Catholic church to rise on Pag-asa Island

A Catholic church will soon be constructed on Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea.

A groundbreaking ceremony led by Bishop Socrates Mesiona of Puerto Princesa was held on Saturday. 

“The primary objective of constructing this Roman Catholic Church on Pagasa Island is to fulfill and nurture the spiritual needs of our local residents, providing a sacred space where faith can flourish amid the threatening Chinese presence in the West Philippine Sea. Far more than a mere physical structure or architectural edifice, this church stands as a powerful symbol of hope, resilience, and unity," said Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela.

“This endeavor underscores a profound truth: that Pagasa Island is unequivocally worth fighting for and defending. It sends a clear and enduring message that this island is not just a strategic outpost but a living, breathing community deserving the protection from our government,” he added.

According to the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), the 1,200-square-meter chapel would serve about 400 people and be the first permanent Catholic structure on the island.

China insists on ownership of almost 90% of the South China Sea, including areas that overlap with the Philippines' and other Asian nations' territorial waters.

Manila has renamed parts of the South China Sea nearest to the Philippine archipelago the West Philippine Sea.

In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal 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 not recognized the decision. — VBL, GMA Integrated News