During the Metro Manila Film Festival 2024 Gabi Ng Parangal, "Isang Himala" took home the 4th Best Picture, a Best Supporting Actress win for Kakki Teodoro, Best Musical Score, Best Original Theme Song, and a Special Jury Prize (shared with Topakk). So, if you’re going to ask me to define what is a "crime against Philippine cinema," I would offer the fact and make an example that from opening in only 32 theaters on Dec. 25, "Isang Himala" was reduced to 24, then down to nine screens by Dec. 28. We clamor for something different, for quality, and the uplifting of our culture via cinema. And yet, when something possessing all those three virtues arrives, we don’t give it a chance to gain momentum.

I can appreciate the economic factors that rule our cinema operators and accept that even for audiences ready to watch at least half of the MMFF entries, "Isang Himala" would not be the first or second film choice. It’s not your typical MMFF blockbuster, as it's a heavy drama and a serious musical. Plus, there’s no box office star or celebrity anywhere on the cast. 

But if the "Parangal" jury judge it 4th Best, and I’ll even throw in the 3rd Best Picture My Future You; it’s criminal not to give these films an opportunity to find their audience. These two would be slow burns at best; but if the Festival wanted to be about uplifting, they should give due weight and consideration to what these two films represent. I’m just saying that there’s got to be a better way. 

Directed by Pepe Diokno and written by Ricky Lee, it’s the original 1982 Ishmael Bernal/Nora Aunor film turned into a stage musical and now reincarnated as a film musical! So very ‘wicked’ a path, and we’re the lucky viewers for being gifted this third iteration. Marrying theater with film and utilizing the best of musical stage thespians, the film chronicles the ‘miraculous’ journey and trial of Elsa (Aicelle Santos) and her childhood friends Nimia (Kakki Teodoro) and Chayong (Neomi Gonzales). The other major characters are Elsa’s mother, Aling Saling (Bituin Escalante), and the wannabe journalist from Manila, Orly (David Ezra).

It all takes place in the provincial town of  Cupang and its outskirts. It’s a storyline line about hubris - defined as excessive pride or arrogance, and often before the fall or the humbling. A studio soundstage to control lighting and sound and to create the stylized look of a stage in raw nature is part of the cinema magic conjured up by Pepe Diokno and his production team. And it all works beautifully, giving the film its distinct look and atmosphere. You’ll especially appreciate the lighting manipulated to enhance mornings, and depict approaching storm clouds. 

As Nimia, Kakki Teodoro is wondrous, making her every second on-screen count, and it’s easy to appreciate why she romped home with the Best Supporting Actress award. If you ask me to level a criticism of the film, I’d say editing could have trimmed down the running time by 20 minutes, and it would have been a tighter film. I say this only because there are very few shafts of humor, so it could be asking a lot from mainstream audiences to sit through the two hours thirty of heavy drama and serious songs. 

Kudos to producer Madonna Tarroya for taking the gigantic risk with this film, and I loved the finishing touch of having Nora Aunor voice the opening and closing lines of the film. Such a poetic move! This film deserves its audience, and I’m praying the clamor goes up to find new screens for this movie's achievement. Join your voices in this chorus!