Tanganan Goes to Town

• Main Authors: Librando, Maria Regina Alexis, Sulicipan, Ezra Botin, Villanueva, PAtricia Ann Friday A.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2006
• Subjects: City and town life > Philippines; Cost and standard of living > Philippines; Communication
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/11076
• Institution: De La Salle University

It can be said as a matter of fact that almost all people, generally follow the norms and standards of the society they belong to. Individuals have the naturally tendency to live their lives according to what their culture dictates. There can be as many varieties of cultures as there are societies in the world and this obviously means that there can be as many subcultures to conform to. The crime subculture is one such realm. The occurrence of crime is largely held to be inherent in Philippine society. Especially in urban areas, it is generally believed to not only be a constant threat to one's safety but also an inescapable part of city life. As in any other society, criminal activity is considered to be deviant behavior. But in some parts of the world, such as in a barangay in Iloilo (as has been periodically reported newspapers), the residents are being socialized into criminal activity, shifting the general perception of crime from being something that is deviant to something of a standard. The group's story revolves around a young man's choice of a career path which has been invariably influenced by his socialization in a subculture that does not acknowledge the deviancy of crime. Ramon Tanganan was born and raised in the rural barangay of Abucay, Sta. Filomena, home of the notorious Manila bank robbers, the Asoaso Gang. Like every kid in his community, all he wants to become is an Asoaso: hero and breadwinner for the village, just like his slain father. Because of his clumsiness, the gang leader Magno decides that he is unfit to become a bank robber and wouldn't train him to become one like the others. It is now up to Ramon to make himself the robber that he wants to be, and to go to Manila in pursuit of his dream.