Jesse Fitzharris

In the Philippines: The coming-of-age story of Tess, a beautiful, hot-blooded Filipina who must choose between her true love and the welfare of her family. The film wends its way through country villages, lush jungle and idyllic, palm-lined beaches, featuring two stars of Philippine cinema, Cesar Montano and Joross Gamboa. An energized musical score celebrates the soulful BisRock artists of the Visayan Islands with more than 20 original songs.

In the Philippines three on-the-lam teen musicians are swept into the rarefied world of cockfighting as they flee cross-country in a beat-up tricycle one-step ahead of a warped stepfather bent on reclaiming his stolen battle cock. When street performances fail to support their frenzied escape they resort to scamming sabong matches with a scheme adopted from a Mark Twain short story. Comical quibbling over criminal strategies and ethical choices adds spice to the tale as the trio remain true-blue whenever the going get rough. A gritty coming-of-age adventure comedy.