Theatrum Bestiarum

Each character in this painting presents an animal association. It is typical in Filipino society to call people animal references depending on their personalities. We are like animals in a play called life.

Cat and dog (aso’t pusa) – people who don’t get along
Snake (ahas) – someone who will steal your partner away or in some cases someone who steals opportunities from you
Chicken (manok) - a nagger “Putak ka ng putak!”
Pig (baboy) – a slob
Rat/mouse (daga) – someone who is poor
Crab (talangka) – someone who pull people down and doesn’t want others getting ahead of him
Shrimp (hipon) – someone whose attractiveness is only confined to her/his physique
Crocodile (buwaya) – someone who wants everything for himself, a corrupt politician
Chameleon (hunyango)– someone you can’t readily understand, someone with shifting personalities or alliances

The water buffalo (kalabaw), who stands for strength and industriousness, is unique among the other characters. He is contemplating why people use animals to denote negative traits when in contrary the association is a big insult to the animals themselves. If these animals can only talk what will they say?