Himala (1982) by Ishmael Bernal

By: Ashley A. De Vera, the Philippines

"There is no miracle! The miracle is in the human heart, in the heart of all of us! We are the miracle makers, we are the cursers and the Gods, there is no miracle!"

Himala (Miracle) is a film that makes it easy for individuals, especially those who fall in lower socioeconomic classes, to imagine that God must be the one who decides everything. And it is evident when the movie reveals that there are people who will manipulate others for their own selfish purposes by hiding behind religion and beliefs. The movie highlights the question “Is there still such a thing as miracles?” and focuses on faith or people’s ability to fight for their commitments rather than hiding behind religion.

This incredible feature film perfectly expresses what happened in the Philippines when former President Ferdinand Marcos imposed martial law. The "Walang Himala! (There's no miracle!)" meme was popular across the country when I first learned about the movie. It's a well-known movie in the Philippines that touches the emotions of a lot of people. I heartily urge everyone who has the opportunity to view this movie to do so. Religion is for everyone, but discontent could indicate corruption. The entire movie was filled with this unspoken message.

Himala (1982), directed by Ishmael Bernal.