Rugged Guy Haven: A Perception of the Tondoeños as a Community of Toughies through Film Productions

This study examines the social history of Tondo as the social network that demonstrated the existence of livelihood and community became a factor in the growth of Manila. This cycle continued from time to time, yet it achieved a common goal to survive and blend with the existing norms in the community. Much has been written about the emerging problems accompanying rapid economic growth and the spread of poverty, criminality, financial stability, and the worsening condition of society and humankind attached to the Tondoeños. The social fabric of Tondo is further enriched through films, which became the subject of perception of social situations, especially in the post-war period; hence, this study will use the triangulation of analysis on the selected Filipino films and historical analysis in the district of Tondo. To understand the societal conditions of Tondo Manila, Herbert Spencer’s Social Darwinism will be used to interpret the human development of the selected film from Post-War to Contemporary, the theory of Robin Woods’ Author, Genre, and Auteur, which will discuss the central theme of the selected films despite multiple issues to be discussed in the selected Philippines films.