Political Intrigues/Corruption
The novel is both a satire of Philippine politics and Filipino culture and as such narratives describing statesmen, despotic regimes, protests, campaign junkets, and everything political abounds in the novel. This is done to give the reader an idea of the practically caricature set-up of Philippine politics--a matter that the author criticizes very brutally and very heavily--under the leadership of the then ruler-for-life Ferdinand Marcos. Descriptions of corruption, including bribery, mudslinging campaigns, conspiracy, and outright murder, are also found in legion in the novel.
Religious Practices/Religious Iconography
Religion, specifically Catholicism, is another heavily critiqued theme in the novel and because of that there are numerous descriptions of religious iconography and rituals. It is featured heavily in order to add a layer of local color and to ask deeply pointed questions of the continued significance of these practices.
Sex
The novel also questions many establish norms of behavior in the Philippines, particularly those involving gender roles and gender relations, and as both a foil and a plot device the author features a number of graphic depictions of sex of various kinds and persuasions, particularly homosexuality and infidelity. This is a deliberate move on part of the author to emphasize the point that despite the Philippines’ perceived uptightness with regard to sex and gender roles, it is nothing but a farce. The truth is that the behind the locked doors of both fancy mansions and rundown hovels the same animalistic urges are given into with the same amount of gusto and frequency.
Social Stratification
The great disparity between the rich and the poor in the Philippines are described and portrayed through the motley of characters in the novel. The super-rich are represented by the Gonzagas and Alacrans and the poorer characters Joey Sands, Romeo Rosales, and surprisingly Lolita Luna, who despite her status as a movie star, lives anything but a glamorous life as her existence hovers between high-class prostitute and victim of human trafficking. It is interesting to note that the contrasts are very stark and there seems to be little or no middle ground at all.
Social Commentary-Filipino/American Culture
The novel is also a social commentary that critiques two cultures, Filipino and North American in particular, as well also social classes. This is done primarily through the narration of the main character over the period of many years. The main characters is a Filipino girl from a well-to-do family who eventually migrates to the US where she lives out most of her youth and then returns to the Philippines as a grown woman. Her situation provides her with a unique set of vantage points as well as a unique set of lenses by which to view both cultures and both sides of the proverbial railroad tracks.