Atin Ito: Sea concerts a ‘love song’ to West PH Sea, its protectors

Atin Ito Coalition holds a press conference on Monday at the S Hotel in El Nido, Palawan with artists participating in its peace concerts (INQUIRER.net/ Faith Argosino)

EL NIDO, PALAWAN, Philippines — Atin Ito’s third civilian mission and its peace concerts in the waters of El Nido and Pag-asa Island in Palawan are the coalition’s “love song” to the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and those who protect it, according to Akbayan party-list president Rafaela David.

David, an Atin Ito Coalition convenor, said the mission also shows that their commitment to the WPS is “not rooted in militarism or warmongering” but “in compassion, community, and culture.”

“This is our way to highlight and amplify the voices of those who are most affected. From the fisherfolks, the frontliners, who are bearing the brunt of what China is doing,” David emphasized as she officially opened the civilian mission during a press conference on Monday.

“Atin Ito has a historic peace concert that we will do later tonight and on Wednesday. This historic concert is our love song to the West Philippine Sea and the frontliners, everyone who stands up to protect it,” she added.

The concerts will be held aboard MV Kapitan Felix Oca near El Nido, Palawan and the other in the vicinity of Pag-asa Island.

David also reiterated that the mission’s message focuses on “peace, unity, and solidarity.”

“We may be citizens from different nations,  but we have one message, and that message is that we want peace in our region,” she said.

“What we want to do is to build bridges. Using the language of music, our nations may be far apart, but we know that we are connected by the music that we share, music of peace, music of solidarity,” she added.

Expected to perform in the concert are Ebe Dancel, singer and composer Noel Cabangon, all-women rock band Rouge, rap collective Morobeats, and P-pop group HORIZON.

They will be joined by Japanese artist Fumi, Indonesian and Malaysian musicians Viona and Kai Mata, and South Korean K-pop girl group I:Mond.

May 2024 mission

On May 16 last year, Atin Ito Coalition conducted its 2nd civilian mission. Its 10-member advanced team arrived  25 to 30 nautical miles from the general vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc and breached China’s “illegal blockade,” on the same day.

The team delivered crucial provisions, including fuel and food, to Filipino fishers working in the area.

Their efforts resulted in the distribution of 1,000 liters of diesel and 200 food packs — despite a Chinese Navy ship, bearing body number 175, constantly shadowing them.

Atin Ito reported distributing the supplies to 144 Filipino fishers in six mother boats and 36 small fishing boats.

The first-ever supply mission of  Atin Ito was conducted in 2023, during which one of their resupply boats managed to get past Chinese vessels and reached Lawak Island on December 11.

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