History captures stories of inexplicable wonder in My Miracle

MANILA, Philippines - In this modern age, the wonder of miracles seems to have been lost in the middle of reason and technology. Many people may have never heard, much less witnessed a miracle, but My Miracle, a one-hour TV special, promises to be a one-of-a-kind experience for its viewers.

My Miracle, which premiered last night (with an encore screening tonight at 8) as part of History’s commemoration of the Papal Visit in the Philippines, tells the compelling stories of four Filipinos who triumphed over adversities through divine intervention. Featuring in-depth interviews and riveting reenactments, My Miracle is a must-see for believers and cynics alike.

Producer Zac Gangoso admits putting the show together was a challenge. “In the beginning, it felt like a stab in the dark. But I had help from a great team of researchers who were able to find four amazing stories that left us in awe.”

One such account is the remarkable death to life experience of Pamela Avellanosa, then a 14-year-old girl on a Christmas vacation with her relatives in Baguio. What started as a fun bike ride with her cousins went terribly awry, as Avellanosa’s bike slid down the hill, causing her to be thrown head first on the cemented road.

Avellanosa recounts, “I was brain dead for hours and was no longer breathing for 30 minutes. I dreamt of waking up in the hospital bed — and I did in fact, wake up. Ceaseless prayers made by my loved ones and the Pink Sisters led me out of a two-week coma, on Jan. 15, exactly on the feast day of Blessed Arnold Janssen.”

Avellanosa’s story was submitted to Rome and after eight years of study, the Catholic Church concluded that Avellanosa’s healing through Blessed Arnold Janssen was a genuine miracle. This led to Janssen’s canonization in October 2003.