BAGUIO CITY — A mural highlighting the Philippines’ rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) has been unveiled here to promote public awareness of the country’s maritime entitlements and commemorate the 10th anniversary of the landmark 2016 Arbitral Award.
The mural, painted on the retaining wall along Magsaysay Road, was unveiled on July 16 during a ceremony led by Mayor Benjamin Magalong, government officials, and military representatives.
The artwork is a joint project of the City Government of Baguio, the Creative Baguio City Council (CBCC), the Community Defense Center (CDC), the 14th Regional Community Defense Group (RCDG), the Reserve Command (RC), and the Philippine Army (PA).
Magalong said the country’s stand on the WPS goes beyond defending territorial integrity and sovereign rights.
“Our stand on the West Philippine Sea is about protecting our future and ensuring the survival of our nation,” the mayor said.
Col. Emmanuel Diasen, commander of the 14th Regional Community Defense Group of the Reserve Command, Philippine Army, said the mural is part of a nationwide campaign to remind Filipinos that the country’s identity, sovereignty, livelihood, and future are closely tied to the West Philippine Sea.
“Some may ask why we unveiled a West Philippine Sea mural here in Baguio, hundreds of kilometers away from the sea. The answer is simple: Love for our country knows no distance or boundaries,” Diasen said.
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He said the mural took 35 days to complete, with work beginning on June 6 and finishing on July 10.
It was created through the collaborative efforts of artists from the city government and the CBCC, Reserve Officers’ Training Corps cadets of the 1401st Community Defense Center, members of the 14th RCDG, and other partner organizations. Certificates of recognition were presented to the participating artists during the unveiling.
Lt. Col. Jojo Mascariñas, acting commander of Joint Task Unit Panagkaykaysa, said the project is part of the military’s continuing public information campaign on the country’s legitimate rights in the WPS.
“Through this mural, everyone who passes by will be reminded every day that we have legitimate rights in the West Philippine Sea,” Mascariñas said, adding that educating younger generations is essential to preserving the country’s sovereignty for the future.
The WPS refers to the parts of the South China Sea located within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone. China, however, has been claiming parts of the WPS.
The 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, issued on July 12 under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, affirmed the Philippines’ sovereign rights within its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone and ruled that China’s sweeping “nine-dash line” claim has no legal basis. /mcm
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