The viral 'Guardians of Luzon' artwork is more than art — it's a warning from nature

On a quiet Sunday, while scrolling through my newsfeed and silently praying that Super Typhoon Uwan would lose strength as it neared Tagaytay, I came across a striking post shared by Turismo Central Luzon. It was a digital artwork titled "The Guardians of Luzon"—a majestic depiction of the Sierra Madre, the Cordilleras, and the Caraballo Range standing like sentinels, shielding the country from the approaching storm.

- By MILLIE MANAHAN

SIERRA MADRE FILE PHOTO -- A view of the Sierra Madre mountain range in Barangay San Isidro, Angono, Rizal, taken on Aug. 5, 2025. (Santi San Juan)

The caption read:

"LOOK: LUZON'S LIVING SHIELDS — THE MOUNTAINS THAT FIGHT THE STORMS FOR US

Sa bawat malakas na bagyo, may mga tahimik ngunit makapangyarihang tagapagsanggalang — ang Sierra Madre, Cordilleras, at Caraballo Range. Hindi sila umaatras. Hindi sila napapagod. Sila ang unang depensa ng Luzon."

("With every powerful storm, there stand silent yet formidable protectors — the Sierra Madre, the Cordilleras, and the Caraballo Range. They do not retreat. They do not tire. They are Luzon's first line of defense.")

At first glance, it looked like a simple tribute to our mountain ranges. But in that moment, as the wind picked up and the skies began to darken, the image felt heavier—like a reminder from nature itself of who our real protectors are, and how fragile their strength has become.

Every year, the Philippines braces for what we call "typhoon season." But lately, it feels less like a season and more like a cycle of reckoning. The storms are growing stronger, the rains heavier, and the line between natural and man-made disasters is becoming harder to distinguish.

THE GUARDIANS OF LUZON -- THE MOUNTAINS THAT STAND BETWEEN US AND THE STORM