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“Pisay” relates the stories of eight Philippine Science High School (PSHS) students during the volatile 1980s when the Philippines was in its greatest moment in history- as the Marcos Dictatorship is ousted by the 1986 People Power Revolution to Cory Aquino's New Government- as they come of age in a time filled with excitement, conflict and change.

It tells of Rom, brilliant son of a fish vendor and an overseas contract worker; Wena, daughter of the landowning Ledesmas; Mat, the pudgy, amorous provincial champion who has trouble in math; friendly Minggoy, who always seems to get himself involved with everything; Liway, daughter of anti-dictatorship activists; Andy, the listless cadet military trainee; Daki, the science genius; and Euri, the boy with artistic flair trapped in a Science High School.

They were the top two hundred students from all over the Philippines who passed the examination for the Philippine Science High School, which was created for the purpose of giving an education highly enriched in the Sciences to exceptionally gifted Filipino children. “Pisay” is the nickname created by the students to their school; an abbreviation of Philippine Science or Phil Sci. Selected from the best and brightest from all over this poor country, they endure college-level courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics. Those who can make it are hailed as the future science and technology leaders of the New Republic, those who don't are deemed unfortunate victims of natural selection. Their stories are woven around the four years and into the science and math courses that they undergo - veritably the most advanced curriculum in the country at the time - and their relationships with each other, their teachers, and ultimately, the school and its social milieu.