Thy Womb
title: "Thy Womb" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["2012-films", "2010s-tagalog-language-films", "2012-philippine-films", "philippine-drama-films", "2010s-pregnancy-films", "films-directed-by-brillante-mendoza", "philippine-new-wave", "2012-drama-films", "philippine-pregnancy-films"] topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thy_Womb" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox film"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Thy Womb |
| image | Thy-Womb-poster.jpeg |
| caption | Theatrical movie poster for the 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival |
| director | Brillante Ma. Mendoza |
| producer | {{Plainlist |
| screenplay | Henry Burgos |
| starring | {{Plainlist |
| music | Teresa Barrozo |
| cinematography | Odyssey Flores |
| editing | Kats Serraon |
| studio | |
| distributor | Solar Films |
| released | |
| country | Philippines |
| language | {{Plainlist |
| {{cite web | url |
| runtime | 105 minutes |
| budget | |
| gross | |
| :: |
| name = Thy Womb | image = Thy-Womb-poster.jpeg | caption = Theatrical movie poster for the 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival | director = Brillante Ma. Mendoza | producer = {{Plainlist|
- Melvin Mangada
- Tong S. Puno
- Brillante Ma. Mendoza
- Jaime Santiago | screenplay = Henry Burgos | starring = {{Plainlist|
- Nora Aunor
- Bembol Roco
- Lovi Poe | music = Teresa Barrozo | cinematography = Odyssey Flores | editing = Kats Serraon | studio = | distributor = Solar Films | released = | country = Philippines | language = {{Plainlist|
- Filipino
- Tagalog
- Sinama
- Tausug
- Arabic|
- English | runtime = 105 minutes | budget = | gross = Thy Womb () is a 2012 Filipino drama film starring Nora Aunor, Bembol Roco, Mercedes Cabral, and Lovi Poe. Produced by Center Stage Productions and the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), Melvin Mangada and Jaime Santiago, the film was written by Henry Burgos and directed by Brillante Mendoza. The film was one of the eight official entries to the 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival.
The film competed for the Golden Lion at the 69th Venice International Film Festival. Although it did not bag the top honors, Thy Womb was awarded three special prizes by other Italian film groups — La Navicella Venezia Cinema Award, the P. Nazareno Taddei Award - Special Mention, and the Bisato d' Oro Award for Best Actress (for Nora Aunor) given by an independent Italian critics group called Premio Della Critica Indipendiente. The film was also invited to the 37th Toronto International Film Festival and the 17th Busan International Film Festival. Aunor's performance was universally acclaimed by local and foreign film critics.
The film was referred to as "The Philippines' principal trophy" in Encyclopædia Britannicas section discussing the previous year's films in the Britannica Book of the Year 2013.
Plot
Shaleha (Nora Aunor) and her husband, Bangas-An (Bembol Roco), are an elderly Tausug couple in a village in Tawi-Tawi. Shaleha is a village midwife and helps deliver a baby in a stilt hut. Bangas-An helps with the process. Once the baby is successfully delivered, Shaleha asks for the child’s umbilical cord. A storage cabinet of Shaleha shows several cords that she has requested in previous childbirths, showing that she has assisted in the delivery of many children in the community.
Later while weaving banig, Shaleha asks Bangas-An whether they should adopt a child, so they can have a child at home as Shaleha is not able to bear a child. Bangas-An hesitates, stating that the previous child they adopted was taken from them. It is not revealed how the child was taken, whether the child died or was taken by the biological parents. The idea of Bangas-An taking another wife is brought up, so that the new woman can bear a child for the home, since under Muslim law, men can take up to four wives, provided he can provide for her financially, and with the consent of the prior wife.
