The film operates within a traditional heteronormative framework. There is no explicit depiction of queer narratives or non-cisnormative identities, as the lens remains focused on class struggle.

The narrative disrupts hierarchies by highlighting the systemic vulnerability of women. Ligaya serves as a symbol of the violence inflicted upon the marginalized by predatory power structures.

Brocka asserts a post-colonial identity by centering an entirely Filipino cast. The film avoids a tourist gaze, presenting a raw depiction of the urban poor's struggle.

The film offers a sophisticated anti-capitalist critique of Manila. It portrays state and police authorities as predatory entities rather than protectors of the community.

The film lacks characters defined by specific disabilities. Instead, it uses physical exhaustion and malnutrition as metaphors for the systemic bodily trauma caused by poverty.