Tears of My Motherland

<p>When market research consultant Ranabir Sen lands in the Philippines he isn't prepared for what awaits him—a journey that is as emotional as it is enlightening. Tasked with assessing a sensitive situation by a friend-turned-host Jose Ranabir is asked to “evaluate” a local Punjabi youth Harman Singh who is in love with Jose’s daughter Mayumi a bright educated Filipina with Canadian roots.</p><p>What begins as a casual meeting soon reveals deep undercurrents of class culture prejudice and generational expectations. Through flashbacks heartfelt conversations and poetic musings Ranabir finds himself torn between tradition and transformation. Harman the underdog “Bombai” (a local term for Indians in the region) emerges as an earnest lovable and surprisingly philosophical young man. His simple metaphors and emotional depth challenge the elitist fears of Jose who sees Harman as unworthy of his daughter.</p><p>Interwoven with powerful imagery—from Vietnamese refugee settlements in Palawan to sacred spaces like the Golden Temple—the story paints a rich canvas of migration love and identity. As relationships evolve hidden tensions surface: Margarita Jose’s flirtatious wife complicates dynamics; Mayumi grapples with her own choices; and Ranabir is caught between cultural diplomacy and personal integrity.</p><p>The Philippines Story and the Vietnam Story explores the complexities of love across borders the lingering shadows of colonial histories and the universal search for belonging.</p>