Analysis: The Trese family does not treat Crispin and Basilio as adopted sons but familiars

I see a lot of Kambal and Alex fluff in the fandom since the cartoons did bring out the fun in the twins. Not to mention, the cartoons also have the “power of family” going on quite different than how the comics approached some of its story arcs. What is more fun than imagining Alex as this annoyed older sister taking care of her little brothers?

But this sibling relationship is mostly fanon or product of the cartoon, not really the case in the comics in Volume 1-3 where much of the cartoons were based on.

Alexandra herself doesn’t see them as brothers, or at least not yet at the end of Volume 3. Why is she called “Bossing” and not “Ate” - which translates to “older sister?”

In Volume 3 - Mass Murders, the twins’ origin was revealed. Alex’s and initial reactions were understandable since Crispin and Basilio brutally killed Anton’s allies, a pack of sigbins - including Puti and Bantay. Alex here was just 15 years old and already pragmatic, fearing the return of Talagbusao. Even Hank wanted to kill the twins.

Note that while it’s compassionate for Anton to adopt the boys, he didn’t treat them as human children at all. His words were precisely “put to better use.” These were not words meant for adopted sons.

After three years of living with the Trese family, the twins don’t call Anton anything resembling a family relationship - not Tatay (Father), Tito (honorific for older males), or even Uncle but “sir.”

At this point, the twins directly call Alexandra by her name, not “Ate” or not “Bossing.”

When Alex came out of the tree three years later, she treated the twins harshly for allegedly failing their duty as bodyguards. Now that Anton was dead, the twins’ now follow Alex the way they served her father.

I cannot truly criticize the Treses with their treatment of Crispin and Basilio, as they aren’t human and subjected to different standards. The Treses have killed and punished non-humans without any form of mercy but the twins were given a home.

We do see Alex soften and smile around them but I don’t think she sees them the same way as her blood siblings, as she is still called “bossing” and not “ate.”

All in all, I’m not really aiming to kill the fluffy family headcanons the fandom have now, nor am I trying to paint Alex in a bad light. My goal was to present how the relationship started and progressed, and where it could possibly go. We can see the potential for growth for these characters. After all, Alex herself barely had any moments of vulnerability and softness once she took her role, even when she meets her brothers they just do more work.

The Trese family is all serious business and could use some kind of fun in their lives. Basilio and Crispin might just be what they need.