Crying Ladies 2004

As the shroud of grief begins to lift, Wilson finds himself grappling with the heavy responsibility of upholding his family’s ancestral traditions, particularly the need to hire professional mourners for his late father’s funeral rites. Although this practice has diminished in popularity, his Chinese-Filipino family remains determined to honor his father with a traditional farewell.

In the winding alleys of Manila’s Chinatown, Wilson sets off on a quest to discover the ideal mourners. Here, he encounters Stella, a resilient mother who has recently emerged from a difficult period of incarceration due to financial troubles. Despite her initial hesitations and the painful reality that Wilson’s father contributed to her downfall, she ultimately accepts the role of a funeral mourner after he provides her with an advance payment. Stella

Stella is accompanied by two additional mourners: Aling Doray, a former B-movie actress fondly reminiscing about her past glory days when she was known as Rhoda Rivera, and Choleng, a dedicated woman striving to resist the seductive pulls of sin after a tumultuous affair with her friend’s husband, Ipe. As they carry out their sorrowful duties, these three women forge a bond over their shared struggles, aspirations, and experiences.

Stella’s heart aches at the thought of her young son, Bong, who is about to leave with his father and stepmother to start anew in Cagayan de Oro. She yearns for stable employment that would enable her to regain custody of her son and mend their fractured family. Throughout their journey, Doray entertains the group with anecdotes from her acting career, including her memorable appearance as an extra in the classic Filipino superhero film, Darna and the Giants. Choleng, on the other hand, fights a battle against Ipe’s advances while seeking to atone for her past through deepening her faith and engaging in charitable work.

As Wilson navigates the emotional complexities that arise from his father’s passing, he gradually finds it in his heart to forgive his parent’s shortcomings, recognizing the positive impact they had on his life. He reaches out to Stella with exciting news about a Japanese entertainment company looking for performers, and she eagerly seizes this opportunity. Her newfound success as a karaoke actress lights a path of hope in her quest for redemption.

Meanwhile, Doray receives an offer to return as an extra in the sequel to Darna and the Giants, providing her a chance to recapture the magic of her past. Choleng, having finally liberated herself from Ipe’s grasp, embarks on a new journey as a marriage counselor at her parish, where she can draw on her life experiences to help others navigate their paths toward healing and forgiveness.