Tigpanalipod (The Protectors) emerged from the fisherfolk communities of Bantayan Island and its surrounding islets, including Mambacayao Dako — home to generations of fisherfolk now being displaced from their coastal homes in favor of tourism and private development. Amid forced relocations and the loss of access to their fishing grounds, the community continues to resist through acts of remembrance, solidarity, and participation. During the annual San Juan Festival, over forty fishing boats joined the Fisherfolk Day parade — each one a vessel of both livelihood and defiance.

The work centers on the ingenuity and resilience of the fisherfolk: their boats, tools, and island-made technologies transformed into sculptural forms that testify to self-reliance and care for their environment. Tigpanalipod stands as both document and declaration — protecting memory, place, and the right to remain.