Commemorating July 12 West Philippine Sea Victory Day

Various groups have prepared commemorative events and statements to remind us all Filipinos to join the celebration of this year’s July 12 West Philippine Sea (WPS) Victory Day!

With "Dekada ng Batas, Hindi Dahas" as theme, the Visayas Command, Armed Forces of the Philippines, through the 3rd Civil Relations Group, Civil-Military Operations Command issued a media advisory about their two-day Photo Static Display and Exhibit, featuring cultural presentations and band performances.

This July 11-12 event “forms part of the culminating activities commemorating the 10th Anniversary of the July 12, 2016 Arbitral Award rendered by the United Nations Arbitral Tribunal, which affirmed the Philippines' maritime rights in the West Philippine Sea and also highlights the country's continued commitment to upholding international law and promoting the peaceful and rules-based resolution of maritime issues.”

From 1 P.M. of July 11, the opening ceremony will be held at the Atrium D, Lower Ground Level, SM City Cebu with Rear Admiral Agapito Bibat, commander of the Philippine Coast Guard Visayas as the guest of honor and speaker.

The next day, July 12, at 1 P.M., the main event will be held with Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival as the guest of honor and speaker.

On Monday, July 13, from 8 A.M., Ato ni – WPS Victory Day Program will be held at the Cebu City Hall Sugbo Grounds with Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. as guest of honor and speaker.

Cebu City Councilor Pablo”Paul” Labra II, the author of the Cebu City Resolution declaring July 12 of every year as “West Philippine Sea Victory Day” will introduce Sec. Gibo.

Other highlights of the program for this Cebu City morning event include arrival honors by the Air Force Band, panunumpa sa watawat ng Pilipinas led by Ms. Judy Labesores, panunumpa ng kawani ng gobyerno led by Nol Sheanli Harani, the Bagong Pilipinas Hymn, the Bagong Pilipinas Pledge led by Gaile Marie Therese Teoxon, and a courtesy call to Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña at the ground floor of the Cebu City Hall Legislative Building.

Atin Ito Cebu convenors, following the commemoration of West Philippine Sea Victory Day, will continue to conduct a series of media engagements/public information activities aimed at raising public awareness of the significance of the 2016 arbitral award and the continuing importance of defending the country's maritime rights through peaceful, rules-based means.

As we Filipinos mark this July 12th the 10th Anniversary of the 2016 arbitral award, of our WPS Victory Day, this timely statement from the Stratbase Institute for Strategic and International Studies (an independent, international research organization, based in Makati, Metro Manila, dedicated to advancing strategic insights and policy solutions to address the complex challenges facing the Philippines and the broader Indo-Pacific region): “While the country has secured a landmark legal victory affirming its rights in the West Philippine Sea, the more daunting task of asserting and defending those rights continues.

“The Philippines has made significant progress in strengthening its external defense posture in defense of these rights. But much work remains.

“Our legal victory must be matched by sustained efforts to build credible deterrence, strengthen alliances with like-minded nations, and develop a modern, multidomain Armed Forces capable of addressing the evolving security challenges facing the country.

“The Filipino people clearly understand this imperative.

“A recent Pulse Asia May survey, commissioned by the Stratbase Group found that 86 percent of Filipinos support the government’s efforts to defend the West Philippine Sea alongside like-minded nations, in accordance with the arbitral ruling. This demonstrates that Filipinos recognize that defending the West Philippine Sea requires more than legal arguments and diplomatic statements. Rather, the Philippines must ensure that its legal gains are matched by the capabilities needed to defend them.”