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Berto leads a simple, steady life with his younger son Jun, who is married to Luisa and has a cherished grandson, Boy, whom he dotes on. Together with his longtime friend, Robin, he takes on carpentry jobs to make ends meet. Yet their handiwork often earns the ire of their neighbor Mang Andres and his daughter Melanie, whose father’s injuries from their botched jobs create tension and resentment in the neighborhood. The film pivots on a stroke of fate: Berto, Robin, and Melanie each receive news from the US Embassy that changes their lives, as visas for America are granted—Berto through a petition from his eldest son Ricky and Melanie with a work permit of her own. Meanwhile, Robin hopes to locate an uncle he believes has become affluent in America, living behind a mansion he imagines.

The trio’s paths collide again at the airport, where fate aligns their flight to San Francisco. Melanie grows irritated when the airline won’t separate her seating from Berto and Robin because of what happened to her father, and soon the group lands in a city that promises opportunity but also culture shock. After landing, they diverge: Ricky is there to pick up Berto and Robin, while Melanie is met by her cousin Lally. Adjusting to life in the United States proves difficult for Berto, who has to wrestle with unfamiliar customs and the demands of supporting his friend, especially since Robin has lost his own guardian and has nowhere else to stay.

A chance encounter later brings Melanie back into their orbit as the trio helps her avoid danger from street criminals. In gratitude, Melanie helps secure them work as caregivers in the same nursing home where she herself works, with Lally sharing in that new connection. However, the meandering paths of immigration policy catch up with them: the trio faces the pressure of illegal status and rigid enforcement, prompting Berto and Melanie to consider an arranged marriage as a pragmatic solution to avoid deportation.

As time passes, homesickness gnaws at Berto. He begins to rely on long-distance calls to connect with his family back home, using Ricky’s phone. After a vacation in Las Vegas, tensions surface within Ricky’s family when they learn about his late-night calls and growing expenses, a situation Robbie—Jay Kevin—reports to his grandfather. In response, Berto publicly acknowledges his marriage to Melanie, his job as a caregiver, and the toll of the distances he’s kept. Ricky forgives him, and while Robbie’s mischief earns a parental scolding, the family’s bonds endure.

Tragedy moments later becomes a catalyst for reconciliation and loyalty: Berto chases after his grandson when Robbie wanders into danger, pulling him from an oncoming car but injuring himself in the process. In hospital recovery, Robbie apologizes, and Berto forgives him, reaffirming his commitment to the family. The story closes on the decision to return home to the Philippines, with Melanie and Robin in tow, seeking a fresh start back where it all began. At the airport, Mang Andres greets his daughter Melanie, who is pregnant with Berto’s child; when he learns the truth about the father, he faints, underscoring how fragile and unpredictable life can be when love, duty, and migration collide.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 09:32