The presence of military and gunned men is a recurring theme. In a scene early in the movie, Shaleha and her husband are fishing in open water. They are able to have a bountiful catch but an encounter with gunned men leaves Bangas-An shot and their catch of fish are seized. Shaleha tends to her husbands wounds using folk medicine. In the scene with a floating market, Shaleha’s purchase of sweet potatoes are spilled on the ground as military men bump into her while running to an encounter. In a later scene, Shaleha and Bangas-An assist in a traditional wedding of a young couple, Aisha (Mercedes Cabral) and Nurjay. The wedding dance between bride and groom and disrupted with gunfire heard from a distance. Shaleha insists that the wedding dance continue. The newly-wed couple are disturbed but continue the traditional dance.
Shaleha starts the process of finding a suitable bride. While selling their dried fish products in a floating market, Shaleha asks a woman that they encounter whether she would like to be her husband’s second wife. The woman does not answer. In the floating market, Shaleha and her husband run errands separately while selling their dried fish products. Shaleha eyes a beautiful veil but does not purchase it, saying that it is too expensive. Upon her return to her boat, Bangas-An reveals that he has purchased a beautiful veil for her, similar to the one she was eyeing. The search for a suitable bride continues, with a planned rendezvous with a potential bride in the mosque spurred due to the potential bride no showing up. Shaleha rationalizes that it is better for her to be involved in the process, rather than for her husband to fool around on his own.
Later, a wedding negotiator informed Shaleha that he was able to find a willing bride for Bangas-An, but the bride was requesting a dowry of PHP150,000. Since the couple’s savings amounted to only PHP50,000, the couple resorted to seeking additional funds from associates for the dowry. The couple also sold the motor of their boat in order to complete the dowry. Having completed the dowry, the couple journey to the prospective bride’s residence together with village elders, to initiate the marriage proposal. During the proposal, the bride’s mother accepts the dowry presented, and compliments Shaleha for her strength of character. The prospective bride, Mersila (Lovi Poe), then asks to speak with Bangas-An alone. Mersila asks Bangas-An if he is fully aware of all the conditions of the dowry. It is revealed that Shaleha had agreed to Mersila’s condition that once she is able to produce a child for them, Bangas-An is to divorce Shaleha. Later at home, Bangas-An tearfully assists Shaleha in her weaving, acknowledging her sacrifice. The couple has sexual intercourse.
In the final scene, Shaleha assists in the birth of Mersila’s child with Bangas-An as midwife. It is revealed that she bore a son. Shaleha asks for the child’s umbilical cord, and Mersila agrees albeit in a dismissive manner. Shaleha cradles the child but Bangas-An impatiently asks for the child to be handed to Mersila as the mother. As Shaleha hands the child to Mersila, a large flock of birds fly across the horizon and surprises her.
Cast
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/Cast_of_Sinapupunan_(Thy_Womb)at_the_69th_Venice_International_Film_Festival(Sept.2012)-_Flickr.jpg" caption="Cast of ''Thy Womb'' at the [[69th Venice International Film Festival]]. From left to right: Nora Aunor (as Shaleha), Lovi Poe (as Mersila), and Mercedes Cabral (Aisha). Standing at the far left is the film's director Brillante Mendoza."] ::
- Nora Aunor as Shaleha
- Bembol Roco as Bangas-An
