 Celyn Buenaventura (Kim Chiu) was an ambitious and kind working-class girl living in Cebu with her widowed mother, Theresa Apolinario (Cherry Pie Picache).One day, she received an acceptance letter from the University of the Philippines Diliman, but Theresa was furious and refused to let her go.Celyn thus travelled alone to Manila, and upon arriving was employed by the owner of a "carinderia", who allowed her to sleep in the eatery.