| Mano Po III: My Love | |
| Director: | Joel Lamangan |
| Screenplay: | Roy C. Iglesias |
| Cinematography: | Rolly Manuel |
| Editing: | Tara Illenberger |
| Music: | Jesse Lucas |
| Studio: | MAQ Productions |
| Distributor: | Regal Entertainment Inc. |
| Runtime: | 111 minutes |
| Country: | Philippines |
| Language: | Filipino |
| Gross: | [1] |
Mano Po III: My Love is a 2004 Filipino romantic drama film directed by Joel Lamangan and the third installment of the Mano Po film series, following the success of Mano Po and Mano Po 2: My Home. Produced by Regal Entertainment and MAQ Productions, Mano Po III stars Vilma Santos in the leading role.
Anti-crime crusader Lilia Chiong Yang seems to have everything a woman could want and need: a husband, Paul, who pampers her; children whom any parent would be proud of; and the respect and admiration of the most powerful people in the country. But just as Lilia prepares for her 25th wedding anniversary celebration, a chance encounter in Thailand with her first love Michael throws Lilia's life into chaos. So begins the resumption of a relationship that threatens to unravel the delicate threads connecting Lilia to the other people in her life.
In a flashback, Lilia, Paul and Michael are colleagues during the student movement of the early 1970s, with Paul and Michael comforting Lilia when she runs away from her father, Melencio after an argument and learning that she was adopted and encouraging her to go home. The declaration of Martial Law forces them to go low, with Michael going into hiding without realizing that he had impregnated Lilia. Paul, who also had feelings for Lilia, took advantage of the situation by being there for her throughout her struggles and by blocking Michael's letters without their knowledge.
In the present, the discovery of this revelation and the resumption of Michael and Lilia's relationship cause scandal in the community, tensions between Lilia and her family and a heated argument with Paul, but it does not prevent the latter from letting their eldest child Stephen, who is actually Michael's lovechild, from reconnecting with his biological father. Michael, who is frustrated over the unfairness of their circumstances, calls on Lilia to elope together, but is reluctant to do so. Paul, distraught at Lilia's predicament, apologizes for his treatment of her, but is afterwards shot in an ambush by people Lilia had crossed in her advocacy. Arriving at Paul's deathbed, Michael thanks him for taking care of Lilia while Paul, on his dying breath, entrusts Lilia to Michael's care.
Lilia, who is only comforted by her father, is initially shunned by her children and by Paul's family for his death but is later reconciled with them. Michael tries to resume their romance with Lilia, but the latter refuses, reminding him how he encouraged her to go back to her family and that her decision to go with Paul the night they were supposed to elope meant that Michael was not the one killed in the ambush. After telling Michael that she will still be there as a friend, they tearfully embrace and part ways.
The song's theme song is "Pagbigyan ang Puso" performed by Karylle and Jerome John Hughes (version of Tim Hwang's Saranghamnida (released in 2003 from his debut album "First Tim"). The song was composed by former Neocolours frontman Ito Rapadas. Its music video was shown upon the closing credits of the movie.
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| Year | Award-Giving Body | Category | Recipient | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Metro Manila Film Festival[2] | Best Picture | Mano Po III: My Love | |
| Best Actor | Christopher de Leon | |||
| Best Actress | Vilma Santos | |||
| Best Production Design | Rodell Cruz | |||
| Best Original Theme Song | Pagbigyan ang Puso Ko | |||
| Best Float | Mano Po III: My Love |