Set against the backdrop of the enigmatic Baliw-Baliw festival, Terya, a young woman from a poor Philippine fishing village, is about to board a ship to marry an old German man she has never met in order to settle her family’s debts. The film follows her on the road from home to the port as she encounters a younger sister whose future depends on Terya, an ex-boyfriend who tries to hold her back, an extravagant cousin who married a foreigner, a talkative marriage broker, and excited village people participating in the festival. With increasing tension the film stays centered on Terya, who remains undecided about whether or not to board the boat or stay behind with the man she loves until the end.