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| The “Pag-asa sa Gitna ng Kalayaan” travel photo exhibit goes to University of Asia and the Pacific in Pasig City. (Photos by PIA-NCR) |
by: Janna Marie Pineda
The narratives surrounding the West Philippine Sea (WPS) are mainly characterized by competing national interests, narrowing the focus on tensions in the contested areas due to territorial disputes.
However, beyond the vast resources of the sea, there are stories of communities caught between the prevailing issues on maritime sovereignty in the WPS.
This is the reality that was depicted in the “Pag-asa sa Gitna ng Kalayaan” travel photo exhibit of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) in partnership with photographer Paul Quiambao.
Resilience through the lens
The “Pag-asa sa Gitna ng Kalayaan” photo exhibit features the maritime heritage and the stories of the community within the contested areas in the WPS, capturing the daily living conditions of people residing in Pag-asa Island which serves as the seat of local governance and the only inhabited island in the Kalayaan Group of Islands, Palawan.
The curated photographs were taken by travel photographer Paul Quaimbao during his expedition in Pag-asa Island in his attempt to provide a humanistic perspective to the collective picture of the maritime dispute in the WPS through documenting the life of the island residents who witness and experience the tensions firsthand.
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| Residents of Pag-asa Island sing the Philippine national anthem during a flag-raising ceremony. (PIA-NCR) |
The photo series also shows the strong community spirit of the island residents despite the constant risk that they face, demonstrating their steadfast resolve to stand their ground as they serve to be the country’s frontline defenders in the WPS.
“We want to show here that there are people affected by the ongoing tension happening in the West Philippine Sea,” said NHCP Curator Jonel Rabusa, citing that by telling the stories of resilience in the WPS, Filipinos will have a deeper understanding of the geopolitical tensions and eventually foster a greater sense of patriotism to advocate for the territorial integrity of the Philippines.
Evidence of sovereign rights
Aside from the photos of community life and the maritime situation in Pag-asa Island, the exhibit also showcases rare maps from the Cartographic Collection of the National Library of the Philippines (NLP), such as the Murillo Velarde Map, which served as one of the supporting evidence presented by the Philippine delegation at the Hague Arbitration.
The Murillo Velarde Map was published by Spanish Jesuit priest Pedro Murillo Velarde in 1734 together with Filipino illustrator Francisco Suarez and engraver Nicolas dela Cruz Bagay to outline the territories of Spain in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period.
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| The Murillo Velarde 1734 Map is considered as the first scientific map of the entire Philippine Archipelago. (PIA-NCR) |
The map’s detailed and scientific illustration of the Philippine archipelago helped it earn the title “Mother of All Philippine Maps.” It proves that the Bajo de Masinloc or the Scarborough Shoal is part of the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.
Beyond a cultural artifact, the Murillo Velarde Map is a historical document that helped the country advance its maritime jurisdiction claim over the WPS at the Permanent Court of Arbitration under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 2016, ruling in favor of the Philippines.
Meanwhile, the exhibit also includes a miniature model of the BRP Sierra Madre as well as the original Free Territory of Freedomland flag by Admiral Tomas Cloma.
WPS advocacy campaign
The NHCP essentially partners with national government agencies and academic institutions in bringing the “Pag-asa sa Gitna ng Kalayaan” photo exhibit closer to the reach of communities, especially the youth.
The gallery was first displayed at the NLP in July 2024 in commemoration of the 8th anniversary of the Arbitral Award for the Philippines.
The first academic institution to host the exhibit was Adamson University (AdU) in August before moving to University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) in Pasig City in October.
For its part, the NHCP is inviting all universities in Metro Manila to host the photo exhibit towards strengthening the country’s advocacy campaign for the WPS.
“We would like to call the different universities as well as the different institutions to exhibit this program in their respective areas, para rin mapakita natin ‘yung kalagayan o sitwasyon ng mga tao at mga kababayan natin doon sa West Philippine Sea partikular na doon sa Pag-asa Island,” Rabusa stated.
[We would like to call (on) the different universities as well as the different institutions to exhibit this program in their respective areas, for us to make known of the situation of our fellow Filipinos in the West Philippine Sea, particularly those living on the Pag-asa Island.]
The West Philippine Sea is not just a territory. It is a symbol of Filipino identity. Uniting in the country’s advocacy campaign for the maritime sovereignty of the Philippines in the WPS is not just for the hope of the nation, but for the future of next generations. (JMP/PIA-NCR)
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