Bianca Umali’s award-winning performance in ‘Mananambal’ with Superstar Nora Aunor set to be seen on Feb 19
The island of Siquijor whispers secrets. Among them, the tale of Lucia, a “mananambal,” a healer, but one who walks a path shadowed by ancient magic. Ambitious content creators, hungry for online fame, sought her out, their cameras poised to capture the extraordinary. Their journey led them not to Lucia, but to her daughter, Alma, a young woman fiercely determined to forge her own destiny, far from the traditions of her mother.
“Maganda ang istorya. Mababait rin ang mga tao sa production,” said Nora Aunor, the “Superstar” of Philippine cinema, explaining her draw to the role of Lucia. A mother torn between the weight of her healing powers and the fierce protection she feels for her child, Lucia is a character that promises to add another layer to Aunor’s celebrated career.
The content creators saw Alma as their key to Lucia, a means to an end. Their relentless pursuit fractured the young woman, leaving her vulnerable and betrayed. They returned to Manila, believing they had their story. They were wrong. Instead, they carried with them a nightmare, a cascade of horrifying events, death stalking their every move.
Was it the curse of a “mananambal”? Or was something more sinister at play? One thing became brutally clear: some lines should never be crossed. Never trifle with a “mananambal” and those they hold dear.
The film, steeped in Filipino culture, has already journeyed beyond its shores, screening at the Jinseo Arigato International Film Festival in Japan. There, Bianca Umali, who plays Alma, received the Best Dramatic Actress award. “This means the world to me,” she declared. “This award acknowledges all of the hard work and dedication that I have poured into my craft and in this project.”
Umali then offered a heartfelt dedication to the legendary Nora Aunor: “Karangalan ko po na makatrabaho kayo and I hope that you are here with me, maraming maraming salamat po.”
‘Mananambal,’ a story of tradition, betrayal, and the terrifying consequences of disrespecting the sacred, arrives in cinemas nationwide on February 19. Joining Aunor and Umali are Kelvin Miranda, Edgar Allan Guzman, Jeric Gonzales, and Martin Escudero. Prepare for a descent into fear, a story that will make you question the true cost of vengeance.
