Tanging Yaman (international title: A Change of Heart) is a 2000 Philippine religious drama film directed by Laurice Guillen from a screenplay she co-wrote with Shaira Mella Salvador and Moira Lang, with Guillen as the sole writer of the story concept. The film's title came from a liturgical composition by Manoling Francisco, SJ, and sung by Carol Banawa.
The film stars Gloria Romero as the loving and devout Lola Loleng, with Johnny Delgado, Edu Manzano, and Dina Bonnevie as her children. It also stars Hilda Koronel, Joel Torre, Cherry Pie Picache, Marvin Agustin, Jericho Rosales, CJ Ramos, Shaina Magdayao, John Prats, Carol Banawa, Janette McBride, and Dominic Ochoa.
Produced and distributed by Star Cinema, the film was theatrically released on December 25, 2000, as one of the official entries for the 26th Metro Manila Film Festival, where it won many awards including Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Actress. The success of this religious-family drama film was followed ten years later by Sa 'yo Lamang, also directed by Laurice Guillen. In 2014, the film was digitally restored and remastered by ABS-CBN Film Restoration and Central Digital Lab.
Contents
Plot
The film revolves around the relationship of three siblings separated by both physical and emotional distance: Danny, Art, and Grace, as they reunite to resolve a property dispute.
Danny, a previous tricycle driver and the poorest of the siblings, resides in Pampanga and takes care of their mother, Dolores "Loleng" Rosales, with his wife, Celine, and children, Boyet, Chona, and Carina.
Art visits Loleng and gives her part of his salary, most of which she gives to Danny to settle some of his immediate finances, much to Art's displeasure. Celine comes to Danny's defense, saying he returns what he borrows from Loleng. Art, upon returning to his home in Manila, is shown photos taken by Rommel, who has an interest in photography. He voices his disapproval as he wants him to be a doctor.
In the United States, Grace - who ran away from Pampanga to marry Francis, a mailman - is struggling financially, making just enough to cover the tuition fees of their children, Madeleine and Andrew. The family's financial situation has put a strain not only on the marriage but also on Grace's relationship with her children, especially Madeleine.
A friend of Danny's, a real estate agent, is looking for a large tract of land. Danny initially considers the 80-hectare tract of land left to them by their late father, which Loleng initially objects to, but he was eventually convinced by Danny. Grace, hearing from Danny over the phone about how much they could get for selling the land - enough for her to be able to live comfortably and possibly return to the country - quickly agrees. Art, on the other hand, demands they honor their father's will.
During mass, as Loleng laments over the troubles of her children, she suffers a stroke and is taken to a hospital, where Danny and Art learn that she has Alzheimer's disease. Upon hearing the news, Grace, distraught at the idea of not getting any of the inheritance, pushes for Art to agree with and expedite the sale of the land and divide the earnings among the siblings before Loleng's health worsens. Loleng is later taken to Art's residence, where she'll continue receiving treatment and be taken care of by a dedicated caregiver. Back in Pampanga, Danny and Celine lament how the disease will change Loleng entirely.
Cast
Gloria Romero as Lola Loleng: The mother of Danny, Art, and Grace.
Dina Bonnevie as Grace: The youngest child of Loleng
Edu Manzano as Art: The second child of Loleng and the family's breadwinner
Johnny Delgado as Danny: The eldest child of Loleng
Hilda Koronel as Celine: Danny's wife
Joel Torre as Francis: Grace's husband
Cherry Pie Picache as Nanette: Art's wife
Marvin Agustin as Boyet: Danny and Celine's eldest and only son
Jericho Rosales as Rommel: Art and Nanette's eldest son, who aspired to be a photographer, instead of being a doctor.
CJ Ramos as John-John: Art and Nanette's youngest son
Shaina Magdayao as Carina: Danny and Celine's youngest child and second daughter
John Prats as Andrew: Grace and Francis' son
Carol Banawa as Chona: Danny and Celine's second child and first daughter.
Dominic Ochoa as Joel: Madeleine's love interest
Janette McBride as Madeleine: Grace and Francis' daughter
Rolaine Kaye Surposa as Opera
Felindo Obach as Chief of Police
Production
Writing
The original screenplay was written solely by actress-director Laurice Guillen, inspired by a priest's reflection on the prodigal son. The screenplay originally revolved around siblings, but Star Cinema decided to make them older and feature the then-young talents from Star Magic as the younger generation. Due to these ideas, Moira Lang and Shaira Mella Salvador co-wrote with Guillen in making the final product.
Casting
While Laurice Guillen collaborated with veteran actress Gloria Romero on a handful of films, including the former's directorial debut, Kasal? and Kapag Langit ang Humatol, the latter almost turned down the project due to vertigo.
Filming
The Pampanga scenes were shot in the town of Santa Rita, Pampanga, with the Villa Epifania house as the Rosales family household. The said house was previously used in Lino Brocka's 1974 film Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang, where the director was among the cast.
Release
The film was released on December 25, 2000, as one of the entries for the 2000 Metro Manila Film Festival. The film won nine awards including Best Picture, Best Director for Laurice Guillen, and Best Actress for Gloria Romero. It was later given a re-release on April 4, 2001. In 2006, the Philippine Daily Inquirer included Tanging Yaman on a list of the top 21 movies of the last 21 years, placing at No. 17.
Home media and television broadcast
The film's restored version became available in iTunes on November 16, 2015, in selected territories including the Philippines, Japan, and Hong Kong.
ABS-CBN premiered the restored version on April 3, 2015, at 9:30PM as part of their Holy Week film presentation for Good Friday. According to Kantar Medita-TNS statistics, the showing attained a nationwide audience rating of 10.2%, lost to GMA Network's showing of 2012 drama film Mga Mumunting Lihim, which attained a 11.6% nationwide rating.
On December 16, 2018, ABS-CBN re-aired the film's restored version as a feature presentation of the network's Sunday late-night block, Sunday's Best. The showing received a 3.4% nationwide household rating, 0.4% greater than GMA Network's SNBO broadcast of the 2011 Chinese film The Guardsman that attained a 3.0% rating.
Spin-off series
Tanging Yaman became a spin-off television series that aired every Saturday on ABS-CBN from June 8 to November 9, 2002, replacing Ang Munting Paraiso and was replaced by Berks. Starring Marvin Agustin and the whole ensemble cast.