Ina Ka ng Anak Mo

Renata, a 43-year-old devout Catholic widow, is shown practicing her faith in public and private. She attends mass at Quiapo Church and repeatedly walks the length of the church on her knees as a sign of devotion. Back at home, she hosts a nightly rosary that Esther witnesses from the doorway.

That night, Renata's prayer gathering keeps dinner late as she prepares for her devotions. She urges Esther to visit Obando Church to dance and offer eggs to St. Clara, believing the ritual may help Esther and her husband have children. Esther feels insulted by the suggestion and resents her mother's interference.

Esther and Luis discuss the possibility of him working abroad, spurred by a coworker's experience overseas. He sees it as a chance to save money and perhaps start a business later. Esther grows unhappy, interpreting his interest as a reaction to infertility rather than a genuine plan.

Esther confesses that her father's death while working abroad left her wary of long separations and foreign jobs. She blames Renata for pressuring him to leave, believing the pursuit of a brighter future brought tragedy. The accusation deepens the rift between mother and daughter.

Renata denies the accusation and breaks down in tears, feeling the weight of her daughter's blame. The confrontation escalates into a painful argument that unsettles both of them. Esther recoils from the heated moment but remains angry.

The next day, Esther leaves for a work assignment in Baguio, seeking distance from the family conflict. Renata stays behind, nursing her own hidden pain as Luis probes her life. The separation heightens the emotional distance between mother and daughter.

Renata opens up to Luis about her aim to fund Esther's schooling and future by having him work abroad. The emotional burden breaks, and the two share a sexual encounter. This marks the start of their complicated, secret relationship.

When Esther returns, she apologizes to both Renata and Luis, but the emotional chasm remains. Luis later sleeps with Renata again, deepening the betrayal and setting the stage for the ensuing consequences.

Renata discovers she is pregnant with Luis's child and faces Luis's urge to terminate the pregnancy. She refuses abortion, choosing to carry the child to term instead. The pregnancy reshapes the relationships around them and foreshadows future conflict.

Renata relocates to Cebu, presenting the move as a temporary stay with friends of Luis while he works abroad. Esther is told she will vacation in Cebu to assist a friend’s business, which paradoxically frees her from her mother but leaves her unsettled by Luis's absence.

Renata gives birth to a healthy baby and informs Luis with a telegram. Luis visits in Cebu but fibs about a Davao assignment. Esther discovers the truth after finding the telegram and travels to Cebu, shocked to learn the child is Luis's and Renata's.

Renata files a criminal complaint for concubinage against Esther and Luis. During the trial, Luis admits to having had sexual intercourse with Renata, and Renata reveals she had been a widow for 11 years, implying a complex, morally loaded motive. Esther attempts to withdraw the complaint, but Renata believes she remains trapped in shame.

As the trial unfolds, Renata experiences visions of God slapping her and crying that cleanse her and forgive her. She collapses and is hospitalized, begging Esther for forgiveness and to care for the baby. She dies before Esther can respond.

After Renata's death, Luis informs Esther that a couple is willing to adopt the baby, and that he will pursue his Saudi Arabia job application. These plans promise a different future for the child and the remaining family members.

In the film’s final moment, Esther visits Luis and finds the baby crying. She gently picks up and soothes the child, suggesting a tentative path toward acceptance of the baby’s fate and her own future.