Civilian group plans concert in West Philippine Sea

Metro Manila, Philippines - The Atin Ito Coalition said it will be mounting a concert aboard a motorized vessel within the West Philippine Sea to support the country’s claims in the contested waterway.

The “Concert at Sea for Peace” will be the coalition’s third civilian mission to the area set for May 26 to 30.

“This is not just a musical event but a movement that sails with songs instead of warships, a mission that casts nets of unity and solidarity not conflict, a stand that declares the West Philippine Sea is ours but it shall be a sea of peace,” Atin Ito co-convenor Ed dela Torre said in a news briefing on Thursday, May 22.

Atin Ito co-convenor Rafaela David said the mission will start with a sunset concert on May 26 off the coast of El Nido, Palawan, which would serve as a send-off for their voyage. Mainland Palawan fishers are expected to join.

David said the mission will then head to the territorial waters of Pagasa Island. By the morning of May 28, it will hold the next concert aboard the MV Kapitan Felix Oca.

While within the territorial waters of Pagasa Island, the group will provide fuel to Pagasa fisherfolk.

They will leave for Manila Port by the afternoon.

David said the coalition has coordinated with the National Task Force-West Philippine Sea and the National Maritime Council for the civilian mission. It is also expecting the Philippine Coast Guard to monitor the activity and ensure their safety.

She said scenarios they have prepared included possible contestation, shadowing, and blockade from China, who has presence near Pagasa Island and other parts of the West Philippine Sea.

“We have planned for and ensured sa dulo na makapag-concert tayo sa sarili nating EEZ (exclusive economic zone) kasi karapatan natin ‘yon,” David told reporters. “Kung saan man tayo abutan in the whole route of the convoy, ang mahalaga maipakita sa China that this peace concert will happen whatever maneuvers they will do.”

[Translation: We have planned for and ensured that at the end, we have conducted a concert inside our EEZ. Wherever in the whole route of the convoy, it’s important that we can show to China that this peace concert will happen whatever maneuvers they will do.]

Around 150 participants are expected to be part of the third mission, including volunteers, fisherfolk, artists and their crew, and the media.

The concert line-up included singer and composer Noel Cabangon, singer-songwriter Ebe Dancel, all-women rock band Rouge, rap collective Morobeats, global pop group Hori7on, Japanese artist Fumi, Indonesian and Malaysian musicians Viona and Kai Mata, and K-pop girl group I:Mond. Not all of them will join the voyage to the West Philippine Sea.

The Atin Ito Coalition launched a Christmas convoy to Ayungin Shoal in December 2023, then another mission to Panatag Shoal in May 2024.

In the second mission, Atin Ito sent an advance team to Panatag Shoal as the official convoy faced China’s blockade.