In celebration of 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 (MANA Mo 2026), the 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞, in partnership with the 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝-𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐚 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩, held a maritime awareness program at Concordia College Manila on September 7, 2026.
Grade 4 to Grade 10 students first learned what makes the Philippines a maritime and archipelagic nation through a short lecture by DOJ 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐥 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐲. 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢 𝐆𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐧, then enjoyed an interactive 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 of “The Stories of Teacher Jun,” led by PCG-WPSTG personnel.
The comic book follows a teacher and his students, whose dreams range from becoming a Philippine Coast Guard officer to a scientist, a lawyer, and a diplomat, as they explore our maritime zones and rights under UNCLOS, and why the West Philippine Sea’s resources belong to Filipinos, all while learning to distinguish facts from fake news. The energy carried into a lively open forum, where students raised their questions on the West Philippine Sea.
𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐀𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐧 𝐍 𝐃𝐞 𝐆𝐮𝐳𝐦𝐚𝐧, 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞, reminded the students that communication, cooperation, and strong partnerships build a safer, more resilient maritime nation. He also urged them to ask questions, seek the truth, and understand the value of something, so that they may be able to wholeheartedly protect it a lesson that applies just as much to the West Philippine Sea.
Safeguarding our maritime heritage begins with the next generation. By nurturing informed, engaged young Filipinos today, we build a nation ready to understand, value, and defend the West Philippine Sea for years to come.
