Irony of Wealth
Wealth, vast sums of wealth is the goal of many of the characters in the novel and this goal is to be achieved by any and all means and at the cost of any sacrifice, even at the cost of personal happiness and/or personal dignity. Pucha, Isabel, and Rosario are examples of this trade-off. The First Lady, to a certain extent, is an example of this too as she is reviled by the public but cannot oppose her directly because of her wealth and influence.
The Irony of Denying Corruption
Despite the overwhelming evidence, explicit and implicit, of the First Couple’s corruption they continue to deny it using a combination of blatant denial and a team of spin-doctors and propagandists. Even with the resources they pour into media experts, politician-apologists, and sycophantic journalists they can do nothing to stem the tide of public discontent.
The Irony of Wives
In the novel, husbands treat their wives as little more than accessories but despite this, daughters, especially those from wealthy families are sent to the best, most expensive schools and are even sent abroad to receive education.
The Irony of the Philippine Socio-Political Climate
In the novel, there seem to be only two social conditions: dictatorship or total anarchy. There is no middle ground and seemingly no way to achieve sweeping social reforms without violence or political strong-arming.
Irony of Beauty
Beauty serves as both a tool for gaining upward social mobility and gaining wealth, more often than not however it also becomes a pair of shackles for the one possessing beauty. It manages to get Isabel a wealthy, well-connected husband who also happens to be a serial philanderer. The famed starlet Lolita Luna manages to bag lucrative film contracts and movie gigs but lives out her life as little more than a high-end prostitute and a junkie.
