By Shayne Elizabeth Flores and Cassandra Luis De Leon

Malate Catholic Church - Our Lady of Remedies Parish and devotees asserted the Philippines’ ownership of its seas, in honor of the 126th Independence Day, with prayer rites and procession ‘Bandila, Kandila at Kampana para sa Kapayapaan at Soberanya’ along Roxas Boulevard earlier today, June 12.

Activist Fr. Robert Reyes presided over the devotees in praying for national sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

“Let us pray quietly, silently, for our beloved seas–our beloved waters surrounding our country, that God may protect our waters. The waters that God gave to us Filipinos,” he encouraged.

The procession followed the prayer rites, led by a van carrying bells labeled as Kampana, Kandila, and Kapayapaan.

In an interview with FEU Advocate, Akbayan Party President Rafaela David underlined the battle for national sovereignty in light of Filipino fishermen’s struggles to fish freely in the WPS.

“‘Yung mga mangingisda doon ay nakikita nga natin na ‘yung kabuhayan nila ay nanganganib at may active na threat, harassment, at violence against them. Kaya ‘yung ating kalayaan patuloy dapat nating na sinisigurado, kasama na d’yan ‘yung pagsasama-sama natin para hindi tuluyang masakop ng China ang ating teritoryo (We can see how fishermen’s livelihoods are at stake and that there are active threats, harassment, and violence against them. That is why we need to always ensure our freedom, which includes gathering together so that our territory cannot be completely conquered by China),” she said.

Moreover, Our Lady of the Remedies acting Parish Priest Fr. Jude Genovia reminded Filipinos to be vigilant amid international disputes.

“And it’s very important as a Filipino to always be watchful because it’s not over yet. Our independence is always under threat of our neighbors who consider themselves as more powerful than us,” he explained.

The procession concluded at Our Lady of Remedies Parish where a Holy Mass culminated the commemoration.

Several multi-sectoral progressive groups and protesters also staged a demonstration along Roxas Boulevard in opposition to foreign countries’ interventions earlier today.

(Photo by Zedrich Xylak Madrid/FEU Advocate)