The Sister

In the midst of the traditional moryonan rites observed every Holy Week in the island province of Marinduque, Mariana receives a devastating news from abroad - her sister, Magda, who was working as a domestic helper in Saudi Arabia is dead. Mariana and her mother then have to deal with the tedious and expensive process of repatriating the remains of Magda. Living on top of a mountain of mine tailings in an abandoned mining site, Mariana has very few options to raise funds. Their livelihood of selling and repairing moryon masks has been increasingly unprofitable of late. Their neighbors on the other hand are too busy trying to figure out where to relocate as they are being forced to make way for the resumption of mining operations in the area. As Mariana tries to raise the funds necessary to bring back her sister's remains, her faith and determination are put to a test as she is forced to navigate through a sea of difficult choices while also coming to terms with her own past of grief and despair.