Mom-Nny: Mommy-Nanny

Unitel Pictures' ""Inang Yaya"

In the Filipino movie Inang Yaya, Maricel Soriano plays Norma, a nanny who needs to choose between Ruby, her own daughter, and Louise, the kid she is caring for. After taking care of Louise for many years, Norma decided to look after Ruby as well and took her daughter with her to Manila. Ruby lived with her mother and was even offered by Louise’s parents to study in the same school as Louise. Unfortunately, even when it seemed like Ruby became fond of her new journey and her bond with Norma, she soon began to feel envious of Louise's family and lifestyle, which Ruby did not get to enjoy.

Unitel Pictures' "Inang Yaya"

I can understand how sullen Ruby felt when she observed how well cared for Louise is by her own parents as well as her nanny, who is Ruby's own mother. As a daughter who grew up without my mother, I can relate since while I was here in the Philippines, alone and ill with only my grandma, I learned my mother teaches primary school in Indonesia at the time, teaching those children how to read, add, and subtract, among other subjects. She noticed Louise's access to nearly anything she may desire, including dolls, toys, stickers, new shoes, and fancy items. Even though Ruby received similar kinds of gifts from Louise's family, Norma did not want her to grow up in a lifestyle they could not afford to maintain, she wanted Ruby to stay humble. Ruby wanted to demand all the things she wanted as well, but she was aware that her mother could not afford to give her everything she wanted.

Unitel Pictures' "Inang Yaya"

The scene where Ruby was made fun of for wearing a fake pair of expensive shoes, in which the brand name Skechers became Skeechers, and complained to Norma about how cruel she was for not getting her the real ones also moved me. Norma was devastated since she had worked so hard to meet her child's wishes. By wearing the shoes and showing appreciation for them, Louise made Norma feel better, but Ruby became upset because she thought Louise was attempting to sever her mother from her. This movie opened my eyes to gratitude and fortune. I discovered that other children have a more tough childhood, and even though I identified emotionally with Ruby, I admired Louise more for her appreciative attitude, because although I did not grow up with a privileged life, we were at least given enough of what we needed, and it taught us how to be appreciative.

I believe this is how most of us get into movies; we are attracted to how we relate to them, then watch through to the end, make it our favourite one, and continue to watch more. As they open our feelings and deal with them one at a time allows us to feel relief that what we are going through is not hopeless and gives us a chance that we can still find the point of resolution as well as the happy ending.