Sometime before Julio's trip, Ligaya had left with a lady named Mrs. Cruz in order to study and work in the city.

Slowly, Julio develops a cynical demeanor as he gradually loses hope of ever finding Ligaya.

All this is put on hold, however, when Julio finally reunites Ligaya, and learns from her that she is a victim of sex trafficking.

[3] The 1975 adaptation of the book entitled Manila in the Claws of Light was directed by award-winning director Lino Brocka.

The script was written by Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr.[2] Jose Capino, writing for Criterion, noted that the film was met with "charges of anti-Chinese racism from reviewers.