Directed by Maryo de los Reyes, Magnifico is a sentimental family-oriented melodrama from the Philippines, written by Michiko S. Yamamoto as the first prize in a scriptwriting contest. Magnifico (Jiro Manio) is a young boy from the poor town of Lumban, Laguna, who tries to help out his parents (Albert Martinez and Lorna Tolentino) by raising money to bury his grandmother (Gloria Romero), who is dying of cancer. Meanwhile, his older brother (Danilo Barrios) loses his scholarship, and his sister Ellen (Isabella De Leon) suffers from cerebral palsy.~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide