PHL to launch three-part documentary on West Philippine Sea on Independence Day

(Updated 4:28 p.m.) As the country marks its 117th independence as a nation, the Philippines will launch on Friday a three-part television documentary defending its position against Chinese aggression in the disputed South China Sea.

Members of the media were given a preview of the first episode of the three-part series, called Kalayaan or Freedom, at the DFA on Thursday afternoon, but were asked not to publish or air its entire content until its official launch at 4 p.m. on June 12.

Part one, which ran for 20 minutes, was titled, “Karapatan sa Karagatan” or “Maritime Right.”

 

To be aired by state-run PTV 4, Kalayaan’s primary audience is domestic, but it can be gleaned from the pilot episode that it is designed to foster nationalism among Filipinos and drive home the urgency of the importance of defending its off-shore territories in the waters wholly claimed by China.

 

“Our objective is to inform our people,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said, adding it is meant to “raise awareness” on the South China Sea issue and to “rally support of our people behind  our Philippine government’s policy and action.”

With narration in Filipino by television host Lourd De Veyra, the  documentary, Jose explained, is part of the government’s “information, education and communication campaign” on the country’s claims and rights in the resource-rich waters.

The documentary tackles the economic, historical and legal aspects of the country’s claim, he said, adding there is a plan to translate the documentary into English or include English subtitles for a wider global reach.
 

Funded by the DFA, the documentary is a joint project of the department, the Presidential Communications and Operations Office and the Philippine Information Agency. It will also be uploaded on the DFA's Facebook page.

 

The launch of the documentary came amid China’s massive and rapid construction of artificial islands in seven disputed features in the South China Sea, parts of which the Philippines refers to as West Philippine Sea.

 

China’s building spree has sparked speculations they could be used as military forward bases by China’s air and naval forces.

 

The United States, a defense and treaty ally of the Philippines, has called on China to halt its reclamation work even as Beijing insisted that its activities are legal and are being carried out in areas within its sovereign jurisdiction.

 

In 2013, China aired a similar eight-part television documentary called, “Journey on the South China Sea” televised by state-run network CCTV 4 from December 24 to 31.

 

In a communist Asian nation steeped in secrecy, China’s three-hour  plus documentary provides a rare peek into how the country works in the shadows to consolidate its territorial claims in the strategic waters, spy on rival claimants and gradually build an armed presence to thwart opponents, who challenge its ancient claims and current expansion.

 

The whole story is told from the eyes of CCTV journalists, who separately accompanied Chinese surveillance personnel, maritime patrols, law enforcers, fishermen and marine experts in journeys across the troubled waters.