The group’s search for a ganggang, or fighting spider, initially gives the boys an escape from their problems at school. However, as the story progresses, the simple childhood game becomes increasingly aligned to the conflict and power structures surrounding their community. Burgos’s choice of the fighting spider as the film’s central symbol is rooted in his own childhood experience playing spider-fighting games. The three boys experience this environment from different perspectives—Ilay’s vulnerability makes him susceptible to bullying, while Ten-Ten’s reserved personality makes his fear more visible. It highlights how the boys are far too young to understand yet old enough to fear what is happening around them.