I’VE LONG BEEN a follower of the West Philippine Sea story from 2012 when the late President Benigno S. Aquino III, with his patriotic heart, dared to tell the world it’s ours grounded on the parts in the South China Sea which are within our exclusive economic zone. I then cheered our victory over superpower China at the arbitral ruling in The Hague, Netherlandsand hanged on to that even if succeeding president Rodrigo Duterte belittled the feat.
Am glad the subject has remained fresh and afloat,mainly due to the persistent interest and actions of China, thanks in large part to former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and to a number of advocates who love their country as much.
Cinema Verite
The film documentary, “Food Delivery (Fresh from the West Philippine Sea)” shown recently in cinemas and special screenings, was certainly most welcome. Directed by Baby Ruth Villarama under Voyage Studios, it brought the political issue down to the stomach, maybe to draw more grassroots understanding and support for the cause.
The main actors are fisherfolks (in the village near the Bajo de Masinloc in Zambales which is the current seat of tension between the Philippine and China Coast Guards) who in calm and tumultuous weathers set out to the high seas in small boats, to be able “to feed their family and the country”. Also in the cast are members of the Philippine Navy and Coast Guard watching out for the intruder ships. The interaction between these two groups, their sharing of the day’s catch in mealsand of slices of life (their sacrifices, dreams, family stories) is a glimpse of a brotherhood sealed by the flag flapping in the wind. Smart casting that makes the 1 hour and 25-minute documentary palpable and gripping.
Main attraction too are the fishes – an abundance and variety of them underneath, caught in the nets, and laid down in a central market for the bulk haggling and buying by traders from different places.
CORE MESSAGES
Of course, the core messages had to be delivered. Thankfully, there is no oratory to disrupt the flow. You know these are Millennials and Gen Zs in the production team adept at computer technology and art.
I recall the scope/composition of the WPS;distances among them; the stands on the WPS of presidents GMA, BSA, RRD, and BBM. They are superimposed on the cinematic shots of the seaincluding the blue skies and the green underwaters.
The film is being considered for the country’s entry to the Oscar Awards which may further grab global attention to the West Philippine issue and the Philippines-China tension at the sea.
Below, let me add two reasons why we should treasure and defend the WPS, portrayed but not spelled out by the film.
Economic and Environmental Values
There are 71 species of fish in WPS. About 70 to 80percent of galunggong supplied in Metro Manila comes from the area. It is also one of the migratory spots for tuna. WPS contributed some 10.8% to the total fish production of the country from 2018 to 2022. Food security and contribution to the economy with such abundant biodiversity is ensured in the future.
The rich coral reef ecosystem of the WPS serves as habitats and breeding grounds for the numerous and widely diverse fish species. Defending the territory thus calls also for preventing habitat loss, coral destruction, excessive overfishing, and other factors that may affect its overall health.
Oh yes, the WPS is also believed to be rich in oil and natural gas reserves.
There are records that the China encroachment has caused damage to the WPS ecosystem estimated at billions prompting Senator Risa Hontiveros to recently announce that she will file a bill to demand compensation.