Singer-actress Aicelle Santos shared an unforgettable experience with Superstar and National Artist Nora Aunor during the run of ‘Himala: Isang Musikal’ in 2018-2019.
Aunor, who originally played the iconic role of Elsa in the 1982 classic ‘Himala’, attended a performance of the musical adaptation and left a lasting impression on the cast.
“Yes po, nanood si Miss Nora Aunor sa amin, at naalala kong niyakap niya kami, nangingilid ang kanyang luha,” Santos said during a press conference for ‘Isang Himala’, one of the official entries in the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). “At may litrato ako, may ebidensiya, na magkahawak kami ng kamay, na kilig na kilig po ako.”
Aunor expressed to the cast how the musical brought back vivid memories of her work on the original film, which Santos interpreted as a heartfelt endorsement of their efforts. “And from that, I took it as a blessing, as a yes, sa ginawa namin,” she added.
While Aunor’s support for the project has been confirmed by National Artist Ricky Lee, who wrote the original screenplay and co-wrote the adaptation, her specific involvement in the film adaptation remains a mystery.
When asked about Aunor’s role in the upcoming film, Santos coyly responded, “Abangan! Hahahaha!”
Lee emphasized Aunor’s enthusiasm for the project. “Oo, talagang full support si Ate Guy sa project na ito,” he said.
Santos, who plays Elsa in the film adaptation, discussed her approach to portraying the iconic role, noting that she deliberately avoided comparisons to Aunor’s original performance.
“Sa tingin ko po hindi maganda, as an actor, na yun ang pagbasehan ko, kung ano ang ginawa nang nauna sa iyo. Kaya lagi kong sinasabi na balikan ang script, balikan ang karakter, balikan ang mga kaeksena mo dahil yun ang bubuo ng kuwento,” she explained.
She also highlighted the differences between her performances in the stage musical and the film version. “Kung ano ang kaibahan sa musical noon at dito sa pelikula? Noong musical kasi, wala kaming mga lapel, at boom mic lang. So, sa musical, sinabihan kami na kumanta na hanggang marinig ng tao na nasa pinakadulo,” she shared. “Sa film naman, tinanong namin si Direk Pepe, coming from theatre, na alam mong medyo malaki ang mga mata namin, naka-project ang singing…pero dito sa pelikula, naku-conscious kami sa camera. So, sabi ni Direk Pepe, ‘Sino ba ang kausap mo? Sisigawan mo ba ang kausap mo kapag magkaeksena kayo?’ So you stick to your truth. You stick to the story, the message, of the film.”
Directed by Pepe Diokno and co-written by Ricky Lee, ‘Isang Himala’ reimagines the themes of faith, doubt, and miracles from the original ‘Himala’ while incorporating elements from the 2018 stage production. The film is set to premiere on December 25 as part of the MMFF.
Santos and the rest of the cast are optimistic that audiences will embrace this fresh take on the beloved story.
