The third civilian mission to the West Philippine Sea (WPS), which also features a “Concert at Sea for Peace,” is set to sail from May 26 to 30, 2025, aiming to further amplify the country’s sovereign rights and territorial integrity in the region.

This initiative was shared during the Saturday News Forum by Ed Dela Torre, President of the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM) and co-convenor of the Atin Ito Coalition—a broad formation of civil society groups and individual volunteers that has previously conducted two successful and historic civilian missions to the WPS.

“This sea concert will bring together artists, musicians, fisherfolk, and civil society leaders from the Philippines and neighboring countries to promote peace, dialogue, and cultural exchange,” Dela Torre said.

He added, “It will serve as a floating platform for diplomacy, solidarity, and people-to-people cooperation in one of the world’s most contested maritime regions.”

The civilian mission is proceeding amid fresh tensions following an incident on May 21, when a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel reportedly fired its water cannon on and sideswiped a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel near the sandbars off the Philippine-occupied Pag-asa (Thitu) Island.

BFAR spokesperson Nazario Briguera stated during the forum, “BFAR vessels BRP Datu Sanday and BRP Datu Pagbuaya were on a routine mission with a Filipino scientific team collecting sand samples on Sandy Cay when the CCG vessel with bow number 2159 fired a water cannon and sideswiped the Datu Sanday twice. This damaged the vessel’s port bow and smokestack, putting the lives of the civilian personnel at risk.”

He emphasized that Sandy Cay is part of the Thitu Reefs, located near Thitu Island within the Spratly Islands, a region within the maritime territory of the Philippines.

Despite the “aggressive, dangerous, and illegal actions” by the CCG and Chinese maritime militia, the BFAR scientific team successfully completed their work at Pag-asa Cays 1, 2, and 3, he said.

“This is not the first time that a BFAR vessel has been attacked, but as you know, we do not back down. The agency’s mission continues despite the irresponsible and violent actions of the China Coast Guard in the West Philippine Sea,” Briguera added.

Dela Torre mentioned that the coalition is closely working with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the BFAR for their civilian mission and concert.

Akbayan Citizens’ Action Party president Rafaela David, also a co-convenor of the Atin Ito Coalition, earlier emphasized that the mission seeks to cultivate peace through the universal language of music and the transformative power of artistic expression.

“We aim to uplift coastal communities by amplifying the lived experiences and aspirations of our fisherfolk, and to foster regional harmony through shared cultural and maritime narratives. We will sail not with warships, but with songs; not with hostility, but with harmony and solidarity,” she stressed.

Popular folk artist and Atin Ito volunteer Noel Cabangon has said that the lineup of performers for the sea concert includes acclaimed Filipino musicians Ebe Dancel, all-women rock band Rouge, rap collective Morobeats, and P-pop group HORI7ON.

Foreign musicians are also participating in the concert, including Japanese artist Fumi, Indonesian and Malaysian performers Viona and Kai Mata, and South Korean K-pop girl group I:Mond, he said.

The coalition has announced that it will stage a sunset musical event at the jump-off point in El Nido, Palawan; along with dialogue sessions and cultural exchanges; and the concert performance in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) near Pag-asa Island.

Meanwhile, Akbayan Representative Perci Cendaña expressed full support for the civilian mission and shared their group’s campaigns to push for legislation declaring July 12 of every year as WPS Victory Day to commemorate the Philippines’ historic arbitral win in 2016, and for the establishment of a WPS Institute for the conduct of research, protection of marine resources, and development of educational programs to raise public awareness and national pride regarding the West Philippine Sea.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in 2016 in favor of the Philippines over China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea. The decision also ruled that Ayungin Shoal, the Spratly Islands, Panganiban or Mischief Reef, and Recto or Reed Bank are within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The Hague court also stated that Scarborough Shoal, a rich fish resource, is a common fishing ground.

China continues to reject the said court ruling.

📷 Saturday News Forum and Atin Ito Coalition