Call Me Mother (film)

Call Me Mother is a 2025 Philippine comedy drama film directed by Jun Robles Lana from a story and screenplay he co-wrote with Daisy G. Cayanan and Daniel S. Saniana (who also served as co-producer). Starring Vice Ganda and Nadine Lustre, the film follows a queer single mother who plans to legally adopt her foster son, but the process becomes complicated when the boy's biological mother unexpectedly shows up.

A co-production between Star Cinema, The IdeaFirst Company, and Viva Films, the film premiered at the 51st Metro Manila Film Festival on December 25, 2025.^[2][3] It marks Vice and Lustre's third film together since they last co-starred in the 2010 film Petrang Kabayo and in the 2015 film Beauty and the Bestie.^[4] The film received positive feedback from audience and critics and earned ₱392 million pesos nationwide, becoming the highest grossing Philippine film of 2025.^[5][6][7]

Twinkle Reyes, a renowned pageant coach known for producing beauty queens, is strict with her trainees but affectionately called Mother Twinkle. Her life changes when her own mother dies, leaving her to raise an adopted baby boy named Angelo. Unprepared for motherhood, Twinkle struggles through the early years and eventually retires from coaching to focus on raising him.

Ten years later, Twinkle's friends inform her of a job opportunity as hotel staff at Hong Kong Disneyland. Though tempted, Twinkle hesitates—her priority is Angelo. Her friends encourage her to legally adopt him so she can bring him abroad. Twinkle recalls Angelo's dream of visiting Hong Kong and owning a red bicycle for his upcoming birthday.

During the adoption process, a social worker tells Twinkle she must secure consent from Angelo's biological mother. Twinkle admits she knows the woman: Mara de Jesus, now a successful model engaged to the son of a wealthy tycoon. In a flashback, Mara is shown collapsing during the Q&A portion of the Miss UniWorld Philippines pageant, secretly struggling with her pregnancy. Pressured by her own mother, Mara gave up her baby to protect her future. Twinkle's mother took Angelo in, and Twinkle eventually became his legal guardian.

Twinkle visits Mara to request her signature. Mara agrees—on the condition that Twinkle coach her for the upcoming Miss UniWorld Philippines 2025 pageant, her comeback after age restrictions were lifted. Reluctantly, Twinkle accepts, though she fears Angelo might grow closer to Mara.

As Mara undergoes intensive training, fate intervenes: she rescues Angelo from a thief who stole his tablet. This sparks a bond between Mara and Angelo, with Twinkle's household cheering their growing closeness. Twinkle feels torn, competing with Mara for Angelo's affection. Despite tensions, Mara eventually signs the consent form, marking a milestone in the adoption process.

On Angelo's birthday, Twinkle plans to surprise him with the red bicycle she has been saving for, only to discover it has already been purchased. She settles for a red helmet, disappointing Angelo. Mara, unaware of Twinkle's efforts, gifts Angelo the coveted bicycle, igniting conflict between the two women.

During the Miss UniWorld 2025 coronation night, Twinkle forbids her household from watching the broadcast, but Angelo insists on supporting Mara. On stage, Mara reaches the final three and bravely answers a question from ten years ago. She reveals she is Angelo's mother, admitting she abandoned him but acknowledging Twinkle as the one who truly fulfilled the role of a mother. Twinkle, upset, turns off the television, while Angelo reels from the revelation. Eventually, he reconciles with Twinkle, assuring her she remains his parent, though he resents her for hiding the truth. Twinkle admits she was afraid of losing him.

The adoption process continues, requiring Angelo's written consent. Hesitant, Angelo delays writing his essay. Suddenly, the social worker informs Twinkle that Mara has revoked her signature, jeopardizing the petition. By law, custody favors the biological mother. Panicked, Twinkle lashes out, threatening to flee with Angelo—actions tantamount to kidnapping.

When authorities arrive to enforce temporary custody, Twinkle resists. In the chaos, Angelo trips and is knocked unconscious. At the hospital, Twinkle and Mara clash over who is Angelo's rightful mother until a doctor interrupts: Angelo needs a blood transfusion. Mara volunteers, having the matching O- negative blood type. The incident forces Twinkle to reflect, with Mama M advising her to accept Mara's role as Angelo's biological mother.

Angelo recovers, but Twinkle and Mara reconcile with the agreement that Twinkle will halt the adoption process. Angelo will live with Mara, though he protests the arrangement. Heartbroken, Twinkle departs for Hong Kong to begin her new job in Disneyland.

