From water stems life. For our nation, comprised of over 7,641 islands, water isn’t just essential for survival; it is a way of life.

Living in an archipelago impacts every facet of our existence. It teaches us to accept the ebb and flow of nature, from the tides that shape our shores to the changing seasons that dictate our livelihoods. Our island reality shapes daily routines, traditions, and even critical concerns like food security and supply chains. Now, our island life is also entwined with the urgent realities of climate change and conservation.

These circumstances have deeply instilled in us an intrinsic sense of how Water nurtures Connection, Collective Spirit, and Community in an island nation. Just as the smallest of streams, the longest of rivers and the widest of lakes inevitably converge into the seas, Filipinos understand how necessary mutual cooperation and reliance on each other are to unifying us across these scattered islands.

Isa Sa Isla, the JTI SinagLarawan 2025 Photo Contest, is a visual exploration of how our lives in the islands are linked by water in profound and complex ways, and how these connections have given rise to communal aspects of Filipino culture unique to our geography.