'IGIB: Waiting for Life'

IGIB: Waiting for Life captures a woman’s quiet labor, showing how everyday acts sustain not just her family but the wider community.

In the painting, she stands outside a cement-block house, waiting to draw water from an outdoor tap. This scene reflects life in many rural Philippine communities, where centralized water systems are scarce and families rely on pag-iigib—the daily collection of water for bathing, cooking, and cleaning.

Even when water is available, it is not guaranteed around the clock. Through her patience and persistence, the painting honors the resilience of women whose unseen labor shapes the rhythm of life and sustains those around them.