Local and foreign acts have come together to call for peace on the contested waters.
On Wednesday, May 28, the ‘Concert At Sea For Peace’ organized by the West Philippine Sea Atin Ito! coalition was held on-board the M/V Kapitan Felix Oca, situated near the Pag-asa Island in Palawan.
Due to rainfall, the concert was held inside the vessel, on the bridge overlooking Pag-asa Island, with artists delivering their music amid the tense shadowing presence of Chinese vessels.
This is the first-ever concert organized by the team, which described it as another milestone in its ongoing civilian missions to the area.
Among the performers in the concert were OPM legends Noel Cabangon and Ebe Dancel, Filipino groups HORI7ON, Rouge, and Morobeats, as well as foreign teams like I:Mond (South Korea), Kai Mata (Indonesia), Viona (Malaysia), and Fumi (Japan).
“Mission accomplished! This is a moment of triumph not just for our mission, but for every Filipino who dreams of peace and justice in our seas. We made history today by holding the very first sea concert deep in the West Philippine Sea, just two nautical miles from Pag-asa Island,” said Rafaela “Paeng” David, Atin Ito co-convenor and president of Akbayan Party.
She added the challenges that came with their bold move, saying, “Despite being shadowed by Chinese marine vessels, we stood our ground. Our artists sang not just to entertain, but to resist, to unite, and to inspire,”
Through innovative and peaceful means, the coalition said thar continues to normalize civilian activities in the area, asserting the Philippines’ sovereign rights and territorial integrity.
“This concert is more than a musical event. It is a reminder that art, music, and culture are potent tools of resistance. Through music, we forged solidarity across nations and declared to the world that our seas must be zones of peace, not arenas of conflict,” David added.
The ship was also greeted by flotilla of small Filipino fishing boats in a show of unity and solidarity.
The civilian mission also delivered vital support to fisherfolk stationed in Pag-asa, giving out 22 containers of fuel, 10 liters each, to Filipino fishermen.
Additionally, to mark the National Flag Day, which fell on the same day, Atin Ito also held a symbolic flag-raising ceremony on board the ship, honouring the Philippine flag just a short distance from Pag-asa Island.
The moment, it said, “served as a solemn and patriotic assertion of the nation’s presence in its own waters.”
The ship, as of writing, is en route back to the port of Manila, where it is scheduled to dock on Friday, May 30, marking the end of the six-day mission.