PLONING
Source: www.ploningthemovie.com
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?
