Synopsis: Pinggoy Icasiano (Nestor de Villa) is informed by Jun Herrera (Edgar Mande), of the death of his sister, Letty Herrera, in an accident. She was Pinggoy’s mistress in Davao. A loving father to his family, Pinggoy acceded to a moment of weakness when he was feeling lonely and depressed. He was supporting her and their illegitimate daughter, Lagring (Julie Vega), for over fourteen years. Jun feels it is time that Pinggoy accepts Lagring and allows her to stay with him.
Pinggoy’s wife, Elena (Gloria Romero), takes the news calmly but the two children, Anjo (Albert Martinez) and Millet (Kristine Garcia), are vocal over their disgust. When Lagring arrives, they show their contempt by ignoring her. Family life becomes hell for the parents when the children start coming home late. Anjo comes home drunk and Millet sneaks in early in the morning. Elena is scared that she might lift the phone and hear about an accident involving Anjo. Millet is also showing signs of pregnancy.
To save the family, Elena tells Pinggoy to kick out Lagring. After a shouting match between Anjo and him, Pinggoy finally agrees to the proposal and brings Lagring back to her uncle Jun. Pinggoy is a broken man. He is often depressed. He spends his nights in nightclubs where he drowns his sorrows in beer and women.
One night, he meets an accident. The family rushes to the hospital. Elena prays in the chapel. Lagring is sent for. Anjo and Millet are cordial towards her. They have begun to understand the nature of illegitimacy through the predicaments of their respective lovers.
Anjo’s girlfriend is Maribeth (Snooky). Her aunt, Nilda Salustiano (Celia Rodriguez) arrived from the States to adopt her. She intends to have her properties transferred to her name as she is the daughter of her late husband. It is revealed to Maribeth that her father had an affair with a nurse and that her real mother is very much alive. It turns out to be Diding (Alicia Alonzo), the servant in the house who is very solicitous of her welfare.
Millet’s boyfriend, Caloy (Joel ALano), is in a similar fix. Before his father died, he admitted siring an illegitimate offspring--- Guia (Maricel Soriano), the daughter of a seamstress in Elena’s shop. The family has shown their animosity towards her in the wake. Upon the prodding of her mother Guia talked to a lawyer about getting her share of the inheritance. But after what has happened to the Icasianos, Caloy begins to open up to Guia. He does not consider her as a foe anymore. He sees her walking and gets down from his car to talk to her. Guia is surprised over his friendliness and is happy over the turn of events.
Caloy goes to Teresa (Charito Solis), Guia’s mother, to ask why his father left them. Teresa does not give a straight reply but tells him that sometimes people do the wrong thing, believing it to be right.
The Icasianos have a party to celebrate Pinggoy’s release from the hospital. Teresa is there with Guia; Maribeth with Diding and the Carandangs. Guia introduces her boyfriend, Ake (William Martinez), to Caloy. Caloy is puzzled over his name and asks how he got it. It seems his father suffered a heart attack when he was born. Thus, Ake from “atake”.
(Source: Lino Brocka: The Artist and his Times)
"Mother Dear" (1982)
Regal Films
Release Date June 4, 1982
Direction Lino Brocka
Cast Charito Solis, Gloria Romero, Nestor de Villa, Snooky Serna, Maricel Soriano, William Martinez, Albert Martinez, Julie Vega, Joel Alano, Edgar Mande/ Introducing Kristine Garcia
