Batasan Island in the Philippines is facing an existential crisis as rising sea levels threaten to submerge the community, yet residents refuse to abandon their home. In a poignant scene, a family held a funeral while floodwaters encircled them, a stark reminder of the relentless encroachment of the sea. For half the year, the island’s inhabitants grapple with the harsh realities of life in a submerged landscape, where even washing clothes becomes an arduous task.

Recent studies reveal alarming data: sea levels are rising here at three times the global average, a consequence of climate change exacerbated by a devastating earthquake in 2013 that altered the island’s topography. Experts warn that Batasan Island could be completely underwater within the next two decades. The Department of Environment has deemed the island uninhabitable, urging residents to relocate. “Sooner or later, the sea will eat up the entire island,” officials caution.

Despite these grave warnings, the islanders remain resolute. They have chosen adaptation over relocation, erecting stilted homes and constructing elevated schools to cope with the rising tides. “I had a second floor built so we can rest more comfortably,” one resident shared, acknowledging the precarious balance they maintain.

While they manage their daily lives amid the flooding, the community is painfully aware that their children may one day face the harsh reality of leaving the only home they’ve ever known. As the waters rise and the clock ticks down, Batasan Island stands as a powerful testament to human resilience in the face of climate catastrophe.