Mapagpanggap na Kalayaan: A Sociological Examination on Class Division
deskvalor
Mar 26
4 min read
By: Sebastian Beau Pamintuan
"The Kingdom," a 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival revolving around Vic Sotto as Makisig Nandula, And Piolo Pascual as Sulo depicting an alternative history where the Philippines is redefined as the Kingdom of Kalayaan untouched by foreign nations. Because of its uncolonized condition, the Kingdom of Kalayaan retains its classification reminiscent of caste systems, where the citizen’s status is determined by birth. Allowing the film to explore the privilege and the persistence of class division which is manipulated through internal affairs such as laws, traditions, and policies.
Michael Tuviera’s film “‘The Kingdom” represents an alternative modern-day, uncolonized Philippines, highlighting systemic inequalities such as political dynasties, class division, and systemic oppression. The hypothetical narrative portrays a society of monarchical and hierarchic governance, offering a unique platform to examine the nation's systemic inequalities through a sociological lens.
Body
The film probes into the class division between the elites, the marginalized, and the outcasts. Michael Tuviera's film depicts the class division through visuals, showing the stark difference in lifestyle between the different classes. Piolo Pascual's character, Sulo, is an outcast, someone existing outside the recognized structure of society, stripped of any rights or privileges. He is refused any form of service or assistance simply because he is “unmarked,” a status that considers him less significant in the eyes of everyone. He is not only unseen by the government but is also rejected by ordinary citizens who have been conditioned to view the unmarked as lower beings. The film highlights the contrast between those in power and the marginalized. Additionally, reduced productivity in the workforce, poor policy change, and the increasing difficulty in the access to farmland implied by the film, which also mirrors the Philippines’ political and economic status. (Melgar, 2022)
Through the film, societal inequalities are hinted at as not merely the effects of colonization, but rather the result of internal corruption, systemic manipulation, and the preservation of oppressive beliefs. Individuals in positions of power implement strategies to preserve and widen the class division, often resulting in the continued concentration of wealth and authority within their own circles. Meanwhile, the working class remains trapped in a repeating cycle of silent oppression (Espenido, 2019), where resisting the accepted order leads to punishment or banishment.
Critical Analysis
One of the intriguing aspects of The Kingdom is its portrayal of pre-colonial Philippines, and how it tackles the concept of colonial rule being the root cause of modern social and economic struggles. While colonial histories have undeniably influenced many nations, the film proposes that power dynamics and governance have significant roles in perpetuating social and economical inequality is evident in how the Kingdom of Kalayaan, despite its sovereignty from foreign nations, is still bound to an oppressive social structure where wealth and influence dictate one’s quality and stature in life. (Bullanday et al., 2024)
Through a sociological lens, the film’s setting mirrors social issues in the Philippines, wherein economic and social disparities, political dynasties, and systemic exclusion remain as persistent problems. The “banished” reflects the marginalized groups in present-day society, where they are denied basic rights due to their social status. The individuals in poverty most often struggle to obtain quality education, healthcare, and employment opportunities, much like how Sulo had his rights forfeited because of traditions followed by the government.
The film’s contrast acts as a metaphor for the gap that emphasizes economic disparity, which exists not only within the film but in real-life society as well. However, the elites are not safe from this disparity. Fellow elites partake in ways that eliminate their competition. Betrayals and the like are also present within the show, as power-hungry elites will do anything to secure that power, even if it means the destruction of their fellow Filipinos. (Beja Jr et al., 2012)
Despite the film’s points, the portrayal of systemic oppression raises questions about the probability of achieving freedom. Although it emphasized the struggles of outcasts, the film did not dive into how it would provide a meaningful change within the corrupted system. Instead, The Kingdom reinforced how those in power manipulate both laws and traditions to maintain and assert their dominance.
The film’s message is conveyed through mirroring real-world issues, through the portrayal reflecting the outcasts as the marginalized sector of our country illustrating the consequences of systemic oppression. Additionally the film’s depiction of power-hungry officials emphasize how greed can destroy the country from within. Through the mentioned factors, the film highlights the cyclical nature of power and oppression.
Conclusion
Michael Tuviera’s film, The Kingdom (2024) explores an alternative and uncolonized version of the Philippines. Using the fictional setting to critique and highlight real-world socioeconomic disparities. The film shows class division persisting despite the absence of colonialism, the contrast between the elites and the marginalized sector are visualized through differences in lifestyle and opportunity. The contrast between the two serve as an analogy for the ongoing political dynasties, economic disparities, and systemic exclusion inside the Philippines.
The depiction of the issues through exciting storytelling and strong visuals, successfully portray how the power dynamics of the Philippines are manipulated by greedy politics. However, The Kingdom is not perfect, it showcases the persistence of socioeconomic inequalities, but falls short in providing a feasible solution to the problems. Ultimately, “The Kingdom” challenges its audience to critically examine contemporary societal structures and question the feasibility of meaningful change within a deeply entrenched hierarchy. Without any meaningful reforms, the class division and oppression will never cease to exist.
Reference List
Beja Jr, E., Mendoza, R. U., Venida, V. S., & Yap, D. B. (2012, July 15). Inequality in democracy: Insights from an empirical analysis of political dynasties in the 15th Philippine Congress. Munich Personal RePEc Archive.
Bullanday, U., Ganagan, J., & Ofod, J. (2025a, February 18). Issues facing the economy: Addressing economic inequality and growth challenges in the Philippines. SSRN. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?
Espenido, G. I. (2019, February). Up Diliman College of Social Work and Community Development. UP Diliman College of Social Work and Community Development. https://cswcd.upd.edu.ph/
Melgar, T. R. (2022). The Political Economy of Power in Contemporary Philippines: Patterns of Continuity and
Change. In H.-J. BURCHARDT & J. LEINIUS (Eds.), (Post-)colonial Archipelagos: Comparing the Legacies
of Spanish Colonialism in Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines (pp. 142–168). University of Michigan
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