Set in a quiet, rural Filipino village, tale revolves around a sibling rivalry between Jacinta, a woman who appears to be the ultimate dutiful daughter and wife, and Clarita, her more beautiful sister, who left town a decade ago. Over the years, Jacinta has manipulated the entire community to believe that, despite being rejected by her father, Arcadio, and ignored by her mother, Almeda, she has sacrificed her life for her parents as well as for her own husband, Peping. Tension builds when the more suave Clarita returns with her husband to confront her past - and to come to terms with her jealous, resentful sister. Flashbacks reveal dark, shattering secrets that eventually tear the family apart.