Competing with around 60 other films from around the world for only five slots in the Oscars Best Foreign Language category, this movie was chosen as the Philippines’ entry as chosen by the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP).

Ploning is currently being shown in Canada. It will also have theatrical screenings in the US.

Sept 18-20 in San Antonio, Texas

Sept 29-30 in Los Angeles, California.

The movie was produced by Judy Ann Santos, who also plays the lead in the movie.

THE CAST:

THE STORY

In the picturesque island of Cuyo, Palawan, an illegal Taiwanese fishing
vessel docks carrying the fisherman named Muo Sei, a man looking for
something or someone with the name Ploning. He has from sunrise to
sundown to look for this "Ploning".

In his search, Ploning is revealed to be the island’s town belle of the year
1982. 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 supporter to broken-hearted Siloy and a
co-mother to half-paralyzed Juaning. A woman so important that the town
barely notices the absence of rain because of her presence in their lives.

Despite her renowned beauty, everyone is puzzled why this 30-year-old
spinster refuses to get married and still hopefully waits for her beau,
Tomas, to come back. Tomas left for Manila when Ploning was 16 years
old and there has been no sign of him coming back any time soon.
Ploning’s silent demeanor adds to the mystery and depth of love that no
one seems to understand.. In the center of this, is a 6-year-old boy named
Digo who has built his world around the affection and care of Ploning, his
foster mother. But his entire world crashes as he learns that Ploning has
plans of going to Manila to look for Tomas. Thus, leaving the boy with his
bed-ridden mother, Juaning  and his strict older brother, Veling. Digo tries
everything to stop Ploning from leaving and finds an ally in the town’s visitor,
the beautiful town nurse, Celeste. Celeste claims to have known and fallen
in love with a man named Tomas and tried to follow him in Cuyo to find out
if he loved him back. Ploning, with security and so much faith, denies that
her Tomas and the man Celeste fell in love with are the same man. On the
day of the fiesta, the rain comes and Ploning seems to be missing. Digo’s
feeling of abandonment leads to a tragedy that grieves the town. But no
one was prepared for the secret that Ploning has kept all these years.
A secret that exemplifies the selfless love that withstands blood, pain
and even time.

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?

Will Muo Sei find his Ploning, accept the love revealed to him or continue
to walk in hate?

Where is Cuyo, Palawan?

The archipelago of the Cuyo Islands is located north of the Sulu Sea. The archipelago is composed of about 40 islands and islets which are mostly uninhabited. It is popular because of the internationally renowned Amanpulo resort on the island of Pamalican.

The Cuyo Islands where the village of Cuyo is located, is where a Spanish fort was constructed in 1677 to protect its population from Moro pirates. It shelters a church, a convent, and a chapel in its high stone walls.

The Amanpulo resort in Palawan.