Mano Po 2: My Home


Mano Po 2: My Home is the second installment of the Mano Po franchise, after Mano Po. Produced by Regal Entertainment, Mano Po 2 stars Susan Roces in the leading role. This was also the first Mano Po movie that was not directed by Joel Lamangan, director of the first movie; rather it was directed by Erik Matti. It was one of the official entries in the 2003 Metro Manila Film Festival which garnered 5 awards alongside Filipinas.

Plot

On a rainy night, Antonio Chan was killed in his car during a random mugging. In his lifetime, Antonio sired children with three different women: Sol, the first wife, and non-Chinese; LuShui, Chinese wife that was arranged to Antonio; and Belinda Ke, the concubine who is of Filipino-Chinese descent. His death divides his children whose parents harbor hatred for one or another, directed at Belinda in particular. Belinda and his Half-brother, Johnson, hatches a plan to pin the blame on Sol, making it appear that Antonio's death was not random but premeditated.

Cast

While Susan Roces was the original choice to play the first wife, the Filipina Sol, the role of the third wife was mirred in controversy. The contested role, the Chinese mestiza Belinda, was originally offered to Dina Bonnevie. However, Lolit Solis, manager to both Christopher de Leon and Lorna Tolentino, threatened to pull out her talents if the role was not given to Tolentino. The role was ultimately given to Tolentino; Bonnevie, who would have played the role of the second wife, the Chinese immigrant LuShui, bowed out of the production citing that she would not fit the role of a pure Chinese character. Zsa Zsa Padilla replaced Bonnevie in the film.

Awards