HIMALA 1982

director: ishmael bernal

writer:    ricardo lee

starring: nora aunor

              veronica palileo

              spanky manikan

the film was directed by the great ismael bernal and was written by the famous ricardo lee. himala was actually based on a true to life story about a young lady from cabra island in occidental mindoro during the 1960's. the film was premiered on 1982 during the metro manila film festival. during 1983 it became the first filipino film included in the berlin international film festival. on the other hand during 2008, himala won the title of the viewer's choice award for the best film of all time from the asia-pacific region in the 2008 CNN asia pacific screen awards.

it is a story about a girl named elsa (nora aunor) who had had an apparition of the blessed virgin mary at the top of the hill during the solar eclipse. the area where she had the apparition was the very same place where her adoptive mom found her. after that incident she started healing sick people and people came to cupang to seek for her healing hands. the people was convinced that it was miracle and the curse of drought was already lifted. as the healing progresses people took advantage of putting up businesses in relation to elsa's fame and miracles. film makers also came to see for themselves how elsa heals people. one of them was orly (spanky manikan) who happened to have his career on the edge. he went to cupang to make a documentary about elsa and her life. during that time elsa's childhood friend nimia (gigi dueñas) went back to town. elsa and nimia were not in good terms, if elsa was in the good side nimia was in the otherwise making her put up a cabaret. eventually, elsa's followers did not let nimia run her business for a long time and had it closed. elsa had many followers and many patronized her for her power. unfortunately, all of these came to doubt when elsa and her friend chayong (laura centeno) was raped during one time when they went to the hill to pray at 3 in the morning. that sexual assault was documented by orly. he saw the whole incident but he kept quiet and continued filming instead of saving the two ladies. out of guilt, he confessed to the priest about what he saw that moment. later on, elsa and chayong have been disgusted by themselves and produced doubts on their faith. illness spread through out the town leaving number of deaths. chayong out of shame killed herself by hanging because of the sexual assault. those unfortunate events made the authorities close elsa's house and have it quarantined. elsa couldn't take it anymore and started to blame herself for everything. she stopped from healing and the people stopped coming to cupang and to her. later on, elsa felt that she was pregnant. it was actually because of the rape incident, but mrs. alba (veronica palileo) claimed that it was immaculate conception and proclaimed that elsa was truly blessed. after that, thunder and lighting stroked and rain started to pour down. the people was amazed and they rejoiced. again, they were convinced that it was a miracle and that the curse was again lifted. mrs. alba called everyone to go to elsa and eventually the people were told to go to the hill. that was the time when elsa pledged her plea that there were no miracles. there were no apparitions and that it was only the people who invents their gods, miracles and curses. while speaking elsa was shot and there was a stampede. many were injured and there was a mass hysteria. elsa was carried by her adoptive mom as she gasped her last breath. film makers including orly documented these events. people were crying as they walk towards elsa, as they lift her body towards the ambulance, the people had her positioned as a crucifix. the crowd were all over elsa. sepa (ama quiambao) shouted that elsa was a saint. that she was a martyr for her own suffering. then she started praying hail mary with the people as elsa was taken away by the ambulance. 

as what i've seen, the film was again a testament of time. it was one of the best filipino films that was ever created and the awards speak of that. since the film was already old, i don't want to be biased. of course there are technical problems already due to its oldness. however, the lighting the shots and every meaningful scene was greatly presented and very well emphasized. every important detail was clear and all actors were at their best to portray their role, making the film more effective. the story was well written and the script were delivered finely. 

the story was indeed heart warming. for me i have seen the value of feminism and faith in this film. yes it is very evident that what you could first realize is that faith is the main issue in the film. yes that is correct. but other than that, i have also seen that the film was also trying to imply the value of females in our society, in the eyes of god and as human. yes it is true that this film taught us how to establish our faith in our god. that it is not about any person or any thing who and what could show us what to believe in. faith is believing in something and someone that we don't see. we don't need to have proof first before believing. for me, elsa was an instrument used by the blessed virgin mary that symbolizes females or woman to give value to faith in the lord. having elsa as an instrument made people believe that there was hope and that there were miracles. but the truth is that, it is us who chooses what and who to believe in. now a days many religious sects are around us, creating disciples and followers who eventually believes in one god but with different ways of expressions of beliefs. but still it is us who makes our path towards our own miracles and curses. we were given the free will by the lord to decide for ourselves what paths that we would want to take. yes, we do consult our god in every decision that we will make, believing that he will show us the way. this is how strong faith can outgrow a person. if you will use it right then you'll be blessed but if not, then perhaps you might as well be cursed. with regards to the value of feminism, blessed virgin represents pureness. she was a virgin when she had jesus in her womb. elsa was a virgin when she saw the apparition and started to make miracles with healing. it was on that era people are very much concerned with virginity and the morality of women. if we will look back, the film portrayed prostitution as a devils work. that women who sells their body is a sinful act and or that they should be despised. the morality and reputation of woman was given value. it shapes the woman as a person and her faith in the lord too, for if she was not a virgin anymore, she doesn't deserve to be treated right and to be loved by god and by the people. for this, i don't agree. i for myself believe that god is a merciful father and same as with his son. and every sinner has a right to repent and ask for god's grace for another chance. even if we females are not virgins anymore, we shouldn't be stereotyped or we don't deserve to be hated by people. we don't have any right to judge others. it is only god who can judge us. as a young adult woman, i am against to that thinking that a woman doesn't deserve much love, respect and acceptance when she had sinned and she was engaged to any sexual acts out of marriage. because i believe that any one could sin against god and against the eyes of the people but any one also deserves to be treated the way god wants us to treat each other. so what i'm tying to point out is, yes, as woman we should value ourselves as humans and as children of god, but in cases that we have committed sin and failed to do what is expected of us  to do and to be what is expected of us to be are not merely reasons for us to feel that it's the end of the world. so with relation to faith, i believe that god wouldn't let me suffer because he knows me better than any person in this world and he loves me for who i am and for who i am not. as human and as woman we have our rights to be treated with love, respect and acceptance by the society, by the people and by god.