The film “Ganto Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon” (1976)

takes place in the late 19th century in the Philippines. During this
time period, the Philippines was a Spanish colony and in an
economic and political crisis. The country was highly divided
between the rich and the poor with the poor often living in cramped
and congested slums. Corruption and exploitation were rampant
and the government largely ineffective. These were the conditions
that Kulas found himself in when he journeyed to Manila from his
small provincial village.
The film provides a stark contrast of the economic situations
between the rich and the poor. The wealthy are shown to be full of
extravagance and opulence where they often live in large mansions
with lush decor and fine food. Meanwhile, Kulas and the other
poorer citizens of Manila are cramped in tiny shanties and living
hand-to-mouth. The film also shows a clear and severe power
imbalance between the wealthy and the poor, with the wealthy
having much more means to make their lives more comfortable and
often disregarding the hardships and struggles of the poor to get by.
At the same time, the film provides glimpses of situations of cultural
and gender oppression present during this time period. This is
especially apparent in the character of Diding, an actress with
aspirations of fame and fortune, but who finds herself limited
because of her gender. Her dreams of becoming a great actress are
kept constantly in check by society's expectations from her and the
limited opportunities available for women.
Regarding the main question posed by the film is the degree
of progress achieved by the Philippines from the 19th century to
modern times. On the surface level, the country has undoubtedly
made some progress in filling the gaps between the rich and the
poor. However, the film suggests that beyond the appearance of
progress, many of the same systems of oppression still exist. The
rich still possess an enormous amount of power which allows them
to take advantage of the poor and the working class, while gender,
racial and ethnic biases are still rampant.
From this film, I have learned that although the Philippines
may have made strides in terms of economic and political progress,
there is still much work to do in order to ensure that everyone in
the country is able to access equal opportunities. This movie put
human stories in front of us and offered us a window into the very
real struggles of Filipinos during that time period which can still be
seen in the present day as well. The inequality between the rich and
the poor still exists and it is essential that policy makers look into
ways to deliver justice to oppressed individuals and to create a
society which is equitable for all.