Manila in the Claws of Light

Julio Madiaga goes to the city to look for his long lost love, Ligaya Paraiso. His search leads to a radical shift in his character-from a naive country boy to an angry young man thirsting for justice. He works in a construction site, gets introduced to unfair labor practices, and becomes acquainted with both cynical and idealistic fellow workers. When he loses his job, he resorts to prostitution. He finally encounters his sweetheart who recounts her own suffering in the hands of an illegal recruiter who set her up with a white slaver. Since she is forced into marriage with a rich, possessive man, Julio and Ligaya plot their escape.