Latest news with #BRPMalapascua
GMA Network
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
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. 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. Photo from Atin Ito Coalition 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. 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.
GMA Network
7 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
2 Chinese vessels shadow Atin Ito ship on civilian mission to Pagasa Island
Atin Ito Coalition said two China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels shadowed its ship while on the way to Pagasa Island for a civilian mission on Tuesday morning. In an update, Atin Ito said CCG 3306 and CCG 21549 shadowed the Philippine civilian mission ship around 54 nautical miles from El Nido, Palawan. 'CCG 3306 is 3 NM from Atin Ito ship while the other one, CCG 21549, is 5 NM away from the Atin Ito ship,' the coalition said. Chinese and Philippine sides exchanged radio challenges, according to Atin Ito. Volunteers from Atin Ito arrived in El Nido on Monday to launch the third civilian-led mission to the West Philippine Sea (WPS), which will culminate with a concert near Pagasa Island. The civilian mission was set from May 26 to 30, 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 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. 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. —KG, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
26-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
PCG sends 2 vessels to escort Atin Ito civilian mission to West PH Sea
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday said it has deployed two of its vessels to escort Atin Ito Coalition's civilian-led mission to the West Philippine Sea (WPS) from May 26 to 30. PCG spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela identified the two vessels as BRP Melchora Aquino and BRP Malapascua. 'Yesterday, BRP Melchora Aquino, ito ang isa sa pinakamalaking barko ng PCG, ay umalis na sa Puerto Princesa, Palawan patungo sa El Nido. This afternoon, it will be arriving at El Nido,' he said in a press briefing. (Yesterday, BRP Melchora Aquino, one of the largest ships of the PCG, departed Puerto Princesa, Palawan heading to El Nido. This afternoon, it will be arriving at El Nido.) 'And for the other vessel na sinabi ni [Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan] na ipapadala namin, BRP Malapascua is also prepositioned as well in El Nido, Palawan,' he added. (And for the other vessel that the Commandant said we will send, BRP Malapascua is also prepositioned as well in El Nido, Palawan.) Atin Ito, over the weekend, said its civilian-led mission to the WPS will continue despite the recent aggression of Chinese vessels in Sandy Cay. 'We proceed as planned, and we hope to conduct our musical event, ideally and safely within the vicinity of Pag asa Island. Ang dala natin ay kapayapaan sa pamamagitan ng musika, hindi lenguwahe ng giyera,' Atin Ito Coalition convenor Rafaela David said in a statement. (What we bring is peace through music, not the language of war.) A China Coast Guard (CCG) ship fired water cannon and sideswiped a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel in Pag-asa Cay 2 (Sandy Cay) in the WPS on May 22. BFAR said its BRP Datu Sanday and BRP Datu Pagbuaya were on a routine mission with a scientific team to collect sand samples in the area. 'At approximately 0913H, CCG vessel 21559 water cannoned and sideswiped the BRP Datu Sanday (MMOV 3002) twice, resulting in some damage to the latter's port bow and smokestack, and putting at risk lives of its civilian personnel onboard,' BFAR said. 'This incident marks the first time water cannons have been used against DA-BFAR research vessels in the area of the Pag-Asa Cays,' it added. The bureau pointed out that the incident happened within the territorial sea of the Philippines in the area of Pag-asa Island and Pag-asa Cay 2, which are part of the Kalayaan Island Group in the WPS. CCG said that it took "control measures" against the Philippine vessels which it said "illegally intruded" into waters near Subi Reef and Sandy Cay. Liu Dejun, the CCG spokesperson, claimed that one of the Philippine vessels "dangerously" approached and collided with their ship, and that responsibility "lies entirely" with the Philippine side. 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. —AOL, GMA Integrated News
South China Morning Post
14-02-2025
- South China Morning Post
Manila relying on ‘transparency initiative' to offset Beijing's moves in South China Sea
Crew members assigned to the Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Sindangan say they knew their mission would involve facing off against huge, numerous, intimidating Chinese vessels in the contested waters of the South China Sea Advertisement But that did not fully prepare them for the reality. 'My heart beats up every time a clash is imminent,' which is virtually every voyage, said a senior officer, who asked not to be identified citing security reasons. 'You know what will happen,' added a 30-year old female crew member who dreams of being a captain one day. 'But it's part of our job.' The 44-metre (144-foot) Sindangan is on the front lines of Manila's 'transparency initiative', one the nation's 62 coastguard patrol and 90 naval warfare vessels engaged in the showdown between the Philippines and China over sovereignty. Beijing has an arsenal of some 142 coastguard and 370 naval ships to draw on. Advertisement The initiative started two years ago after a Chinese vessel allegedly aimed a 'military grade' laser at the BRP Malapascua and temporarily blinded crew members. Beijing said the ship was merely taking measurements of the Philippine vessel with a 'green light pointer' in defence of China's sovereignty.
