Sharon Cuneta and Barbie Forteza Show the Raw Reality of Complex Mother-Daughter Ties in Honor Thy Mother

Sharon Cuneta and Barbie Forteza clash in Honor Thy Mother, Prime Video’s new female-led drama, where building an empire comes at a steep personal price

For decades, we’ve watched Megastar Sharon Cuneta embody the classic, heart-on-her-sleeve matriarch on screen. But in Honor Thy Mother—the landmark series co-produced by ABS-CBN, GMA, and —we see a distinctly different side of her: feisty, ambitious, and unyielding empowered.

Playing Diana Aragon, the formidable chairwoman of corporate titan La Familia, Sharon commands the room with no-nonsense authority. But as with many mothers who carry the weight of an empire, that strength comes with a steep personal cost.

When Ambition collides with Family

Diana’s ascent to the top wasn’t built on ease; following a devastating fire that destroyed the company’s main plant, she took the helm after her father’s passing. But the relentless drive required to keep the business afloat fractured her own household, leading to a separation from her husband, Martin (Tonton Gutierrez), and a deep emotional rift with her daughter, Patricia (Barbie Forteza).

Just as La Familia seems to regain its footing, crisis strikes again: a high-stakes product launch collapses alongside a scandal involving the company’s flagship feeding program. By the end of episode one—screened during an exclusive media preview on September 8—Diana suffers a sudden heart attack, right as Patricia makes an unexpected return.

At the show’s press conference, Sharon reflected on the intricate layers that drive her character’s tough exterior.

“She was raised by a father who built an empire, and she had to keep building it all the time,” Sharon shared. “She didn’t know other things. She did what she could as a mom and as a wife. But siyempre, a lot happened. In this show, we’ll see everything she learned after going through all of that.”

Sharon was also quick to challenge the traditional mold of on-screen motherhood: “Not everything good has to look weak. Diana is a strong woman. She was raised that way, she runs an empire, and she lost her family—but there are valid reasons behind her choices.”

A Narrative Driven by Strong Women

Beyond the dynamic between Sharon and Barbie, Honor Thy Mother highlights a powerful female-led cast featuring Mercedes Cabral and Kriza Taa, alongside John Estrada and Khalil Ramos.

For Sharon, bringing a story centered on female strength to life feels both timely and necessary. “I feel it’s empowering to women in particular,” she noted. “There’s still a deep sensitivity in every female character here, but the approach is fresh, which makes it incredibly exciting.”

Co-star Barbie Forteza echoed the sentiment, describing the intense, fiery dynamic between her character and Sharon’s.

“There’s a level of masculinity to both of them—it’s almost like two men in a boxing ring,” Barbie quipped. “I love how the show blends femininity and strength. This is uncharted territory for me, too. I usually play the gentle, loving daughter, but we start this story right in the middle of severe conflict and depth.”

As Diana Aragon navigates the fallout of her choices, including her relationship with Patricia, mothers everywhere will find a piece of their own balancing acts reflected in her journey—making this groundbreaking series an essential watch for every parent who has ever had to choose between fighting for a legacy and holding onto home.

Honor Thy Mother begins streaming nationwide on September 11 on Prime Video.

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