Mano Po
DVD cover
Directed by	Joel C. Lamangan
Screenplay by	Roy C. Iglesias
Story by	Roy C. Iglesias Lily Y. Monteverde
Produced by	Lily Y. Monteverde
Starring	Maricel Soriano Richard Gomez Ara Mina Kris Aquino Eddie Garcia Boots Anson-Roa
Cinematography	Leslie Garchitorena
Edited by	Tara Illenberger
Music by	Von de Guzman
Distributed by	Regal Entertainment
Release date	December 25, 2002 (2002-12-25)
Running time	133 minutes
Country	Philippines
Language	Filipino

Mano Po (Chinese: 吻手; pinyin: Wěn shǒu; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Bún chhiú; lit. 'Hand Please') is a 2002 Filipino drama film produced by Regal Entertainment, and an entry to the 2002 Metro Manila Film Festival. The film's title refers to the "honoring-gesture" used in Filipino culture as a sign of respect to elders. The film focuses on the lives of the Chinese Filipino community. Mano Po stars an all-star cast headed by Maricel Soriano, Richard Gomez, Kris Aquino and Ara Mina. Eddie Garcia and Boots Anson-Roa play the patriarch and matriarch of the Go clan respectively.

The film won the most major awards in the film-awarding bodies, including 12 awards in the 28th Manila Film Festival in 2002. It was named Best Picture, Best Actor (for Eddie Garcia), Best Actress (for Ara Mina), Best Supporting Actress (for Kris Aquino) and Best Director (for Joel Lamangan). Mano Po was among the top-grossing films in time for the Metro Manila Filmfest.

The film's success was followed by a sequel, Mano Po 2: My Home and a spin-off, Bahay Kubo: A Pinoy Mano Po! that was released in 2007. The film was the first entry into what would become a franchise.

Plot

Richelle and Raf narrate on a videotape the history of her family. Don Luis Go is a Chinese immigrant who married a Filipina named Elisa. In 1949, the young Luis brought Elisa to China. There Elisa suffered discrimination and misunderstanding from Luis' parents. She decides to go back to the Philippines and Luis joins her. Luis became a cook and Elisa a laundrywoman. Their hard work pays off and they become one of the most prominent Chinese businessmen in the country.

In the present day, the elderly Gos celebrate their wedding anniversary when they are interrupted by their granddaughter Richelle, a delinquent who scandalizes them by wearing revealing clothes, bringing her disreputable boyfriend as a guest and giving them a porn video as a present. Richelle is later arrested on drug charges by policemen led by Raf, who convinces Richelle to turn witness in return for withholding the news of her arrest from her family. Richelle is scorned by the family after she names a family friend as a major drug dealer and her delayed arrival at Elisa's deathbed. Later, Richelle and her sister Juliet are abducted and her other sister Vera's fiancé Emerson is killed. Raf, who develops a romantic relationship with Richelle, rescues her, but Richelle is shot while shielding Juliet and nearly dies. Upon her recovery Richelle reconciles with her family, who give their blessing to her relationship with Raf and to their marriage. The film ends with a presentation of famous Chinese Filipinos in history.

Cast

Main cast

• Maricel Soriano as Vera Go
• Kris Aquino as Juliet Go-Co
• Richard Gomez as PCInsp. Rafael "Raf" Bala
• Ara Mina as Richelle Go-Bala

Supporting cast

• Eddie Garcia as Don Luis Go
• Tirso Cruz III as Daniel Go
• Eric Quizon as Joseph Co
• Cogie Domingo as young Luis/Fong Huan
• Jay Manalo as Emerson Lau
• Gina Alajar as Gina Chua-Go
• Amy Austria as Linda Go-De la Madrid
• Boots Anson-Roa as Elisa Malimban-Go
• Maxene Magalona as young Elisa

Minor cast

• Allan Paule as Antonio "Tonyo" De la Madrid
• Jim Pebanco as Mike De la Madrid
• Richard Quan as Joey Yang
• Carlo Maceda as Jimmy Go
• Nanding Josef as Gen. Dioscoro Blanco

Awards