An ongoing multimedia and multi-sensory exhibit at Casa San Miguel in San Antonio town is featuring the stories and struggles and resilience at sea of Zambales fisherfolk.
Dubbed "Ghost Ships," the exhibition is part of Zambulat 2025, in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
The event is part of the collaboration between Casa San Miguel 2025 Artist-in-Residence William Matawaran and Zambulat 2025 Environmental Cluster Mentor Joanna Aglibot.
The exhibit focuses on the lexperiences of Zambales fishermen who navigate not only the unpredictable forces of nature but also the geopolitical tension in the West Philippine Sea.
“It is important that this is presented within a local context here at Casa San Miguel, specifically in Zambales, to inform people about our hydro-social and geopolitical issues—topics that are rarely covered by national media and even less so at the local level,” Matawaran said.
“By amplifying the voices of those often overshadowed by political discourse, the exhibit fosters dialogue on resilience, vulnerability, and the ongoing fight for survival in contested waters,” he added.
The exhibit encourages visitors to reflect on how personal stories connect to global issues, Matawaran said.
Using a combination of mixed-media installations and immersive soundscapes, “Ghost Ships” creates a multi-sensory experience with glowing images evoking the ghostly presence of abandoned or destroyed boats that brings visitors into the physical and emotional landscapes.
The works include illuminated acrylic engravings depicting driftwood, frayed ropes, rusted metal, and fishing scenes symbolizing both the fragility and resilience of their vessels plus visual display with an immersive soundscape featuring recorded interviews with local fisherfolk, sharing their firsthand accounts of displacement, survival, and perseverance.
The exhibit will run until March 31, 2025 and open to the public from Friday to Sunday.