Irah B. Borinaga

The book is an anthology of short stories on women. It describes the struggles of Filipino women who are trapped in a conservative society while trying to meet the demands of a modern and increasingly cosmopolitan world. It features stories of Filipino migrant workers, rural women and middle class women who are trying to provide for the economic needs of their families while carving a niche for themselves.

A story about a mother, Carmina Morales, who left her family in the Philippines to work in the United States. In her desire to provide for her family's economic needs and prolong her stay in the US, she married an American. It is a fake marriage because her new husband is gay and he agrees to this arrangement only for financial reasons. Meanwhile, back in the Philippines, Carmina's husband finds a new love. Her growing kids also confront their own personal challenges and nightmares which Carmina only finds out when she comes home for the first time after being away for ten years. This is a common theme among Filipinos who left their families in the Philippines to live and work abroad.