Hiling

Hiling

Year: 1998

Runtime: 104 mins

Language: Tagalog

Director: Jose Javier Reyes

FantasyFamilyComedyDrama

Anna, an ordinary girl, receives a mysterious birthday gift—a power to grant any wish by touch, though she cannot grant her own. She lifts a debt‑burdened family, fulfills a gay man’s wish to become a woman, turns her hopeless‑romantic friend into a neighborhood heart‑throb, and gives local children a swimming pool, among countless other impossible wishes that reshape the community.

Hiling (1998) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

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In the bustling streets of Barangay Sansinukuban, life hums with a mix of chatter, cramped alleys, and the ever‑present scent of home‑cooked meals. The neighborhood’s rhythm is a collage of laughter, petty disputes, and the warm solidarity of residents who know each other’s secrets before they’re spoken. At its heart lives Anna, a modest young woman whose days are spent caring for her mother Cely and beloved grandmother Lola Melyang. Their modest home, shared with the shadow of an estranged father Oscar who resides with his sister Pura and brother Junjun, paints a portrait of a family stitched together by love and lingering gaps.

On the occasion of her mother’s birthday, a simple act of generosity toward an elderly stranger gifts Anna an extraordinary ability: the power to grant anyone else’s wish with a mere touch—yet she cannot use it for herself. This gentle, almost whimsical miracle is set against the backdrop of a community that teeters between hardship and hope. Anna is characterized by her quiet empathy and the quiet strength that comes from ordinary living, making the newfound magic feel both intimate and surreal.

The barangay’s cast of colorful figures—Trinket, the youngest of a noisy household; Minggoy, whose jokes often mask deeper yearnings; Abigail, whose aspirations ripple through her close‑knit family; Elwood, a hopeless romantic forever chasing April; and the steadfast village chief Kikoy—all orbit around Anna’s humble presence. Their daily struggles and unspoken desires create a tapestry ripe for wonder, while the neighborhood itself seems to pulse with the possibility that a single touch could reshape lives.

In a tone that blends light‑hearted comedy with heartfelt drama, the film invites viewers to wonder how a small town reacts when ordinary wishes become touch‑enabled miracles. The story stays rooted in community spirit, curiosity, and the quiet magic that can emerge from the most unassuming hearts.

Last Updated: October 27, 2025 at 16:31

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