Maricel Soriano as Inang yaya

In the tradition of bringing substantive, visionary and non-conventional films, Unitel Pictures brings another heartwarming story entitled Inang Yaya (Mommy Nanny), that will surely capture the hearts of the Dabawenyos.

Featuring Maricel Soriano as Norma, she is both a mother to Ruby and nanny to Louise, the two girls struggled to share the woman they love. Caught between them, every day becomes a balancing act for Norma, trying her best not favor one over the other.

Another dilemma she will be facing is to choose whether to go with Louise’s family abroad to live with them, but to leave her daughter again without a mother or to stay with Ruby but leave Louise which she also considers as her daughter.

According to Maricel, it’s her first time to do a movie with Unitel Pictures and she was excited about it, and so happy on doing the project.

“ The movie is universal hindi lang ito para sa mga nanay o sa mga kasambahay natin, dahil kahit tayo pwedeng makarelate sa movie.” Maricel shares with the Davao media in a recent presscon prior to her premier night at the Gaisano Mall.

Directed by Pablo Biglang-awa Jr. and Veronica Velasco, who was also there during the presscon, says that the 2 girls in the film, Tala Santos and Erika Oreta, underwent an audition because they wanted news faces for the roles.

When asked if Maricel Soriano was the first choice for the role as Inang Yaya, Pablo answers, “ Yes at wala ng iba, at kahit pa busy ang schedule niya willing kaming maghintay para magawa ang movie na to with her because our boss Tony Gloria really wanted this role solely for Maricel.”

Is the film meant to entertain or a tearjerker?, Veronica says, “ Hindi ko masasabi kasi during the film maririnig mo yung mga tao na humahalakhak, pero kapag lumalabas na sila sa sinehan namumugto ang mga mata.”

“ Kaya nga dapat niyong panoorin kasi kahit ako di ko ma-explain, pero kung mapanood nyo na tapos magkakausap tayo uli, magkakaintindihan na tayo” Maricel adds.

More Q and A with Maricel Soriano:

Southern Living: I’ve heard you also co-prod this film, is it your first time?

Maricel: “Oo, pangalawang beses ko ng magco-prod, yung una ginawa namin ni Cesar Montano, Kung Kaya Mo Kayak Ko Rin.”

SL: Did you personally choose this film?

Maricel: “Yung manager ko si Wyngard Tracy at si Tony Gloria ang unang nag-usap.”

SL: We noticed that the kids were not the ones we usually see on TV, why is that?

Maricel: “Hindi ako ang may kasalanan niyan, nakikisali lang ako dito (laughs)!”

SL: How did you handle them?

Maricel: Yung mga bata pinagtyagaan namin at tulong-tulong kami na i-motivate sila.

SL: What was the kids initial reaction when they are working with the Diamond Star?

Maricel: “Hindi nila ako kilala, kaya kung mapapansin mo ang mga bata sa movie natural yung mga emotions nila at hindi halatang umaarte.”

SL: Aside from your regular sitcom John and Shirley on ABS CBN, do you have any plans on doing another teleserye after Vietnam Rose?

Maricel: “Hindi na muna nakakapagod kasi yun, araw-araw ang taping.”

SL: How about comedy movies?

Maricel: “Kung maganda ang materyal.”

SL: How do you classify a good material?

Maricel: “Depende kasi yan, katulad ng Inang Yaya, pagkabasa ko pa lang sa script may kurot na sa puso.”

SL: How do you see yourself few years from now?

Maricel: “Mahirap sagutin yan, gustuhin ko man na planuhin ang buhay ko may iba kasi ang in-charge dun, kaya kung ano yung mangyayari sa akin tatanggapin ko”.

What’s your secret in staying young?

Maricel: “Magdasal lang, totoo yan walang halong charing.”

SL: In your opinion, should mothers stay at home for their children, or have a nanny to watch over them?

Maricel: “Para sa akin, maganda kung nandyan ang nanay para sa mga anak niya, pero sa katulad naming nanay na nagtatrabaho, mahirap naman kung pagsabaying ko, kaya iniiwan ko sa yaya nila o sa nanay ko.”

SL: After doing this movie, is your view of the nanny’s job has changed?

Maricel: “Oo, kasi tayong mga magulang na nagtatrabaho, sa kanya natin iniiwan yung mga bata. Pagdating natin galing sa trabaho yung laging tinatanong natin, “Kumusta ang mga bata?” Nakakain na ba sila?”, pero ang hindi natin nagagawa ang tanungin sila ng , “ Kumusta ka na?”, walang ganyan! Walang kumustahang nangyayari (laughs)! Kaya ang movie na to tribute sa mga kasambahay natin.”