Review of Bata bata paano ka ginawa?

"Bata, bata…Paano ka ginawa?" shows a mother, Leah Bustamante (Vilma Santos) struggling to raise her two children. What makes it different from other films is the fact that two children have different fathers; the elder being the son of her estranged husband and the youngest being the daughter of her lover. The film shows how the stereotypes of women are still being upheld by patriarchal Philippine society. All throughout the film, Leah's choices are questioned, from her having the two children to having her own occupation: the principal of her children's school mistakes her for an escort (since she has two children by two fathers), the two fathers urge her to quit her job to take care of the children. The major dilemma in the film is when her two children had to choose between staying with their fathers or their mother. The film then raises questions about the ability of a single parent raising children, the "ideal" family structure, and the sexuality of women. Leah tries to be the unshakable rock for her family but she still manages to show her frail human side when she tries to find someone (or some man, to be more accurate) to connect with. Though the film raises difficult questions and builds up the drama about the family structure, it quickly dismisses them all with melodrama and sentimentality. In the end, the children stay with Leah and she even manages to deliver a speech at her son's graduation. There is then this imbalance between the build-up and the conclusion; the problem is not provided with a solution that is equal to its weight or gravity. Imagine, a child dismisses her father's request to stay with him by saying that she just needs to look at his pictures. A principal who looks down on Leah suddenly becomes the only person who truly understands her passion for helping women in crises. In its hurry to provide a happy ending that will satisfy viewers, the film quickens its plot carelessly.