Atin Ito holds concert off Pagasa Island waters despite Chinese shadowing

Despite the shadowing of Chinese ships and bad weather, Atin Ito Coalition conducted a concert off the territorial waters of Pagasa Island on Wednesday as part of its third civilian mission to the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

“We are now inside the territorial waters of Pag-asa Island. Due to the rainfall, the second part of the historic sea concert is held inside the ship, sa bridge,” one of the organizers Emman Hizon told reporters.

“As of the moment, constant shadowing lang ng CCG vessels,” he added.

The convoy of the civilian-led mission will continue to sail near Pagasa Island, according to Hizon.

'Mission accomplished'

In a separate statement, Atin Ito announced “the successful completion of the first-ever sea concert held in the West Philippine Sea.”

“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,” Atin Ito co-convenor Rafaela David said.

“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,” she added.

Among the performers during the concert were Filipino rap collective Morobeats, South Korean pop group I:Mond, P-pop sensation Hori7on, and regional artists Kai Mata (Indonesia) and Viona (Malaysia).

A symbolic flag-raising ceremony was also held on board Atin Ito’s ship in observance of the National Flag Day.

Supplies were also delivered to fisherfolk in the area.

“We successfully distributed 22 containers of fuel, 10 liters each, to our fishermen. This may seem small, but in these contested waters, every drop is a declaration of support, and every delivery is an act of courage,” David said.

 

 

Concert at Sea

Atin Ito said the “Concert at Sea for Peace” will serve as a platform for artists, musicians, and fisherfolk from various claimant countries to come together and promote peace, cultural exchange, and regional solidarity through music and the arts.

The first part of the concert was held during the send-off ceremony for the civilian mission in El Nido, Palawan on May 26. OPM singer-songwriters Ebe Dancel and Noel Cabangon were among the performers during the ceremony.

More than 150 people are on board Atin Ito’s M/V Kapitan Felix Oca including volunteers, artists and their crew, the press, as well as boat staff.

“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,” Atin Ito convenor Rafaela David earlier said.

The civilian mission is set to be completed on May 30.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday said it has deployed two of its vessels, Melchora Aquino and BRP Malapascua, to escort the civilian-led mission.

On Tuesday morning, Atin Ito said two China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels CCG 3306 and CCG 21549 shadowed the Philippine civilian mission ship around 54 nautical miles from El Nido, Palawan. The Chinese vessels were spotted as close as three nautical miles.

The Chinese and Philippine sides also exchanged radio challenges.

On Wednesday, PCG spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela said Chinese vessels got closer to the Atin Ito ship. Chinese maritime militia vessels were also seen in Pagasa Cay 2, Cay 3, and Cay 4.

“CCG 5103 is located 1.72 nautical miles West of Pagasa Island, while CCG 21559 is also 2 nautical miles away from the anchored M/V Kapitan Oca. Additionally, CCG 3306 is maintaining a distance of 4.6 nautical miles from Pagasa,” Tarriela said.

“Furthermore, there are currently twenty-two (22) Chinese Maritime Militia vessels anchored at Pagasa Cay 2, Cay 3, and Cay 4, approximately 1.5 nautical miles off the starboard bow of MRRV 9702,” he added.

West Philippine Sea

Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country’s claim.

The West Philippine  Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis."

China has refused to recognize the decision. —VAL, GMA Integrated News