Mila (2001 film)

Mila is a 2001 Filipino drama film directed by Joel C. Lamangan with its screenplay written by Ricky Lee that was based upon the life story of Anita Pamintuan. It stars Maricel Soriano, Piolo Pascual, Princess Punzalan, Cherry Pie Picache, Kaye Abad, Serena Dalrymple, Jiro Manio and Angelica Panganiban. It was produced and released by Star Cinema as part of their 8th anniversary presentation.

Premise
The film was based on the life story of Anita Pamintuan who died during her fight for proper wages and compensation for public school teachers in the Philippines. Anita helped the street children to learn how to count, read and write; she helped the people of Ermita, Manila.

Cast and characters

 * Maricel Soriano as Mila Cabangon
 * Piolo Pascual as Primo
 * Princess Punzalan as Linda
 * Cherry Pie Picache as Rona
 * Kaye Abad as Winona
 * Serena Dalrymple as Jenny
 * Jiro Manio as Peklat
 * Angelica Panganiban as Leni
 * Luis Alandy as Ruel
 * Nonie Buencamino as Nato
 * Eva Darren as Mila's mother
 * B.J. De Jesus as Boyet
 * Kathleen Hermosa as Teresa
 * Mel Kimura as Lucille
 * Alfred Labatos as Momoy
 * Don Laurel as Ronnel
 * Tony Mabesa as Mr. De Castro
 * Mario Magallona as Rambo
 * Bea Nicolas as Belay
 * Tom Olivar as Torres
 * Jim Pebanco as Noli Malvar
 * Caridad Sanchez as Ms. Pangan
 * Berting Labra as Uncle Dodoy
 * Soliman Cruz as Kalbo
 * Florencio A. Pili as Mila's co-teacher

Cameo

 * Noel Cabangon as himself

MTRCB rating
Despite the film having no "adult-aimed" themes, it was almost given an R-18 rating by the MTRCB due to the two uses of the severe profane word used by the characters of Maricel Soriano and Cherry Pie Picache. Joel Lamangan, the film's director, criticized the censor board and blamed them as the "destroyer of the Philippine film industry" after MTRCB chair Anding Roces gave the said rating to the film. To settle the issue, the censor board finally gave the film a PG-13 rating instead of R-18.

Marketing
As part of the film's release, Star Cinema launched a nationwide essay-writing contest named "Sino ang Mila sa Buhay Ko – The Greatest Teacher In My Life", where participants would create an essay about their Mila on their lives. The film's screenwriter Ricky Lee; singer and youth role model Cris Villonco; Etta Rosales, the representative of AKBAYAN party-list; Benilda Santos, the chairperson of Ateneo de Manila University - Filipino Department; and Tammy Bejerano, the senior creative manager of the film studio served as the panelists for the contest.

Release
The film was first premiered in the Philippines on June 26, 2001, at SM Megamall as well as a general release on June 27. It had a Philippine television premiere on Cinema One and a world premiere on Cinemax.

FAMAS

 * Nominated Best Child Actor for Jiro Manio at the 2002 FAMAS Awards.

Gawad Urian

 * Nominated Best Actress for Maricel Soriano at the 2002 Gawad Urian Awards.