As the MMFF 2025 box office leader, Vice Ganda’s latest film challenges traditional family roles amid the ongoing SOGIESC Bill debate in the Philippines.
*Spoiler warning! This article has spoilers about the film, “Call Me Mother.”*
Christmas marks the birth of Jesus Christ, born of Mary and proclaimed redeemer of the world in Catholic belief. In the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry film “Call Me Mother,” Vice Ganda’s character, Twinkle, answers a different call of motherhood as she chooses to care for her beloved Angelo.
Beyond biology: redefining the modern Filipino family
For the country’s roughly 90 million Catholics, the nativity of Christ is deeply embedded in tradition. Yet before the birth came Mary’s decisive “yes” to God’s will. In a time when the long-neglected SOGIESC Bill remains under scrutiny from politicians and church leaders, the path to parenthood is still unclear for many hopeful same-sex partners.
Multifaceted motherhood
“Motherhood can never be explained. It cannot be defined by just a single word. It’s undefinable. It has many meanings. It’s very complex, but one thing is for sure: motherhood is one of the best things that has blessed all of us,” Vice told radar Entertainment in an exclusive interview during a recent celebrity screening of “Call Me Mother.”
The surrogacy path: Vice Ganda and Ion Perez’s parenthood Plans
Vice confirmed plans for parenthood through surrogacy with husband Ion Perez in an interview with journalist Karen Davila on Dec. 18. The celebrity couple has reportedly consulted doctors about the process, who advised Vice to get adequate rest amid her busy schedule as a host on the noontime show “It’s Showtime.”
Surrogacy is a form of assisted reproduction in which a woman, known as a surrogate, carries a pregnancy for another individual or couple as the intended parents. The surrogate has no genetic link to the child.
When asked about the possibility of adoption or leaving the show altogether, the actor-comedian said the ideas have crossed her mind but noted that no decisions have been made.
Misunderstanding vs. representation: the SOGIESC connection
In the film, Vice coaches Mara, played by Nadine Lustre, for the Miss Uniworld pageant, where she is asked to identify the biggest global problem today. For Vice, the answer is “misunderstanding.”
“Everyone in the world right now is experiencing misunderstanding. People don’t understand each other because there is so much information circulating. That’s why it’s very hard for people to truly understand one another,” Vice said.
While adoption is an option, Vice has expressed a desire to have a child of her own. Under current Philippine law, same-sex marriage and joint adoption by same-sex couples remain prohibited, although members of the LGBTQIA+ community may adopt as individuals, subject to approval.
At a time where the holiday season brings families together, “Call Me Mother” reminds us that motherhood knows no bounds, be it age, attraction, or affinity, like the immaculate conception of Mary. For some, their mothers may not be biological yet there is no need for proof, that to be a mother can be more than birth but in genuine love and care for a child, as Twinkle did to Angelo.
“Call Me Mother,” starring Vice Ganda, Nadine Lustre, Lucas Andalio, Brent Manalo, Mika Salamanca, Klarisse de Guzman, River Joseph, Shuvee Etrata, Esnyr Ranollo, John Lapus, and Iyah Mina, and directed by Jun Robles Lana, in production with ABS-CBN Studios, The IdeaFirst Company, and Viva Films, as distributed by Star Cinema, is an official entry to the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2025, now in cinemas nationwide.
Everyone in the world right now is experiencing misunderstanding. People don’t understand each other because there is so much information circulating.
Vice Ganda
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