About the film

Story

Ploning is the story of one woman's promise, her hope and love
from the point of view of a young boy.

Present time. Having lived aboard an illegal Taiwanese fishing
vessel for as long as he can remember, 30-plus year old Filipino
Muo Sei (meaning "Moses", son taken out of the water), grew
up to be a man of brokenness, unpredictable temper and solitary
loneliness. Until one morning his boat docks into the shores of
Cuyo, Palawan. His adoptive Taiwanese father risks being caught
and summons him to find "Ploning" before the sun sets, in the
hopes of dealing with his past and changing his ways. No one
knows who or what "Ploning" is to Muo Sei and no one has ever
dared to ask...And so his search begins...

Muo Sei tours the island, observes the people and place as an
outsider, and finally revisits his memories, baring how much
he has been part of Cuyo and the life of a woman named Ploning.

1980's. The past comes to life and 30-year old Ploning is revealed
as the island's enigmatic belle who cared for 7-year old Digo -
short for Rodrigo, Muo Sei's real name - as her own. She is a
woman who the town knows as keeping true to the promise of
waiting for her beau, the young town hero who left for Manila
more than a decade ago. This set her as both exemplary and
rumor magnet. But one thing is common, everyone wants to
marry her off. And Digo discovers Ploning's plan to leave for
Manila. Thus threatened by the sudden prospect of losing
Ploning, Digo devices ways to keep her from leaving and gets
her to make a promise.

Did Ploning choose closure with the man she has been waiting
for half her life or the future of young boy whose life is not her
own?

Old pains of rejection and unanswered questions are relived,
as backdropped by an ironically beautiful milieu and a community
of townspeople who are enamored and affected by the life and
love of Ploning.

In Digo's eyes, Ploning is likewise revealed as a dutiful daughter
to patriarch Susing, a committed supporter to grieving Intang,
an honorary sister to extended family Nieves and Toting a wise
ally to simpleton Alma, a co-mother to half-paralyzed Juaning,
a dear friend to ailing nurse Celeste, an object of desire to
young lad Siloy and a foe to Digo's older brother Veling.

In the end, a secret is revealed to Rodrigo that awakens him
into a love he has forsaken and misunderstood. Thus the healing
that comes from forgiveness springs forth into his hardened
heart.

Will Rodrigo finally choose to accept love or continue to walk
in hate?