HIMALA, the award-winning film that originally starred superstar and National Artist Nora Aunor in 1982, is now on its new iteration, Isang Himala, a musical for the big screen and one of the ten official entries in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2024.

The drama, megged by National Artist for Film Ishmael Bernal and written by National Artist for Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee, is now directed by Pepe Diokno, who worked at the helm of last year’s award-winning historical epic, GomBurZa.

In the past, Himala was also presented as a concert, stage play and even a book. The only musical among this year’s ten MMFF entries in its 50th year, Isang Himala gathers the “crème de la crème” in theater. Most of the cast member are making their big screen debut.

Singer and stage actress Aicelle Santos reprises her role of Elsa in the 2018 musical and this time, she makes her film debut in the musical, Isang Himala.

Isang Himala has a cultural and historical significance since it was based on a classic film. Elsa is a visionary who convinces the people at Barrio Cupang, where she was adopted by Aling Saling (Bituin Escalante).

A Marian devotee, Elsa delivers miracles of healing the sick, drawing thousands of desperate pilgrims to the impoverished town, even those from nearby destinations, to flock to Cupang to experience the divine intercession.

At some point, Elsa fails to heal a child in the throes of death and that creates tension among the barrio people.

A host of veteran theater performers is cast in Isang Himala. Most of them are familiar with the material as they were also in the cast of the 2018 musical.

Kakki Teodoro, as Nimia, the childhood friend of Elsa, bagged the best supporting actress trophy and was thankful for the award. Neomi Gonzales as Chayong is also Elsa’s childhood friend. Journalist in the making Orly was played by David Ezra.

Isang Himala notched fourth Best Picture on awards’ night last December 27 and got the Special Jury Prize. Vince de Jesus won Best Musical Score and Juan Karlos Labajo took on the trophy for interpreting Ang Himala ay Nasa Puso, the Best Original Theme Song.

Even before the start of this year’s MMFF, director Pepe Diokno, already called on the MMFF officials and theater owners to augment the 32 theaters assigned to screen Isang Himala.

After the musical bagged fourth Best Picture in the Gabi ng Parangal, Pepe appealed anew for additional theaters, since the count on December 28 went down to merely 24 and even fewer, down to only nine screens before the year ended.

It is understandable that Isang Himala was not the first or second film choice of the public to spend their hard-earned money for their MMFF entry. There is no box office star nor a big-named celebrity in the cast.

However, the musical merited the awards it deserved, so giving it time to be seen is definitely worth it.

Aicelle will rather say she is “excited” rather than “pressured” now that she is joining the MMFF for the first time.

“Ang hirap isipin ng pressure,” Aicelle said. “Nakakatakot ang word na ‘pressure.’ I just know that we all enjoyed the process and the filming of Isang Himala. Whatever the outcome of this film, we are all hopeful.”

Sweet Plantado Tiongson, who is popularly known as a member of the vocal quartet The Company, plays the “wonderful wizard of Cupang” Mrs. Alba, in Isang Himala.

She was in other musicals in the past, like Do Bidoo Bidoo, Company, Ang Sugo, but it is only now that Sweet ventured in film.

Floyd Tena was seen in Nuel Naval’s Family of Two and GomBurZa last year. In 2018, he joined the cast of Eric Quizon’s My Two Mommies. In Isang Himala, Floyd plays a priest.

So what are the chances of Isang Himala in the box office? “Nangangarap kami,” Aicelle smilingly said. “We hope the moviegoers will come and watch this film musical with their family.”

Nora Aunor opens and ends Isang Himala with a voice over. Raquel Villavicencio, production designer in the original Bernal film, appears and says something foreboding in the epilogues of Isang Himala.

There is the Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) at the TCL (Telephone Communication Limited) Chinese Theater in Los Angeles, where Isang Himala and nine other MMFF 2024 entries will be screened.

Special screenings of other Filipino films are James Love’s A Filipino in America, Regina Aquino’s Faith Healers, Manuel Conde’s Genghis Khan, Cathy Garcia Sampana’s Hello, Love, Again;

Jonathan Eusebio’s Love Hurts, Michele Josue’s Nurse Unseen, King Palisoc’s Song of the Fireflies, Gene Cajayon’s The Debut.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Leah C. Salterio