Himala won the Viewer’s Choice Award for the Best Film of all Time from the Asia-Pacific Region – Philippine superstar Nora Aunor is best known for her performance in the film as the visionary Elsa. Her portrayal is considered by most Filipino critics as the best of her career.
Himala is the story of Elsa, a barrio lass whose visions of the Virgin Mary changed her life and caused a sensation hysteria in a poor, isolated village. The film is centered on the issues of religious faith and faithlessness. Elsa, in her speech on the hill, delivered the film’s (and Aunor’s) most famous line:
“Walang himala!! Ang himala ay nasa puso ng tao, nasa puso nating lahat! Tayo ang gumagawa ng mga himala! Tayo ang gumagawa ng mga sumpa at ng mga diyos…” (“There is no miracle!! The miracles are in people’s hearts, in all our hearts! We make the miracles! We are the ones who make curses, gods…”)
