MY FATHER GOES TO COURT: The Filipino Experience

Was the author writing literature that reflects protest literature or wish fulfillment?
I think that Carlos Bulosan meant this as a bit of both. He is both protesting how badly Filipinos are treated abroad and thinking of a sort of alternate reality where justice abounds. When we think back to the prehistoric times, you have to admit that being rich or 'above' others poses several advantages. The advantaged are looked up to and have more social and judicial perks. Some even have ties in places far up. Whether Bulosan is bitter about how Filipinos are treated in America or here in the Philippines, it's the same story. It just makes it worse here, because we are persecuted by our countrymen; there, it's a bunch of white dudes who have always thought themselves awesome since they discovered fire. I think it's his subtle way of saying that the less privileged are blamed for almost everything that goes wrong, but at the same time it's wish fulfillment in him giving the judge a fair view in things and hearing out the parties (no matter how crazy the complaints and compensations are). I mean, come on. Everybody's sort of hoping for equality for all, unity, peace, love, and laughter, right?

Economic conditions VS intrinsic values and virtues
Filipinos are poor but happy?
The Philippines is a predominantly poor country. More than half the population is near or very much under the poverty line. But for some reason, these conditions can't wipe the smile off the people's faces.A majority also still value family and education above all else. Look in the story. The working class/poor family are forever laughing and going out, playing with the children/siblings. The wealthy family just stay put. We know nothing of their dynamics behind closed doors though, but they seem like real sour people. In real life, take for example those people we see on TV who live on the streets or in dingy makeshift houses made of 'yero' and plywood. They still have the energy to chase after the camera men and smile at the camera (unless they're extremely shy). Not just poverty, but in calamities. Entire houses are flooded through, but the families living there are still able to smile and wave/flail at the camera (and all these from the roofs of their houses). Also in the story, the poor family doesn't 'shoot' the kids for being such pains in the ass (given that the time is a more conservative one than today's times). They stick together, and still have time to mess around when things are tough. I suppose it's a Filipino thing. We have a tendency of laughing things off, no matter how big a problem. The ending of the story where the accused pays the sickly family with the 'spirit of coins' was quite witty, another annoyingly Filipino characteristic. Some would say it's called being 'pilosopo', but there is a point in what the father did (I mean, how in the heck can you steal the spirit of food?! Dumbass.). But the fact that a man can still think of something as wiity and funny, then laugh about it (with everybody present) just goes to show how irritatingly happy people we are.