“Isang Himala” — the highly anticipated musical adaptation of the 1982 classic “Himala” originally directed by Ishmael Bernal and headlined by Philippine cinema icon Nora Aunor — is set to bring a fresh take to the story of faith, doubt, and miracles as one of the 10 official entries for the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) this December 25.
Singer-actress Aicelle Santos portrays Elsa for the musical film. FACEBOOK PHOTOS/THECREAZIONSTUDIOS
Directed by Pepe Diokno and co-written with National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee — who also penned the screenplay for the original film — the musical film is an adaptation of the 2018 stage production “Himala: Isang Musikal.” In this production, singer-actress Aicelle Santos first brought to life Elsa, a faith healer in a remote town whose miraculous claims ignite both fervent devotion and intense controversy.
Nora Aunor — the original Elsa — will have a special participation in the film.
For Santos, taking on the role of Elsa is the biggest break of her career, but instead of feeling pressured, she’s eager for audiences to experience the film.
The cast of ‘Isang Himala,’ one of the 10 entries for the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival.
“I prefer to use the word excited. I’m more excited because it’s hard to think about pressure. The word pressure is scary. I just feel that if we all enjoyed the process, if we all enjoyed filming Isang Himala, whatever the outcome may be, I know that we gave our best, and I know we have a message to share with our audience. And that’s where we want to draw our joy and excitement, rather than from the pressure,” she shared in a press conference.
Joining Santos is a stellar ensemble of Philippine theater’s finest, including Bituin Escalante, David Ezra, Neomi Gonzales, Kakki Teodoro, Joann Co, and Vic Robinson. However, Santos emphasizes that beyond its powerhouse cast, it is the film’s deep cultural and historical significance that truly sets Isang Himala apart from other entries.
“We have something new to offer, being the only musical among the 10 entries. Isang Himala holds cultural and historical significance because it is based on a classic film by our National Artist Ricky Lee and director Ishmael Bernal. We dream that many will come to watch it. We have director Pepe Diokno, sir Ricky, and the music of sir Vincent de Jesus, plus I am joined by some of the finest actors in theater here in our country,” Santos pointed out.
Meanwhile, in a separate interview, Lee discussed the distinctions between Aunor’s Elsa and Santos’ interpretation of the role.
“With Nora, we made it more subtle. It came through in her enigmatic gaze, in the way she looked around, but it remained understated. In the play, and especially in this musical film, we made Elsa’s dark side more explicit,” he explained.
“In a musical, you can express things that can’t be conveyed through ordinary language,” Lee added.
Santos’ casting as Elsa was a deliberate choice, one that Lee believes grounds the character in relatability.
“When an actor has commercial appeal, they carry a certain image in the public’s consciousness — they’re no longer ordinary. But Aicelle feels like an everyday person, someone like us, someone relatable. It could happen to you, it could happen to her. Nora was different — we’re not Nora. She’s enigmatic, she was the chosen one. This Elsa is also chosen, but she’s an ordinary person who was selected. Elsa now feels more real compared to Nora. They didn’t try to imitate or replace her.”
While the original “Himala” film premiered 42 years ago, Lee emphasized its importance for younger audiences to witness and experience the story.
“First of all, I think it’s important to remind Filipinos that our experiences are repeated generation after generation. We still face the same social concerns, like waiting for a strong man or a big figure to show us the way, instead of realizing that the answers are within our hearts and not in someone else.
“I also think that the current generation is somewhat confused about its identity because of social media. So, it’s important for them to watch films that show what it means to be Filipino — how we were before is how we are now. And lastly, I hope we appreciate the films from before because they are part of the history that led to the films we have today. It’s like a long river that comes from that stream.
“So, even if you’re not a filmmaker, we should look back and recognize that once upon a time, this was the kind of film we had. Once upon a time, Nora Aunor made a film that shook the Berlin Film Festival and won CNN’s Best Asia-Pacific Film of all Time. And even today, people are still watching it. So we, too, should appreciate it.”
Lastly, Lee revealed that “Isang Himala” will feature a special participation by Aunor, though he remained tight-lipped about her exact role. Aunor’s voice can be heard in the film’s official trailer, a move that has sparked intrigue among fans of the original film.
“Isang Himala” is set to hit theaters nationwide on December 25, alongside other entries in the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival.
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