Plot
In 1988, Louella Sevilla, a woman living in the town of Talisay, Batangas, gave up her son to the care of Father Nicandro at the orphanage to work overseas as a domestic helper. Seven years after she served there in Hong Kong, she returned to her hometown, only to be welcomed by her stepfather Boy and younger sister Janine but ignored by her mother Rosing because she threw Louella out when she found that Louella was impregnated and later, dumped by a traveling businessman. While fetching Janine from school, she reunites with Nestor, the town's policeman. The following day, Louella returns to the same place where she gave Leonard up for adoption but Father Cortez, the current parish priest, does not know about them. Manang Ofel, one of Father Nicandro's assistants before his death, informs her that Leonard and the other children were transferred to Hospicio de San Agustin in Pasig.
The search for her son begins with Louella going to Pasig, only to discover that the orphanage was demolished. Nestor, who later joins her search, tells Louella that the orphans, including Leonard, were transferred to other orphanages including the two mentioned from the information he gathered. In an unnamed orphanage located in Lipa, the two discover that the children in the said facility have disabilities, which Leonard didn't have when he was born. One morning, she received a letter from an employment agency that she was assigned to work again in Hong Kong. The search continues when they visit Hospicio de San Cristobal in Tagaytay and there, Louella meets a boy named Conrad who is humming the same melody as the one she did for her missing son. Louella and Conrad share a bond, like a mother and a child. When Louella is about to adopt Conrad, Sister Lourdes says that Conrad is not her biological son. Conrad's biological mother died when he was just 2 years old due to an epidemic caused by the volcanic mudflow. He was discovered by a group of nuns in the streets. He and Louella's son Leonard were among the children transferred from the Hospicio De San Agustin. The two became friends until Leonard was adopted. Louella told Conrad the truth, which made him angry. Nestor started to investigate about Leonard. He went to Sylvia Alejandro, his adoptive mother, but she said that he was no longer with them. She also told him that her housemaid Editha went out with Leonard, and lived somewhere in Tondo, Manila. He then saw Louella, who was about to return to Hong Kong. He said that he would agree to stay in Manila with her if she would help him find Leonard.
In the slums of Metro Manila, the two met Editha Sungcalan, who took care of Leonard. She told them that Leonard was dead a year ago. She also recalled that Leonard suffered physical abuse at the hands of Sylvia who treated him like a slave. She would often lock Leonard and let him starve. Because of this, Editha decides to save him and then, escape together. Leonard would become a happy and cheerful kid. Nonetheless, he would often run away whenever there was a visitor, fearing that Sylvia would take him back. One night, he was brought back to her and died due to pneumonia. Louella and Nestor returned to the orphanage to adopt Leonard. Unfortunately, Sister Lourdes told them that they ran away, but one of the kids told them where they were. Conrad went to a group of reef hunters, but the leader didn't want them to see him. They went to him and told him that he could be with him but Conrad said that he would only go with his mother. Louella told him that his mother was dead, and Leonard was dead too. She also said that being a parent doesn't run from the blood.
Louella was about to leave for Hong Kong when she heard a sound of harmonica. She saw Conrad and Louella is now happy to have a son.