- Lovi Poe as Mersila
- Mercedes Cabral as Aisha
Citations and awards
International awards and recognition
::data[format=table]
| Year | Group | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 3rd Sakhalin International Film festival | Best Actress | Nora Aunor | |
| Best Film | ||||
| Best Director | Brillante Mendoza | |||
| Best Actor | Bembol Roco | |||
| Best Cast | ||||
| Grand Prix of the audience | ||||
| 7th Asian Film Awards | Best Actress | Nora Aunor | ||
| 7th Cines del Sur - Festival de Granada - Spain | Jury Special Mention | |||
| 10th International Independent Film Festival - Lisbon, Portugal | Audience Award - International Competition, Observatory, Emerging Cinema, World Pulse, IndieJunior and Bran New. | 2nd Place | ||
| 11th Asian Film Festival - Reggio Emilia, Italy | Premio Del Pubblico | 2nd Place | ||
| 2012 | 6th Asia Pacific Screen Awards | Best Performance by an Actress | Nora Aunor | |
| Best Director | Brillante Mendoza | |||
| 69th Venice International Film Festival | Bisato d'Oro: Premio Della Critica Indipendiente for Best Actress | Nora Aunor | ||
| La Navicella Award for Best Director | Brillante Mendoza | |||
| P. Nazareno Taddei Award Special Mention | Brillante Mendoza | |||
| Golden Lion for Best Film | ||||
| Volpi Cup for Best Actress | Nora Aunor | |||
| 55th Asia Pacific Film Festival | Best Actress | Nora Aunor | ||
| Best Director | Brillante Mendoza | |||
| :: |
Philippine awards
::data[format=table]
| Year | Group | Category | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival | Best Actress | Nora Aunor | |
| Best Director | Brillante Mendoza | |||
| Best Original Story | Henry Burgos | |||
| Best Cinematography | Odyssey Flores | |||
| Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Awards | ||||
| Most Gender Sensitive Film | ||||
| Female Star of the Night | Nora Aunor | |||
| BALATCA (Batangas Laguna Teachers Association for Culture and the Arts) | Pambansang Dangal ng Sining sa Pagganap | Nora Aunor | ||
| 2013 | 61st FAMAS Awards | Presidential Award for Cinematic Excellence | Nora Aunor | |
| 36th Gawad Urian Awards | Best Actress | Nora Aunor | ||
| Best Production Design | Dante Mendoza | |||
| Best Film | ||||
| Director | Brillante Mendoza | |||
| Best Actor | Bembol Roco | |||
| Best Screenplay | Henry Burgos | |||
| Best Editing | Kats Seraon | |||
| Best Cinematography | Odessey Flores | |||
| Best Music | Teresa Barrozo | |||
| 15th Gawad Pasado (Pampelikulang Samahan ng mga Dalubguro) | Pinakapasadong Pelikula | |||
| Pinakapasadong Direktor | Brillante Mendoza | |||
| Pinakapasadong Aktres | Nora Aunor | |||
| Pinakapasadong Aktor | Bembol Roco | |||
| Pinakapasadong Katuwang Aktres | Lovi Poe | |||
| Pinakapasadong Istorya | Henry Burgos | |||
| Pinakapasadong Pelikula sa Paggamit ng Wika | ||||
| Pinakapasadong Sinematograpiya | Odessey Flores | |||
| Pinakapasadong Editing | Kats Seraon | |||
| Pinakapasadong Dulang Pampelikula | Henry Burgos | |||
| Pinakapasadong Disenyong Pamproduksyon | Dante Mendoza | |||
| Pinakapasadong Paglalapat ng Tunog | Albert Michael Idioma at Addiss Tabong | |||
| Pinakapasadong Musika | Teresa Barrazo | |||
| Young Critics Circle | Best Performance by Male or Female, Adult or Child, Individual or Ensemble in Leading or Supporting Role | Nora Aunor | ||
| Best Screenplay | Henry Burgos | |||
| Best Editing | Kats Seraon | |||
| Best Achievement in Cinematography and Visual Design | Odyssey Flores (Cinematography) | |||
| Dante Mendoza (Production Design) | ||||
| 11th Gawad Tanglaw | Best Actress | Nora Aunor | ||
| 29th Star Awards for Movies | Indie Movie Cinematographer of the Year | Odyssey Flores | ||
