The halimuyak of a culture is carried through its language. Writers like Edith Tiempo and Nick Joaquin proved that whether in English or Filipino, the "scent" of the Filipino soul remains distinct. In 2025, being "helpful" to our society means using our voices—much like the activists who fought for freedom of speech —to ensure that our unique stories are not drowned out by global homogenization. 3. Resilience and Rebirth
Released in early 2025, the film Halimuyak has quickly become a notable entry in Philippine cinema. Directed by , the movie blends romance with mystery through a unique sensory lens. Halimuyak -2025-
At the center is a young woman named , a former biotechnology student who fled Manila after her lab was shut down by the Global Scent Regulation Authority (GSRA). The GSRA deemed “uncontrolled aromatics” a public hazard—too distracting, too memory-triggering, too human. Luna doesn’t believe this. She remembers her grandmother’s hands smelling of calamansi and sun-dried fish, the sharp sweet rot of jackfruit fallen on wet earth, the clean shock of pine on a cold Benguet morning. The halimuyak of a culture is carried through its language