Artist's commentary
Panatag Shoal Watchers
Image Description
Panatag Watchers
The Panatag shoal Hammerhead sharks, natives of the West Philippine shoal, are ancient beings of the old sea who watches over the world from below. For centuries, they have been living maps that held a claim to the shoal's belongingness to a group of islands. They bear marks to their skin of what is now called the Philippines, including Panatag.
In recent years, disturbances to their waters forced them to resurface. They have observed countless foreign vessels claiming their territory for themselves. The Hammerheads stood still, as they have always been, waiting for the human inhabitants themselves to resolve their conflicts. But with no actions from the human race, they are forced to break their non-interference code.
Now, they will come after the usurpers and the blood of the Filipinos who turned a blind eye. The verdict is now in the hands of the Old watchers turned judge of the new sea.