| Indie Movie Production Designer of the Year | Dante Mendoza | |||
| Indie movie of the Year | ||||
| Indie Movie Director of the year | Brillante Mendoza | |||
| Movie Actress of the Year | Nora Aunor | |||
| New movie Actress of the Year | Glenda Kennedy | |||
| Indie Movie Screenwriter of the Year | Henry Burgos | |||
| Indie Movie Editor of the Year | Kats Seraon | |||
| Indie Movie Musical Scorer of the Year | Teresa Barrozo | |||
| Indie Movie Sound Engineer of the Year | Albert Michael Idioma and Addiss Tabong | |||
| 10th Golden Screen Awards | Best Motion Picture-Drama | |||
| Best Direction | Brillante Mendoza | |||
| Best Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role-Drama | Nora Aunor | |||
| Best Original Screenplay | Henry Burgos | |||
| Best Cinematography | Odessey Flores | |||
| Best Production Design | Dante Mendoza | |||
| Best Sound Design | ||||
| Best Visual/Special Effects | Keep Me Posted Production Outfit | |||
| 31st Film Academy of the Philippines (Luna Awards) | Best Picture | |||
| Best Actress | Nora Aunor | |||
| Best Screenplay | Henry Burgos | |||
| Best Production Design | Dante Mendoza | |||
| Gawad Tangi (Kritiko ng Pelikula, Telebisyon at Musikang Pilipino) | Best Lead Actress | Nora Aunor | ||
| Best Art Direction | Brillante Mendoza | |||
| Best Picture | ||||
| Best Director | Brillante Mendoza | |||
| Best Screenplay | Henry Burgos | |||
| Best Cinematography | Odessey Flores | |||
| Best Original score | Teresa Barrazo | |||
| Best Editing | Kats Seraon | |||
| Best Ensemble | ||||
| Best Language | ||||
| 1st Philippine Edition Movie Awards | Best Drama Movie | |||
| Favorite Actress - Drama | Nora Aunor | |||
| Favorite Actor - Drama | Bembol Roco | |||
| Favorite Director | Brillante Mendoza | |||
| Favorite Actress - Drama | Lovi Poe | |||
| 2014 | PPA Sisa Media Awards | Outstanding Female Character in a Mainstream Filipino Film | Nora Aunor | |
| :: |
References
References
- (November 24, 2012). "The Movie Thy Womb's Languages Experiment".
- (May 2012). "Nora gaganap na Badjao midwife sa 'Thy Womb'".
- "Venezia 69". labiennale.
- (September 10, 2012). "3 awards for 'Thy Womb' in Venice Film Fest".
- [http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2012/thywomb] {{Webarchive. link. (August 29, 2012 , Thy Womb, film info and screening schedules at TIFF.)
- (August 8, 2012). "8 Filipino films in Busan". Busan.
- . (September 6, 2012). ["Thy Womb (Sinapupunan): Venice Review"](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/venice-2012-thy-womb-review-368361/).
- Lodge, Guy. (September 7, 2012). "Thy Womb".
- (March 2013). "BRITANNICA BOOK OF THE YEAR 2013".
- (17 April 2025). "Famed Philippine film star Nora Aunor dies at 71". BBC News.
- (June 15, 2013). "'Nairobi Haif Life', de David Tosh, se alza con la Alhambra de Oro del Festival Cines del Sur".
- (23 November 2012). "Global Showbz Briefs: Asia Pacific Screen Awards". Deadline.com.
- "61st FAMAS Awards".
- "'Nora Aunor wins 7th Urian Best Actress".
- (April 30, 2013). "'Thy Womb' reaps Gawad Urian nominations".
- "Nora Aunor, Gawad Pasado Best Actress; three actors tie for Best Actor plum from academe-based group".
- (May 31, 2013). "Nora Aunor bags fifth performance award".
- "Nora Aunor and Vilma Santos compete for Best Actress in 29th Star Awards for Movies".
- "I Do Bidoo Bidoo leads 10th Golden Screen Awards nominations".
- (June 27, 2013). "Gawad Tangi winners".
- "qwinners of 1st Philippine Edition Movie Awards online poll".
- "Medical Observer Wins in 2014 PPA Sisa Awards for Outstanding Magazine".
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