LOTLOT De Leon gets to play another lead role in “Ang Ina Mo”, where she plays the title role no less. Written by Eric Ramos and directed by Joel Lamangan, Lotlot is Bella, a laundrywoman who’s been a widow for 14 years. She has raised her only daughter, Charlie Dizon as Donna, as a single mom.

But now, she has gotten herself a younger lover, Rico Barrera as Xander, and Donna resents it that Xander is a jobless bum who just sleeps all day. The story is inspired by Brocka’s “Insiang” but Direk Joel says the new version is also based on the true story of his own relative who had a you and me against the world love affair with a younger lover.

Lotlot and Charlie both shine in their confrontation scenes and, if ever ‘Ang Ina Mo’ would qualify as an official entry in the December filmfest, they can both get acting nominations. In real life, has Lotlot ever had such altercations with any of her kids? “Never,” she quickly replies. “Kasi kami ng mga anak ko, lalo na si Janine (Gutierrrez, her eldest), we keep our communications line open kaya never kaming umabot sa samaan ng loob.”

Didn’t they object when she married her current husband, Fadi El Soury? “No. Ang mga anak naman, walang magagawa sa choices ng mga magulang nila, di ba? Respetuhan na lang kasi yan.

Kahit sino pa piliin nila sa buhay, magulang pa rin natin sila. Maaring mali for us yung choice nila, but at the end of the day, sa culture natin, anak lang tayo.”

Someone quipped she must be referring to adoptive mom Nora Aunor and longtime companion John Rendez. But Lotlot continues: “Sa parents naman, we don’t prevent them na magmahal, kaya lang kung minsan, nakikita natin yung mga hindi nila nakikita, like kung totoo ba o tapat yung tao sa kanila na iniisip nilang mahal sila. Sana matuto rin ang parents to listen sa feelings ng anak nila at hindi maging sarado ang kanilang puso at isipan, like ng nangyari sa character ko sa movie. Charlie warns her pero walang ibang mahalaga sa kanya kundi yung lalaki lang. So it’s important talaga na bukas ang communication lines lagi para maipahatid ang nararamdaman natin sa bawat isa.”

What if both parties won’t listen? “E, siguro, dasal na lang. Kung parehong sarado ang isip at puso ng mga anak at magulang, prayers na lang. Na sana, magkaroon ng liwanag sa dilim. Okay sana sabihing kunsaan sila masaya, di sige, doon sila, kaya lang minsan, masaya ka nga, hindi mo naman alam na niloloko ka lang pala. Kapag ganon, talagang masasaktan yung mga totoong nagmamahal sa’yo. It’s really a very complicated relationship within families and prayers will be a big help.”

This is why she likes “Ang Ina Mo” because it carries a valid message. “The story is straight to the point at walang paligoy-ligoy sa gustong iparating sa audience. There’s a line in the movie that tells Charlie, tandaan mo: kahit sampu pa ang lalaki, iisa lang ang nanay mo. And it’s true, pero dapat tandaan din ng ina o ama na sampu man ang maging karelasyon nila, ang anak ay anak. So amanos lang, di ba? Pareho lang tayong naghahanap ng pagmamahal sa isa’t isa bilang magulang at anak.”

AUTHOR PROFILE

Mario Bautista