The twin victories of Sharon Cuneta and Heart Evangelista as best actress and best supporting actress at the 35th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) should boost the box-office returns of their starrer, “Mano Po 6: A Mother’s Love,” which currently ranks fifth among seven entries.

Cuneta and Evangelista turn in felt performances as estranged mother and daughter in this surprisingly focused and restrained production written by Roy Iglesias and directed by Joel Lamangan for Regal Films.

Although the latest installment of the “Mano Po” franchise explores the stigma of having mixed Filipino and Chinese lineage, as well as the differences between two cultures, it ultimately celebrates the universal reverence for maternal love and filial devotion.

Cuneta plays Melinda Uy, a Filipino-Chinese scorned by her pure Chinese in-laws for supposedly bringing bad luck into the life of her husband Alfonso (Christopher de Leon), whose death causes more distress for his widow who eventually loses contact with their kids Stephanie (Evangelista), Audrey (Nicole Uysiuseng), and Walden (John Manalo).

Melinda does her best in reclaiming her little ones---nearly losing her mind in the process---but with the help and support of her mother Jin Feng (Boots Anson-Roa), eldest child Carol (Ciara Sotto), and loyal friend Sarah (Kris Aquino), she learns to stand up and become a stronger person.

But even as Melinda attains financial success through her flourishing businesses, she remains alienated from her younger kids who grew up hating her primarily due to the prodding of her sister-in-law Olive (Zsa Zsa Padilla).

Melinda is especially hurt by Stephanie’s hatred of her, but when she learns of her second daughter’s engagement to dubious businessman Daniel (Dennis Trillo), she vows to move heaven and earth to save Stephanie from imminent doom.

Melinda’s efforts in reunifying her family and redeeming her dignity may have taken most of the movie’s running time, but in the end, she gives back the credit to her mother whose own story and struggles serve as her inspiration.

Stephanie, for her part, hates her mother because she thought Melinda solely cared about Carol that’s why she abandoned her and her younger siblings.

Carol, on the other hand, feels neglected because although she’s with her mother, Melinda is preoccupied with her passionate pursuit of her three younger kids especially Stephanie. Carol nonetheless remains a faithful and dutiful daughter.

Cuneta paces the rest of the cast, but Evangelista and Sotto delineate their roles just as remarkably. The two even shine in their respective dramatic scenes, which incidentally both involve the Megastar. Those were moments of real emotions that could stir deeply hidden sentiments.

“Mano Po 6” is a must-see not only for Sharonians or fans of Evangelista, a popular young star who’s starting to prove that she has the makings of a respected actress, but by all who appreciate a fine melodrama.