Equation of State unfolds amid Bantayan Island’s uncertain future, following the removal of its Wilderness status — a decision revealing how law, politics, and economics determine who controls land and livelihood. The loss of protection opens over 13,000 hectares for private ownership and development, exposing the fragility of policies meant to balance growth and sustainability.

Atienza grounds her work within this shifting legal and ecological landscape. Through video documentation of Bantayan’s periphery, she bears witness to the visible effects of policy — churches, boats, and homes eroding along the coast. Her film Panangatan (2019) traces the decaying shoreline and the fisherfolk resisting relocation despite government pressure and rising tides.