In the stormy slums of Manila, eleven-year-old Ginto fights for survival, respect and freedom, determined to rise as a gangster rather than a street scavenger. He frequently escapes his harsh reality with his best friend, on whom he has a tender, unspoken crush, and who joins him on drug-induced journeys to a paradise realm bursting with blooming flowers. His protective sister Asia tries her best to keep him on the right path, but she has her own struggles to deal with, as she engages in sex work in pursuit of a better life. Meanwhile, Dutch tourist Michael enters town with plans to celebrate Christmas with his online Filipino girlfriend, only to have his world crumble when he discovers he's been catfished. Overwhelmed by betrayal, he descends into the underbelly of the city's red-light district, where desire meets sinister demand. As Ginto's and Michael's fates ultimately intertwine, Ginto is forced to make an impossible decision, drawing him into a brutal garden of earthly delights.
