Star Cinema’s “Ang Tanging Ina Niyong Lahat” continued to dominate the box office receipts in the first two days of the 34th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).  

According to the latest figures provided by this year’s MMFF executive committee, the movie, which stars ace comedienne Ai-Ai delas Alas, has already earned P41 million in ticket sales nationwide.  

In the sequel to “Ang Tanging Ina,” delas Alas plays a struggling mother of 12 children who, in an odd twist of fate, ends up running for president of the Philippines.

M-Zet Productions’s “Iskul Bukol 20 Years Later” came in second, taking in P35.6 million.

Iskul Bukol was followed by Regal Films’ and RMM’s “Shake, Rattle & Roll 10” (P22.9 million), “Baler” (P15.2 million),  “Desperadas” (P12.5 million), “One Night Only”  (P2.7 million), “Dayo” (P2.2 million), and “Magkaibigan” (P1 million).

MMFF’s executive committee said the film festival’s total earnings in the first two days reached P133.7 million, up 37 percent from last year.

Award contenders

Despite the lackluster showing at the box office, Baler, Dayo and Magkaibigan are expected to take home the most awards during Saturday’s awarding ceremony at Sofitel Philippine Plaza.  

The three films were given a grade A rating by the Cinema Evaluation Board, exempting them from paying the amusement tax.

Reports said the highest grade also showed the quality of the three movies.  

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, one of the lead stars of Magkaibigan, said he is confident that the movie, which is based on his friendship with the late actor Rudy Fernandez, will bag the top awards.

Critics said Estrada is a strong contender for the best actor award along with Baler’s Phillip Salvador.

For best actress, Magkaibigan’s Dawn Zulueta and Baler’s Anne Curtis are strong contenders.

Singers Karylle, Yeng Constantino and Richard Poon will perform at the red carpet awarding ceremonies Saturday night.

Capping the event is KC Concepcion and Jericho Rosales’s “ KATY! The Musical Concert.”