family for illegal detention, physical injuries, and hiring someone like her as an undocumented citizen. Medy also confronts Helen, when she learns that not all her earnings made it to her family. Medy comes home to an impartial family reunion. She finds out that her husband is seeing another woman, leaving her children in her mother's care, Choleng. While her daughter is grateful to finally meet her, her son feels betrayed by a mother who left her to fend for themselves. Medy files for an annulment. When Medy tells her family about the hardships she endured in the United States, her family finally understands her. Medy also receives a phone call from Atty. Gurfinkel stating that she won the case against the abusive couple. She gains back wages and additional money from emotional distress. This piece of good news lifts Medy's spirit, and she starts to rebuild her life with her mother and her children. After a joyous Christmas celebration, King decides to go abroad just like his mother, hoping for a better future. The whole family wishes him the best of luck.

Cast and characters

as Remedios "Medy" Santos *

as Queenie Santos *

as King Santos *

Nonie Buencamino Anthony Buencamino, known professionally as Nonie Buencamino, is a Filipino character actor known for his television and theater work. He is strongly associated with Philippine New Wave Cinema, playing roles such as Mayor Bartolome in Jun La ...

as Gerry Santos *Beth Tamayo as Helen *

Ana Capri Ynfane Avanica (born April 24, 1979), known professionally as Ana Capri, is a Filipino actress. Career In 1996, Capri made her screen debut in ''Virgin People 2'', directed by Celso Ad. Castillo, where she acted alongside Sunshine Cruz, Sharma ...

as Celia *

Jaime Fabregas Jaime Francisco García Fábregas (; born February 28, 1950) is a Filipino actor and musical scorer. Early life Jaime Francisco García Fábregas was born in Iriga City, Camarines Sur, Philippines to his parents Pedro Fábregas and Isabel Gar ...

as Edgar *Aaron Junatas as Young King *

K Brosas Maria Carmela Brosas (born July 15, 1975), better known by her screen name Kakai or K Brosas, is a Filipino actress, comedian, singer and television host. She was born in the Philippines to an American father and a Filipina mother and was a b ...

as Neneng * Daria Ramirez as Choleng *Caitlin Cummings as Cherry *Justine Dee as Juan

Release

Distribution

The film was released on November 11, 2011 in 22 select cities in the United States, such as

San Francisco, CA San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of 2024, San Francisco is the fourth-most populous city in the ...

Chicago, IL Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

Jacksonville, FL Jacksonville ( ) is the most populous city proper in the U.S. state of Florida, located on the Atlantic coast of North Florida, northeastern Florida. It is the county seat of Duval County, Florida, Duval County, with which the City of Jacksonv ...

, Aiea, HI,

Las Vegas, NV Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-larg ...

San Diego, CA San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...

Seattle, WA Seattle ( ) is the List of municipalities in Washington, most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the List of Unit ...

Norfolk, VA Norfolk ( ) is an independent city (United States), independent city in the U.S. state of Virginia. It had a population of 238,005 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of cities in Virginia, third-most populous city ...

Houston, TX Houston ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and in the Southern United States. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, it is the seat of Harris County, as well as the principal city of ...

Sacramento, CA Sacramento ( or ; ; ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat, seat of Sacramento County, California, Sacramento County. Located at the confluence of the Sacramento Rive ...

and

Bergenfield, NJ Bergenfield is a borough in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 28,321, an increase of 1,557 (+5.8%) from the 2010 census count of 26,764, which in turn reflected a ...

. It was also shown in

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and

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. An exclusive red carpet premiere night was also held in the Philippines on January 8, 2012 in TriNoma Mall, Quezon City.

then released ''A Mother's Story'' nationwide on January 12, 2012.

Box office

''A Mother's Story'' grossed P24,815,780 in the Philippines after two weeks of release, according to figures from

Box Office Mojo Box Office Mojo is an American website that tracks box-office revenue in a systematic, algorithmic way. The site was founded in 1998 by Brandon Gray, and was bought in 2008 by IMDb, which itself is owned by Amazon. History Brandon Gray ...

Critical reception

The film was graded "A" by the Cinema Evaluation Board of the Philippines. It received mixed to positive reviews from local film critics. Abby Mendoza of Philippine Entertainment Portal praised Pokwang's "heartfelt" performance. On the other hand, Philbert Dy of Clickthecity.com liked the film's first half, but disliked the second half.Black and White
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Clickthecity.com
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References

External links

on ABS-CBN International * {{DEFAULTSORT:Mothers Story 2011 films 2010s Tagalog-language films Philippine drama films 2011 drama films American drama films Films shot in California Films about illegal immigration to the United States Star Cinema films 2010s English-language films 2010s American films