Antoinette Jadaone’s new film “Sunshine” starring Maris Racal puts reproductive rights in the spotlight as the story revolves around teenage pregnancy.

“The story follows a young gymnast who discovers she is pregnant on the week of the national team tryouts. On her way to a seller of illegal abortion drugs, she meets a mysterious girl who eerily talks and thinks like her,” its synopsis read.

In an interview with Deadline, Jadaone said she hoped to bring the issues of teenage pregnancies to light and raise awareness of women’s reproductive rights in the country.

“Sunshine represents the hundreds of thousands of girls who became pregnant in their teens,” Jadaone said.

“These topics have always been taboo in the Philippines because of our deeply conservative roots, but when cases of teenage pregnancy and self-induced abortions rise every year, it is imperative that these stories be told,” she added.

Filipino studio ANIMA’s Bianca Balbuena also told Deadline that she wants the upcoming film to challenge the status quo.

“One of ANIMA’s goals is to support content that not only entertains but also challenges the status quo,” Balbuena said.

“We’re very excited to share Sunshine, with a statement that is of paramount importance in a world that constantly hinders women’s freedom over her own body,” she added.