Citation :

Ronald Paul A. Matampac, 2025. "A Critical Discourse Analysis of the Song 'Tatsulok (Triangle)' By Bamboo" ESP-International Journal of English Literature and Linguistics Research (ESP- IJELLR)  Volume 3, Issue 1: 1-6.

Abstract :

This study critically analyzes the song "Tatsulok" by the Filipino band Bamboo, using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to explore its socio-political messages and implications. The themes of socioeconomic inequality, power relations, and justice are examined in this study within the Philippine context. The song is a sociopolitical statement on the enduring problems of class conflict, the oppressed people's vulnerability, and the structural injustices that fuel social unrest on a large scale. In order to illustrate the hierarchical structure of Philippine society, where the powerful elite sit at the top and maintain inequality, the study examines the metaphor of the "tatsulok" (triangle). The study emphasizes the effects of social and political differences as well as the ongoing difficulty in obtaining justice for underrepresented groups, such as activists, human rights advocates, and the impoverished. The results highlight how critical it is to address systemic injustice, advance justice, and oppose the hierarchical mechanisms that uphold the socioeconomic disparity. By providing insights into how culture shapes public awareness and action for social transformation, this study advances our understanding of the relationship between music, social commentary, and political consciousness in the Philippines.

References :

[1] GMA Network. (2023, July 27). Manila court acquits Reina Mae Nasino, two others. GMA News Online. Retrieved from https://www.gmanetwork.com/news

[2] Pew Research Center. (2025, January 9). Economic inequality seen as major challenge around the world. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org

[3] Philippine Daily Inquirer. (2024, October 31). In PH, stubborn gaps persist in income, gender, economic status. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved from https://www.inquirer.net

[4] Philippine Daily Inquirer. (2024, January 6). An upper middle-income nation by 2025? What PH is bound to lose. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved from https://www.inquirer.net

[5] Philstar.com. (2023, July 27). Manila court dismisses all charges vs Nasino, 2 others. Philstar. Retrieved from https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/07/27/2284265/manila-court-dismisses-all-charges-vs-nasino-2-others?utm_source=chatgpt.com

[6] SSRN. (2025, February 18). Addressing economic inequality and growth challenges in the Philippines. SSRN. Retrieved from https://www.ssrn.com

[7] World Population Review. (2025). Wealth inequality by country 2025. World Population Review. Retrieved from https://www.worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/wealth-inequality-by-country

[8] Oxford Academic. (2024). Income inequality, healthcare services, and quality of life: How socioeconomic factors influence health outcomes. Journal of Public Health. Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/jpubhealth

Keywords :

Critical Discourse Analysis, socio-political critique, "Tatsulok", inequality, power dynamics, poverty, corruption, social justice, Philippine society, elite dominance, class struggle, structural change, Bamboo.