Trapped in the slums, Insiang loathes living with her disapproving, sharp-tongued mother Tonya. Abandoned by her husband long ago, Tonya takes out her bitterness on those around her. In a fit of anger she finally evicts her husband's relatives who have been living with her, but not because they aren't bringing money into the house anymore: she's making way for her young boyfriend Dado to move in. Dado, the town bully, is young enough to be her son, and this new living situation becomes the talk of the town. Dado soon forces himself on Insiang; at first outraged, Tonya soon takes Dado's side and blames her daughter for her own rape. Insiang leaves home to seek support and solace from her ardent would-be boyfriend Bebot, but he proves to be another Lothario. Forced to return home, Insiang turns this inescapable situation upon itself to exact revenge.