Mass in West Philippine Sea: Pray for peace, pray for sovereignty

ON BOARD THE KAPITAN FELIX OCA – Even while in prayer, the sight of two Chinese warships and a coast guard vessel seemingly bearing on them was too much to ignore for fisherfolk and volunteers attending a mass being celebrated by Fr. Robert Reyes on board the MV Kapitan Felix Oca, lead ship of the Christmas convoy in the West Philippine Sea, which was forced to cut short its voyage.

The ship, under the command of Capt. Jorge dela Cruz, made a hard 180-degree turn toward mainland Palawan, to the surprise of many on board comprising organizers of the Atin Ito Coalition, volunteers and fisherfolk, as well as members of the media.

The ship was leading a convoy of some 30 smaller vessels on a mission to deliver Christmas goodies and provisions to small island communities as well as to dramatize the Filipinos’ determination to assert the country’s sovereignty over its territorial waters.

Some 30 minutes before Father Reyes began the mass at 4:30 p.m., passengers of the 55-year-old maritime training vessel were just waiting and relaxing when members of the media noticed a boat cruising at a distance on the left side of the ship.

It turned out to be Chinese destroyer Changsha 173, estimated to be only five nautical miles from Felix Oca’s position.

It was the first of two Chinese military ships that circled the Felix Oca. A Chinese Coast Guard vessel also appeared on the starboard side.

Father Reyes started the mass on the ship’s deck in front of a life-sized nativity scene despite all the frenzy. He started the mass with a message that there can never be peace in the WPS as long as Chinese ships insist on staying and claiming Philippine territorial waters.

“At this mass, let us pray for peace, let us pray for the gift of sovereignty,” he said, urging the faithful for a special Christmas prayer for “the gift of peace and the gift of recognition and respect for our sovereignty.” The Gospel reading was about John the Baptist calling for repentance.

“We might all get wet later on, tubig lang yan, basta tubig lang (as long as it’s just water),” he even jested as he talked about the beauty of Palawan, considered the country’s last frontier.

It was in the middle of his homily at around 4:55 p.m. that Captain Dela Cruz announced on the ship’s public address system that a decision had to be made as the Chinese were already surrounding Felix Oca.

The captain called on Akbayan president Rafaela David and representative of Atin Ito to come to the bridge, apparently to brief them on the situation.

“We pray for that final decision, I don’t know what it is but it may have something to do with the ship. Another ship? Another ship over there and another ship on the other side. OK, we are being surrounded, that’s good,” Father Reyes said, as he tried to continue with the mass.

“Are you ready to get wet? I don’t think we took the risk of joining this company, this group of people, with the notion that this is going to be an easy and safe trip. It’s not a joyride,” he added.

“So now you see another boat and I think it has turned towards us. Look to your left, my dear friends, the boat has turned towards us, is going towards us,” Reyes announced as everyone witnessed how the CCG vessel made a sudden turn with its bow now directly towards the Felix Oca.

“Will there be a confrontation, I don’t know… But apparently, if you can notice, our ship is turning around,” Reyes then remarked, as he decided to pause the mass as everyone now was already distracted.

Just minutes later at around 5 p.m., Atin Ito Coalition, which organized what was supposed to be a three-day trip to and from Ayungin Shoal and the Lawak and Patag Islands of the WPS, announced that the ship was turning around and was heading back to the San Fernando Port in El Nido, Palawan, “erring on the side of caution” for the safety of everyone.

As the Felix Oca, still escorted by a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel, made a hard 360-degree turn, Reyes continued the mass and asked all to repent, saying, “Kayong mga mananakop, nagkakasala kayo sa Diyos (you invaders, you are sinning against God).”

“We dare face the risk of facing aggressive and very unfriendly Chinese vessels and we are not afraid, we are not afraid,” he emphasized despite the decision to abort to trip.

Reyes then concluded the mass.

“So far, so good. Our message is clear. China get out of our territorial waters, it has not changed,” Reyes said as some organizers were later allowed to speak and express their disappointment, anger and outrage over how China has forced a Philippine civilian ship out of Philippine territorial waters.

Capt. Dela Cruz later defended his decision, explaining that as per his assessment, the CCG vessel was really going to ram the Felix Oca.

He said he’d rather be called a coward than risk the lives of more than a hundred souls aboard his 55-year-old ship. – Sheila Crisotomo