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The float of "Call Me Mother" during the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) parade on December 19, 2025 in Makati. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News
MANILA -- With the box office and critical success of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry "Call Me Mother," fans are asking if there will be another collaboration between comedy superstar Vice Ganda and director Jun Lana.
"Call Me Mother" is the second collaboration between Vice and Lana, after "And the Breadwinner Is…" from last year’s MMFF.
ABS-CBN News asked Vice and without batting an eyelash, she said: “Of course! Sabi nga ni Direk Jun, ‘Wala na, tinanggap ko na nakatali na ako sa'yo!”
In her more-than-a-decade career in making movies, this is the first time that Vice Ganda received both critical and commercial success. Vice admitted she has been reading and seeing the reviews.
“I saw the reviews. It’s overwhelming”, she said.
“Kasi nung ginagawa ko naman ito, I was just doing what I was asked to do. I was just doing what I was directed to do. Hindi ko talaga inisip kahit katiting yung ‘Ano kaya yung gusto ng mga critics?’ or ‘How is this supposed to be artistically done?’ Sasabihin lang sa akin ni Direk (Jun) ganito yung eksena, i-e-explain niya lang sa akin, tapos marami siyang directive na ‘ano ang mararamdaman mo?’, ’ano na yung nararamdaman ni Twinkle dito?’.”
She added, “They watch and see movies differently, may iba silang judgement.”
Vice, who won Best Actor at the MMFF, has also been reposting some of the reviews on X.
“Kasi nakakaproud, bago siyang karanasan sa akin. Mas sanay ako na tinatawanan lang yung ginagawa ko kasi nagpapatawa ako. Hindi ako sanay na may nakikita sila sa ginawa ko, na may nakita sila na hindi ko nakita,” she said.
Last Sunday, Vice turned emotional after receiving voice clips from her on-screen son in the movie, Lucas Andalio. She shared some of the clips to ABS-CBN News, and one clip had Lucas saying "I miss you" to Vice.
“Sinagot ko naman, ‘Happy new year too anak, I miss you too! Nag-sepanx (separation anxiety) na siya,” said Vice. “Siyempre magkikita tayo anak at miss na miss na rin kita’.”
Another clip had Lucas saying, “Meme, wag mo kong kalimutan.”
“Doon ako naiyak. Yung, 'Meme wag mo kong kalimutan.' Kasi tinanong niya rin sa akin yun dati, ‘Paano pagkatapos ng pelikula?’ Sabi ko eh di tapos na. Sabi niya, ‘kakalimutan mo na ba ako?’ Sabi ko, 'Siyempre hindi kita kakalimutan, forever na kitang anak.'”
Vice added, “Na-attach siya dati sa co-actor niya, na naging tatay niya. Tapos sabi niya, ‘Hindi na kami nagkikita, parang nakalimutan na niya ako’. Sabi ko, 'Hindi mangyayari sa atin yun.'”
Still feeling high in the cloud of revelry, Vice became emotional after sending a direct message to her director.
The message reads, “Good evening, direk! Namiss kita bigla. Naisip ko parang wala akong pwedeng gawin para lubos akong makapagpasalamat sa ‘yo. Dinugtungan mo ng buhay ang karera ko sa pelikula, labis-labis ang pasasalamat ko sa ‘yo. Pinaningning ako ng puso at husay mo. Mamahalin kita habang buhay.”
“Sana araw-araw masarap ang ulam mo. Masaya ang paligid mo. Mapuno ka ng pagmamahal. Sana hindi ma-murder ang ingrown mo. Never kang ma-constipate at mag-t*e. Dumating nang maaga ang order, at never tumabang ang softdrinks na iniinom mo. I love you.”
Direk Jun replied and said: “Naiyak naman ako dito. Salamat Meme. Gusto ko pang makita kung paano mo babasagin lahat ng expectations sa ‘yo lalo na sa pelikula. At susundan ka pa rin ng mga tao, papasayahin mo pa rin sila pero sa mga paraang laging sinusurpresa mo sila. Love you, love you, love you, love you.”
Vice told ABS-CBN News that Lana saved her in so many ways.
“He really helped me. I was, have been overwhelmed and pressured by expectations. And nilunod niya (expectations) ako for the longest time. And I needed someone like Jun Lana to save me, from drowning,” they said.
FROM THE ARCHIVES