I Am Ram...: tanging yaman

My family with Lola Met

Anyone who knows me well will agree when I say I love my family. They are my only treasure or "tanging yaman". Though I was not born with a golden spoon in my mouth, I am still lucky to have a loving father and a forgiving mother. I have sisters who are looking up to me and a brother who brings joy to my heart. They serve as my inspiration to be a better sister, daughter and person. This is perhaps why I love the movie "Tanging Yaman". The movie is a Filipino take on the Parable of the Prodigal Son that tackles problems in the family like jealousy, hatred, anger, and greed, but at the same time it also depicts love, faith, forgiveness, and self-offering.

With a powerhouse cast that gave outstanding performances, no wonder it was a big hit not just in theater but in award-giving bodies too. The story is moving and the music score adds up to the beauty of the film. One of my favorite scene is when the matriarch of the family, (played well by veteran actress Gloria Romero), was having her communion and offering herself to God so that her family divided by greed and jealousy will be at peace and become whole again. That scene reminds me of my grandmother who is willing to give everything for her children and grandchildren without taking anything in return. Another reason why this movie appeals to me is the close resemblance of Ms. Romero's character to my grandmom who also has a strong commitment to her faith. A must-watch for everyone who wants to be inspired to change and a strong reminder of what we should really value in life, our family, our tanging yaman.

Here is the short description of the film.

Tanging Yaman is a 2000 Filipino religious-family drama film produced by Star Cinema. Directed by Laurice Guillen, the film garnered several awards, especially at the 2000 Metro Manila Film Festival, including Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Actress.
The movie's title came from a liturgical composition by Manoling Fransisco, SJ and sung by Carol Banawa.

Plot

Separated by distance both physical and emotional, siblings Danny (Johnny Delgado), Art (Edu Manzano) and Grace (Dina Bonnevie) come together to settle a land dispute while their mother Dolores "Loleng" Rosales (Gloria Romero) succumbs to debilitating disease. Old resentments begin to surface, spilling over to the next generation, as they cope with Loleng's sickness and the tract of land left to them by their deceased father.^[1]