The Atin Ito coalition will push through their third civilian mission to the West Philippine Sea (WPS) despite the recent water cannon attack of the China Coast Guard against Philippines Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Sandy Cay last Wednesday, May 21.
Atin Ito convenor and President of the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM) Ed Dela Torre said that the mission will feature the first-ever sea concert for peace and solidarity in the contested maritime area, promoting peace, unity, and the rights of coastal communities.
“This sea concert will bring together artists, musicians, fisherfolk, and civil society leaders from the Philippines and neighbouring countries to promote peace, dialogue, and cultural exchange,” said Dela Torre at a press conference in Quezon City on May 22.
The musical event is scheduled from May 26 to 30, the voyage will bring together Filipino and international artists, fisherfolk, and civil society leaders for a series of events centered on artistic and cultural expression.
The initiative aims to highlight the importance of peace and regional solidarity in the WPS, an area marred by territorial tensions.
“This sea concert will serve as a floating platform for diplomacy, solidarity, and people-to-people cooperation in one of the world’s most contested maritime regions,” Dela Torre emphasized.
The ship is scheduled to depart Manila at 6:00 AM on May 25, en route to El Nido, Palawan, where a sunset musical event will be held on May 26 as a prelude to the sea concert. From there, the mission will head toward the vicinity of Pag-asa Island on May 27.
Rafaela “Paeng” David, co-convenor of Atin Ito, stressed the mission seeks to cultivate peace through the universal language of music and the transformative power of artistic expression
She further said the mission seeks to uplift coastal communities by highlighting the experiences and aspirations of Filipino fisherfolk, while also promoting regional harmony through shared cultural and maritime stories.
“We will sail not with warships, but with songs; not with hostility, but with harmony and solidarity,” she pointed out.
Volunteers and performers on Sunday, May 25 are aboard the M/V Kapitan Felix Oca as preparations begin for their third civilian mission.
Performers from the Philippines, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Japan will take part in the event, with renowned Filipino artists Ebe Dancel and Noel Cabangon headlining the concert.
The sea concert will include dialogue sessions, cultural exchanges, and musical performances to underscore the role of civil society and cultural diplomacy in regional peacebuilding.
Meanwhile, the mission follows two previously civilian-led initiatives organized by Atin Ito in the WPS.
