The Unkabogable Star is ready to make a beloved Filipino holiday tradition even more Meme-rry!
After their team-up at the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival with “And the Breadwinner Is...”, Vice Ganda and film director Jun Robles Lana are back with an exciting new collaboration. Co-starring Nadine Lustre, their upcoming comedy-drama film “Call Me Mother” will hit cinemas this December 25 for the 51st MMFF!
Co-produced by ABS-CBN Film Productions Inc., The Idea First Company, and Viva Communications Inc., “Call Me Mother” was announced as part of the first batch of the film festival’s official 2025 lineup, as revealed in the grand launch held at the Glorietta Palm Drive Activity Center, Makati City, on July 8.
Image: Facebook/@mmffofficial
Apart from directing “Call Me Mother”, Lana also co-wrote the movie's script with Daisy Cayanan and Daniel Saniana. Read the official synopsis below to learn more about what “Call Me Mother” has in store!
Fabulous single queer mother, Twinkle, plans on surprising her loving adoptive son, Angel, with a Disneyland trip by finalizing his adoption papers – if and only if nobody claims Angel within three months. But the unexpected arrival of Mara starts to complicate their peaceful life.
Shook by Mara’s arrival, Twinkle goes the extra mile to prove that she is a caring and capable mother to Angel – resulting in over-the-top hilarious means to assure Mara that Angel is already in good loving hands.
As the end of the three-month adoption process comes to a close, a surprising and threatening bond between Mara and Angel forms. Can Twinkle prove that motherhood lies not in biology, but in profound, unwavering devotion?
This 2025, MMFF takes on “A New Era for Philippine Cinema” as its theme. Apart from “Call Me Mother”, three other titles round out the first set of films to look out for this Christmas.
‘Rekonek’
Described as a multi-genre and multi-narrative film, the Jade Castro-helmed “Rekonek” stars Gloria Diaz, Gerald Anderson, Carmina Villaroel, Zoren Legaspi, and Alexa Miro. Set during the hectic Filipino Christmastime, the Reality MM Studios production touches on human connection as it follows six Filipinos who navigate life without the internet. “Rekonek” is written by Jericho Aguado, Leovic Arceta, and Kat Naval.
‘Manila’s Finest’
Set in the ‘70s, the Piolo Pascual-led crime thriller “Manila’s Finest” tells the story of formidable cops, Homer, Conrad, and Billy, who become consumed by a string of murders that target young troublemakers hailing from the slums. Amid the First Quarter Storm and his daughter Hope’s growing consciousness of society, Homer musters the courage to let go of his fears and the job he holds dear. A Cignal TV Inc. Production, “Manila’s Finest” is directed by Rae Red, with Michiko Yamamoto, Moira Lang, and Sherad Anthony Sanchez serving as scriptwriters.
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‘Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins’
The triptych installment “Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins” revolves around the stories of the following characters: four holy women who set foot at a nunnery with a strange chest recovered from a Spanish ship in 1775; a mysterious killer on the loose at a Halloween party in an abandoned hotel in 2025; and a former farmer-turned-monster hunter who discovers a family link to a dark being reigning over a wasteland version of the Philippines in 2050.
The Regal Entertainment film’s ensemble cast includes Janice de Belen, Manilyn Reynes, Carla Abellana, Richard Gutierrez, Ryan Bang, Loisa Andalio, Kaila Estrada, Ysabel Ortega, Ivana Alawi, Francine Diaz, Seth Fedelin, Fyang Smith, JM Ibarra, Ashley Ortega, Dustin Yu, and Elijah Alejo. Moreover, Shugo Praico, Joey de Guzman, and Ian Loreños helm the new addition to the horror franchise, while Alex Castor, Onay Sales, and Gina Marissa Tagasa are credited with the screenplay.
Image: Facebook/@mmffofficial
The 51st MMFF is already shaping up to be an exciting one! Be the first to receive updates and exclusive content on “Call Me Mother” by following Star Cinema on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
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Vice Ganda, Nadine Lustre, Jun Robles Lana join forces for MMFF 2025 entry ‘Call Me Mother’