The Miracle
“Paquil” tells the story of Christina, a once-celebrated actress who, after experiencing several career flops and being diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, returns to her hometown of Pakil. This town holds deep childhood memories for her and is known for the long-lost tradition of Komedya, a local theatrical performance. Christina, now at a crossroads in her life, becomes determined to revive this cultural art form as she grapples with her fading health and inner struggles.
Amidst her personal battle, Christina’s faith and devotion to the Our Lady of Turumba, the town’s patron saint, become her anchor. She prays earnestly for a miracle of healing, hoping that the Virgin will intercede and cure her illness. As the town prepares for the Turumba Festival, an event filled with devout prayers, songs, and processions in honor of the Virgin, Christina finds herself deeply immersed in both the religious and cultural traditions of her hometown. These acts of faith give her strength to persevere through her suffering.
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Lemuel LorcaDirector
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Archie Del MundoWriter
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Vincent SorianoProducer
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Archie Del MundoProducer
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Neil Howard BantocProducer
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Beauty GonzalezKey Cast"Christina"
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JM De GuzmanKey Cast
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Project Type:Feature
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Runtime:2 hours 13 minutes
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Completion Date:October 1, 2024
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Production Budget:16,000,000 PHP
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Country of Origin:Philippines
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Country of Filming:Philippines
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Language:Tagalog
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:16:09
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
Distribution Information
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Resiko Entertainment ProductionDistributorCountry: PhilippinesRights: All Rights
LEMUEL C. LORCA is an award-winning filmmaker from Mauban, Quezon. He is a product of San Sebastian College and Mowelfund Film Institute. A Gawad Urian nominee and a Cine Filipino awardee, he has been a writer, director, producer, editor for television and films for over 2 decades now.
His directorial debut was for an independently-produced film entitled Bola. He soon directed a string of festival darlings, critically-acclaimed, and award-winning films like Cinemalaya’s Intoy Syokoy ng Kalye Marino (2012); QCinema International Film Festival’s Mauban: Ang Resiko (2014) and Water Lemon (2015); Echorsis (2015); and the 2nd CineFilipino Film Festival’s Best Film, Ned’s Project(2016).
His most travelled film, Maestra(2017) produced by Dr. Carl Balita Productions, made the rounds in 20 different festivals abroad, receiving different nominations and awards for major categories.
Lem is an “actor’s director.” He collaborates with his actors as they build the film character's background together. Under his guidance, he wants them to fly and take the characters into the sky as far as they can go. Thus, most of his actors have won in different acting categories aside from the acting nominations they received such as Angeli Bayani, Anna Luna, and Gloria Sevilla for Maestra; Angeli Bayani and Max Eigenmann for Ned’s Project; Joross Gamboa for Intoy Syokoy; Alessandra De Rossi and Menggie Cobarrubias for Mauban; Tessie Tomas and Lou Veloso for Water Lemon.
"Paquil" is a deeply personal exploration of identity, faith, and the transformative power of art. At its heart, the story speaks to the universal longing for meaning amidst life’s trials—a search for connection when faced with the looming shadows of loss and despair. Through the character of Christina, a woman grappling with a fading career and a debilitating illness, the film traverses the delicate landscape of returning home—both physically and spiritually. Her journey to revive the lost Komedya art form of Pakil symbolizes not only a reclaiming of cultural heritage but also an intimate reconciliation with one’s past, faith, and purpose.
I was captivated by the idea of a once-glorified actress returning to the small town that shaped her early dreams. Pakil, as a backdrop, holds an evocative contrast—its vibrant traditions and festivities stand in stark relief to Christina’s struggle with an uncertain future. The town's devotion to the Our Lady of Turumba is not just a cultural anchor but also a spiritual one, revealing how faith becomes a source of hope and resilience in times of hardship. It is through these acts of devotion and the communal embrace of tradition that Christina finds a renewed sense of self and hope.
In reviving the Komedya, Christina’s commitment to preserving a dying art mirrors her own struggle against time. The film aims to evoke the textures of provincial life—the grace of ritual, the fervor of devotion, and the simplicity of a town bound by its people and their shared beliefs. In Christina’s path to rediscover and honor her roots, Paquil becomes not just a film about cultural revival but a narrative that delves into the intricacies of human frailty, faith, and the enduring strength of the human spirit.
Ultimately, this film is a love letter to those who seek hope amidst adversity and find solace in their roots and traditions. It invites the audience to contemplate the beauty of returning to one’s origins, honoring the past, and finding grace in the journey toward redemption and renewal.