In a striking portrayal of economic disparity and survival, Squid Game introduces 456 players battling for a grand prize of 45.6 billion Korean won. More than a thriller, the show is a mirror that reflects the harsh realities of financial desperation. Every contestant is drowning in debt; is that a shared struggle by countless individuals today? Crushed by loans, trapped in dead-end jobs, and barely scraping by while the rich continue to thrive, does this setup look too familiar?

The connection between Squid Game and reality is impossible to ignore. Many people live in a constant fight for financial security, much like the players on screen. Desperation pushes them into grueling jobs, risky financial decisions, and exploitative systems. Just as the players are at the mercy of the masked VIPs, real-world workers answer to corporations, landlords, and financial institutions that control their fate. It is the same hierarchy in a different costume. Those at the top profit from the suffering of those at the bottom.

In the Philippines, the parallels are clear. Predatory lending systems like "5-6" trap low-income families in cycles of repayment, with interest rates that border on criminal. Contractual labor keeps workers disposable, denying them security and benefits. The promise to end “endo” has become an unfulfilled campaign slogan. Meanwhile, the country’s wealth remains concentrated among the few who profit from underpaid labor and deregulated industries.

Squid Game does not create a dystopia. It amplifies a reality many already live. The brutal competition in the series reflects a capitalist system where one wrong step can lead to financial ruin. The game masters manipulating players resemble how the elite design policies, control resources and shape opportunity to protect their dominance. Inequality is not just present; it is built into the structure.

Consider the millions of overseas Filipino workers who take on dangerous and underpaid jobs abroad. They leave their families behind in search of survival, often facing abuse and exploitation. Here at home, the rise of POGOs brings short-term economic boosts but increases crime and displacement in local communities. These are real consequences of systems that prioritize profit over people.

The message of Squid Game is clear. It criticizes a society that rewards exploitation and punishes vulnerability. It shows how people are forced to risk everything just to keep going, while those with power observe from a distance. The series asks uncomfortable questions about who benefits from inequality and who is left behind.

Beyond its gripping story, Squid Game holds up a mirror to the world we live in. Greed, hierarchy, and cruelty are not just plot devices. They shape our daily lives, from economic policies to working conditions. People are pushed to their limits while those at the top remain indifferent.

The question remains: are we merely spectators, or are we unknowingly participants in our version of Squid Game?