Later, Mara and Angelo visit Twinkle at Disneyland. The three spend a joyful day together, bridging the distance between them. Twinkle reflects that motherhood is not defined by gender or biology, nor severed by distance—it is a bond that endures.^[8][9]

• Vice Ganda as Twinkelito "Twinkle" Paoros Reyes/de Guzman, a queer mother and a beauty pageant coach who is in the process of adopting Angelo as her son.^[9][10][11] The actor reflecting on his role remarked that being motherhood is "beyond gender" and "beyond bearing a child and giving birth to a child".^[10]
• Nadine Lustre as Mara de Jesus, the biological mother of Angelo and Mila's daughter. Lustre's character is a beauty queen who became a high-fashion model.^[10] She underwent pageant training in preparation for the role.^[12] Lustre did not hesitate in accepting to be in the film upon learning she will work with Vice Ganda despite not knowing the nature of her role.^[13][14]

• Lucas Andalio as Angelo "Angel" de Jesus, Twinkle de Guzman's adoptive son and Mara's biological son
• Brent Manalo as Marco de Guzman, Twinkle's younger brother and Angelo's adoptive uncle
• Mika Salamanca as Bea Santos, a next-door neighbor who was a medical tax student of Twinkle's neighbor and Marco's love interest
• Klarisse de Guzman as Mayet de Guzman, Twinkle's younger sister and Angelo's adoptive aunt
• River Joseph as Anton V., Mara's fiancé
• Shuvee Etrata as Ria de Guzman, Twinkle's youngest sister and Angelo's adoptive aunt
• Esnyr as Vince de Guzman, Twinkle's foster daughter and Angelo's adoptive sister
• MC Muah as Dorothy, Twinkle's close friend
• Iyah Mina as Diosdado "Ms. J" Patumbong, Mara's personal bodyguard and assistant
• Divine Tetay
• Tanya Gomez
• John Lapus as Mama M de Guzman, Twinkle's foster mother

• Carmi Martin as Mila de Jesus, Mara's mother, and Angel's biological grandmother
• Jennifer Sevilla as Nanette V, Anton's mother
• Robert Ortega as Mr. V, Anton's father
• Chanda Romero as Mutya Sidro, the social worker
• Ces Quesada as Ms. Reyes, Twinkle's mother and Angel's adoptive grandmother

• Mary Jean Lastimosa as herself/Miss Uniworld candidate
• Chelsea Manalo as herself/Miss Uniworld candidate
• Nicole Cordoves as herself/Miss Uniworld candidate
• Rafael Rosell as himself/Miss Uniworld Philippines presenter

Call Me Mother was directed by Jun Lana and is a co-production between ABS-CBN Studios, ABS-CBN Film Productions, The IdeaFirst Company, and Viva Communications. Principal photography for Call Me Mother began on September 3.^[15]

Principal photography for Call Me Mother mostly took place within Metro Manila, with key scenes shot inside the Disneyland theme park in Hong Kong.^[16][17] It also became the first Asian film and third film globally to be shot with permission inside the theme park. This was made possible through executive producer Perci Intalan's connections with The Walt Disney Company.^[17][18]

With a more grounded comedy intended for Call Me Mother, director Lana and editor Ben Tolentino deleted scenes deemed too absurd such as a parkour by Vice Ganda's character, a "Squid Game pageant training" for Nadine Lustre's role and a "samurai confrontation" from the released version of the film.^[19]

Call Me Mother was theatrically released in the Philippines on December 25, 2025, as one of the official entries to the 51st Metro Manila Film Festival.^[9] The film is set to have its first international release on January 9, 2026 in select cinemas in United States, Canada, Guam, and Cambodia.^[20]

In December 26, 2025, the cinemas in Metro Manila revealed that Call Me Mother is leading at the box office followed by Shake, Rattle & Roll Evil Origins, Unmarry and Love You So Bad.^[21] On January 1, 2026, the film was reportedly still leading the box office, grossing ₱186.3 million, followed by Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins with ₱66.5 million. Climbing to third place was Bar Boys: After School, which grossed ₱25.8 million, while Unmarry earned ₱25.6 million nationwide.^[22] And as of January 5, 2026, on It's Showtime, Vice Ganda celebrates the ₱300 million earnings of the film.^[5]

Jemuel Tandoc, writing for ABS-CBN Entertainment's Push Team, praised the cast's performances, particularly those of Viceral, who gave "warmth and depth to Twinkle", Lustre, who continued in showcasing "her natural acting prowess", and Andalio, who portrayed his character "with remarkable heart and sincerity". The technical aspects, including the screenplay, emotional weight, and cinematography, were also praised as well.^[6]

Mark Angelo Ching, writing for Philippine Entertainment Portal, described the film as the "departure" from the usual formula used in most of Viceral's films.^[7]

• Call Me Mother at IMDb
• Call Me Mother at Rotten Tomatoes