This insightful and provocative film is a story about a transsexual woman, who, upon returning to her small village in the Phillipines, must rise above the ignorance and alienation she suffers from her own people. The story begins when Miguel, a bright loving son, leaves his family to live in America. There, he spends seven years transforming himself into Michelle, a beautiful and confident woman. She returns home to the Phillipines to unsuspecting parents, confused schoolmates, and disgusted townspeople. While trying to cope with those around her, she soon discovers that the people from her past have problems of their own: an old classmate, in complete denial about his homosexuality, is about to marry a woman; and a former teacher, who served as her gay role model growing up, is dying of AIDS.