The screenplay was based on and inspired by the life and experiences of Sr. Chayong Battung and Sr. Mary Pilar Versoza and it revolves around a nun becoming politically involved as she took part in a strike where she fought for the rights of the workers.
Initially, Mike de Leon wanted to produce the film by himself.
[3] Produced and released by Regal Films on July 11, 1984, the film was a commercial failure but received acclaim when it won ten awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Screenplay, and Best Director, from the Gawad Urian Awards.
It also competed at the 41st Venice International Film Festival for the Golden Lion but lost to Krzysztof Zanussi's A Year of the Quiet Sun.
[5] Sister Stella Legaspi is a nun who serves as a guidance counselor for people who have problems, including abused women and runaways.