Our Mighty Yaya

2017 Filipino film

Lily Y. Monteverde
Jose Javier Reyes

Starring

Ai-Ai delas Alas
Megan Young
Zoren Legazpi
Sofia Andres

CinematographyPatrick LayuganEdited byCharliebebs GohetiaMusic byJesse Lucas

Production
companies

Regal Entertainment
Regal Multimedia, Inc.

Distributed byGMA Films

Release date

May 17, 2017 (2017-05-17)

Running time

99 minutesCountryPhilippinesLanguageFilipino

Our Mighty Yaya (transl. Our Mighty Nanny) is a 2017 Philippine family comedy film written and directed by Jose Javier Reyes. The film stars Ai-Ai delas Alas as Virgie, a hideous-looking but sympathetic woman from the province, who hires as a nanny for a well-to-do family in Manila. Supporting roles feature Zoren Legaspi, Megan Young, Sofia Andres, Lucas Magallano, and Alyson McBride. Produced by Regal Multimedia, Inc. and Regal Entertainment, the film was released on May 17, 2017. The film was distributed by GMA Pictures.

Plot

Determined to send her son to college, an unfortunate-looking woman becomes a nanny for a wealthy family in Manila, where she overcomes ridicule to befriend her employers' children and inspire the family through her benevolence and humility.

Cast and characters

Ai-Ai delas Alas as Virginia "Virgie" Redoble,^[1] a hideous-looking woman from a Filipino province who leaves home to serve as a nanny for the Sevilla family in Manila.
Zoren Legaspi as Antonio "Tonichi" Sevilla,^[1] a business tycoon and a widower.
Megan Young as Monique Sevilla,^[1] Tonichi's fiancée.
Sofia Andres as Marla Sevilla,^[1] Tonichi's eldest daughter.
Lucas Magallano as Kevin Sevilla,^[1] Tonichi's only son.
Alyson McBride as Peachy Sevilla,^[1] Tonichi's young daughter.
Beverly Salviejo as Manang Bibing
Mitoy Yonting as Oscar "Oca" Redoble

Theme

Director Jose Javier Reyes said,

"I [want to] do a movie that pays tribute to these people who we think are just there because of the salary. It's about the love they give to the people they live with… Our Mighty Yaya [is about the] men and women who sacrifice [and] give love to other families' children for them to sustain their own families."^[2]

Production

On April 13, 2016, Reyes announced that he would direct the film. In addition, lead star Ai-Ai delas Alas posted a photo of the ensemble cast on Instagram, confirming the appearances of GMA exclusive actors Zoren Legaspi, Megan Young, Sofia Andres, and two child actors Lucas Magallano and Alyson McBride in the film. The film was originally titled as My Mighty Yaya.^[3]

During a press conference in May 2017, Reyes said he wrote the screenplay after receiving a Facebook message from the granddaughter of his dying childhood nanny, asking him to pay her a visit.^[2]

Marketing

Our Mighty Yaya's official trailer was released on April 18, 2017, by Regal Entertainment.^[4] As of April 27, the film's Facebook page has generated 1.5 million views.^[5] Televised Promotions was aired on GMA Network.

Release

Our Mighty Yaya was originally planned as Regal's official competing entry at the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival, an annual film festival held every December in the Philippines.^[6] The producers, however (led by Lily Monteverde), failed to reach the deadline for submission of the film's picture lock version on November 2, as per MMFF's requirement. Rather, another film distributed by Regal, Mano Po 7: Tsinoy, was locked in to compete for the MMFF.^[7] The film had its premiere on May 17, 2017.^[4]

Reception

Reception for Our Mighty Yaya has been negative upon release, with critics noting its tired and clichéd plot as well as its stock characters. Oggs Cruz of Rappler called it "a movie that has given up in both originality and ambition," as well as "unapologetically generic and predictable," and a "humdrum and routinary to really be memorably entertaining." Furthermore, Cruz opined that the film merely serves as a starring vehicle for Ai-Ai delas Alas.^[8] Philbert Dy of The Neighborhood felt similarly, while also taking notice of unconvincing performances by Megan Young and delas Alas; he gave an overall rating of 2.5 out of 5.^[9]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Sneak Peek: Aiai delas Alas is Our Mighty Yaya". GMA News and Public Affairs. April 18, 2017. Archived from the original on April 22, 2017. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
^ ^a ^b Ligunas, Mary Louise (May 2, 2017). "Our Mighty Yaya, inspired ng dating kasambahay ni Direk Joey Reyes" (in Filipino). GMA News and Public Affairs. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
^ Anarcon, James Patrick (April 15, 2016). "Ai-Ai Delas Alas and Megan Young star in upcoming movie, My Mighty Yaya". Philippine Entertainment Portal. GMA News and Public Affairs. Archived from the original on January 31, 2024. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
^ ^a ^b "AiAi Delas Alas, Megan Young star in Mother's Day film Our Mighty Yaya". GMA News and Public Affairs. April 19, 2017. Archived from the original on January 31, 2024. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
^ "Our Mighty Yaya official trailer hits 1.5 million views". GMA News and Public Affairs. April 27, 2017. Archived from the original on July 25, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
^ Gabinete, Jojo (September 3, 2016). "Yaya ni Ai Ai, pambato ng Regal sa MMFF!". Abante Tonite (in Filipino). Archived from the original on October 30, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
^ Lalin, Jun (November 16, 2016). "Yaya ni Ai Ai, 'di nakahabol sa MMFF". Abante Tonite (in Filipino). Archived from the original on November 25, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
^ Cruz, Oggs (May 13, 2017). "Our Mighty Yaya review: Lacks originality and ambition". Rappler. Archived from the original on May 20, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
^ Dy, Philbert. "Our Mighty Yaya Is a Poor Tribute". The Neighborhood. Archived from the original on November 17, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2017.