Isagani

Thirty years after adoption, a Filipino-American traces his past in the Philippines. Dealing with intercultural gaps, time lost, and reconciliation of identity, he unearths an unsettling truth about his parentage.

James, 32, was born in a small town in Cebu, Philippines. When he was just a newborn baby, he was found inside a plastic bag hung on a banana palm and turned over to social services for adoption.

Raised in a Caucasian household, James has always felt out of place. In recent years, he has immersed himself in the Filipino-American community, learning both the Filipino and Cebuano languages to get closer to his roots. This creative documentary follows James and the filmmaker as they embark on a journey back to Cebu to uncover the truth about James’ adoption and find out who his biological father is—all in his constant search for a home.