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MANILA, Philippines — A group advocating a more vigorous but peaceful assertion of the country’s rights over its territorial waters is preparing its third civilian-led sailing mission to the West Philippine Sea, tentatively in May.
The Atin Ito Coalition said its West Philippine Sea mission will feature a “Peace and Solidarity Sea Concert” to unite fisherfolk, artists and advocates in peace, unity and national sovereignty.
The coalition yesterday announced its coming activity at a press conference in Quezon City, attended by retired Supreme Court associate justice Antonio Carpio, Atin Ito co-convenor Edicio dela Torre, Kiko Aquino Dee, retired rear admiral Rommel Jude Ong and Akbayan party-list president Rafaela David.
Musician Noel Cabangon and the all-women rock group Rouge pledged their support for the initiative, emphasizing the role of music in raising awareness and mobilizing public action.
Japanese artist Fumiya Sankai, known as “Fumi,” also expressed his support through a video message, highlighting the campaign’s international reach.
Scheduled for the last week of May, the concert will serve as both a symbolic and cultural assertion of the Philippines’ sovereignty over the WPS, according to organizers.
The mission will bring together fisherfolk, artists and civil society groups from ASEAN nations to promote regional peace and cooperation while opposing foreign aggression.
“We are setting sail with a message of peace and solidarity through music,” said David. “Through the power of art and collective action, we will fight for what is rightfully ours, not with weapons of war, but with the unyielding force of music and solidarity.”
She also denounced China’s actions at sea have affected values that have long bound nations together, especially among fisherfolk.
“These were callously undermined when China unilaterally imposed its baseless claims, resorting to aggression and violence to illegally assert control over waters.”
Cabangon said artists have a role in shaping public consciousness. “Music has always been a form of resistance,” he said.
“Through our songs, we will stand with our fisherfolk and frontliners and remind the world that the West Philippine Sea is ours,” he said.
Atin Ito’s previous expeditions in 2023 and 2024 provided aid to fisherfolk while asserting the Philippines’ territorial claims.
“Our victory in 2016 shows that international courts can actually strengthen our sovereignty,” Dee said.
“To every Filipino who believes in our rights as a nation, let us assert them by voting for candidates who have never wavered in defending the West Philippine Sea,” he added.
Foreign policy of peace
At a conference in Taguig, Speaker Martin Romualdez said that while the Marcos administration is pursuing a foreign policy of peace in the West Philippine Sea, it does not mean that the government will not defend it at all costs.
“As you immerse yourselves in the discussions of this conference, I urge you to also immerse yourselves in the spirit of this nation,” he said at the opening of the Harvard World Model United Nations (WorldMUN) 2025 conference at the SM Aura in Taguig City.
“The Philippines is more than just your host country – it is a lesson in resilience, in unity, in the power of community. We are a nation that has weathered storms – both literal and political. And yet, through it all, we stand, we rebuild, we move forward together,” he added.
WorldMUN is an annual international Model United Nations conference organized by Harvard University students in different cities every year.
The House leader said the “same spirit guides the country’s present leadership” where the Marcos administration is “determined to defend the country’s sovereignty.”
“We have pursued a foreign policy of peace, pragmatism and partnership – building stronger alliances while standing firm in defending our sovereignty. We have strengthened economic ties with partners across Asia, the US, Europe and the Middle East, securing investments and trade agreements that will uplift millions of Filipinos,” Romualdez stressed.
“This is the essence of diplomacy: standing firm in principle while seeking common ground. I hope you will carry that lesson with you. The idea that no matter how deep the differences, no matter how great the challenges, there is always a way forward – so long as there is a willingness to build, not just to destroy; to listen, not just to speak; to find common ground, not just to defend positions,” he added.
The Speaker told conference delegates that they are inheriting a world that “is complex and, in some ways, more fragile than ever.”
“Conflicts rage. Democracies are tested. Economies are shaken by forces beyond borders. Climate change is no longer a distant threat – it is here, demanding answers we can no longer afford to delay,” he said.
“These challenges will not wait for the next generation of leaders. You are that generation. Do not wait for permission to make an impact. Do not wait for the ‘right time.’ The right time is now,” Romualdez said.
“The debates you hold in these halls may be simulations – but the ideas you form, the convictions you strengthen and the friendships you forge here will be real. They will shape the way you see the world when you step beyond these walls,” he added. — Delon Porcalla
