"A surge of motivation burns as quickly as cogon grass."
It's summer break in Manila. Bizarre abilities and phenomena manifest out of the local habits, norms, attitudes and culture of the Filipino people. These "Manifestations" can either grant people with bizarre capabilities or cause strange events to happen within the country, whether for good or for malice.
High school graduates, Jacinta Ruiz and Nathaniel Maghirang are no strangers to the habits and phenomena experienced by the people around them. Whether it's Crab Mentality, Chismis-Marites, Filipino Time or some bizarre set of superstitions and hysterical trends, everything's slowly getting crazier for them. Especially when shady happenings disrupt the beloved Lopez Apparels store and the rest of the community.
And so, Jacinta and Nathaniel find themselves forced to overcome their own and others' flaws, ought to protect the business and customers of Mrs. Lopez, and most importantly, needing to submit their looming college enrollment documents in time.
Together, they witness a weird, bizarre and absurd summer break of their lives, fighting the manifestations of the "manners that make man, and the habits that form character."
Jacinta and Nathaniel are not exactly the wisest or dullest of people either. They may get into petty arguments or deep talks, but they got heart. For them, life is not about romanticizing their struggles, but rather reaching out for that sense of sanity in an increasingly bizarre world.
Original story and Cover Art by LuNa Pisara.
Inspired by Senior High School subjects such as PerDev, CESC, TNCT and DIASS.