The Baggage

It is a supernatural melodrama of a woman's misfortune and suffering interwoven with the legend of the Pasig. The legend itself is inspired by the immortal kundiman of the director's brother, Nicanor Abelardo.

Aaron and Giselle are an ambitious couple, but their hard work isn’t enough to provide for the comfortable life they desire. The marriage of their well-to-do bosom buddies, Bullet and Jasmine, also goes from bliss to bleak. Their situation heads further south when Bullet ends up in bed with a distraught and inebriated Giselle! Many confrontations later, Jasmine is seen sharing late-night trysts with Aaron while their repentant spouses patiently wait for them at home! With friends like these, who needs enemies?

Jessica Santiago & Ana Bartolome are two sisters who have lived in separate lives for 12 long years. Jessie, though an excellent student, has grown to feel sorrow of Ana’s lost while Ana, not knowing that she’s an orphan, grew up in a far-flung fishing village. When they meet in a swimming competition, the Santiagos exert effort to bring Ana back. But when Ana returns home, Jessie feels more abandoned & lovelorn. With their relationship turning sour, Jessie’s life is terribly put in danger. In the end, the two sisters find home where their hearts truly lie.

University students Ryan and Daisy probably couldn’t be any more dissimilar, with Ryan splitting his time between his nursing studies and a part-time job and Daisy, a Korean exchange student, doing her best to blend in with an unfamiliar culture. At first, their differences ignite an intense dislike for each other, but eventually, they discover they have more in common than they think perhaps even love.

Tina and Lea are best friends who are also avid fans of Vilma Santos. They were inseparable until Lea decides to leave the country and go to Korea. They promise that someday they will really become one big happy family when their children get married. Years after, by virtue of an old vow, Lucky Girl and Lucky Boy are forced to be together by their mothers. Problem is, they hate each other's guts. But, just when they're falling for each other, love plays a trick on the meddling moms which threatens to bring the young lovers apart.

Finally after three years of courtship, Migs, a medical intern, marries simple and unassuming Joy, a nurse in the hospital of Migs' residency. Several days before the wedding, his first love and childhood best friend Bela, a sophisticated woman, returns from Canada, still single and in love with Migs. The young couple meets an unfortunate incident turning their newly-found bliss into a tragic existence. Living with Migs turns out to be an agonizing experience as his new state of mind gets more complicated as days pass. A creature of serenity, Joy refuses to name her pains and secretly vows to make Migs remember their love that was inexplicably lost and waiting to be rekindled; faithful that along the way, his heart will remember what his mind forgets.

Furniture supplier Ram is happily married to Charmaine. One day, Ram lands a big client, a new luxury resort. But he needs the help of Kara, the daughter of the owner of the resort, to finalize the deal. Kara's help, however, comes with a price, because she fancies Ram to be her lover. Not before long, Kara successfully seduces Ram, even though she knows about his marriage. When Charmaine learns of the affair, she finds ways to fight for her husband's waning attention.

Rafael is a village mayor caught in the murderous crossfire of the Philippine-American War. When U.S. troops occupy his village, Rafael comes under pressure from a tough-as-nails officer to help the Americans in their hunt for Filipino guerilla fighters. But Rafael's brother is the head of the local guerillas, and considers anyone who cooperates with the Americans to be a traitor. Rafael quickly finds himself forced to make the impossible, potentially deadly decisions faced by ordinary civilians in an occupied country.

American soldiers stranded in the Philippines after the Japanese invasion form guerrilla bands to fight back. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in partnership with Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation in 2001.

Arah dreams of a better life different from the life she knows in Bukidnon. Ranches everywhere are closing one by one. The glory her hometown once knew was slowly disappearing in favour of life abroad, particularly in Australia. Arah believes this too. Australia will save them from poverty. But Migo does not share this belief. He believes that Bukidnon’s glory will return if only people didn’t leave. Migo is Arah’s first love.

Former dance instructor Emman Toledo was employed as a dance instructor for a governor’s ball. He finds himself in a passionate love affair with Cedes Fernandez who happens to be engaged to Dylan Evelino son of the governor. The couple finds themselves in a dangerous situation. The Evelino Clan is too powerful that nothing gets in their way to get what they want. Despite her hatred for the dirty politics, Cedes has no choice but to succumb to the decision of Dylan out of her indebtedness towards the family. Emman is drawn towards Cedes from the first time she catches his eye. As their lives intertwine through dance, Emman and Cedes find themselves resisting an affair: one that holds the truths to their painful pasts, and the memories of a boundless love. Pursuing their feelings for each other will only set fire to the dangers and trappings of their love, so much so that their love could cost them their lives.

The Army nurses on Bataan need help badly, but when it arrives, it sure isn't what they expected. A motley crew, including a Southern belle, a waitress, and a stripper, show up. Many conflicts arise among these women who are thrown together in what is a desperate and ultimately hopeless situation.