CNN Philippines has come up with a revolutionary talk show tackling vital, current and burning issues that affect our country and its Asian neighbors. It is fast-paced and innovative with opinion makers and thought leaders. An added bonus in its first episode is its breathtaking cinematography of many coastline communities and ocean views.

Cinematography in a talk show? Well, The Way Forward” is a different take on a classic format.

The first episode which aired last Wednesday, Nov. 9, focused on the “blue economy” and issues surrounding the West Philippine Sea. Blue economy means “all economic activities related to oceans, seas and coasts.”

The beauty-and-brains Atty. Karen Jimeno hosts the show which is produced by Mr. Edicio de la Torre, the president of the 70-year old Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement. He said the Philippines is MANA, a term he coined which means Maritime and Archipelagic Nation.

While it is common knowledge that the world is mostly water, Dr. Rhodora V. Azanza of the National Academy of Science and Technology Philippines was precise in explaining that “the world is really made up of 70 percent marine waters and only 30 percent land.” This was elucidated further by a surprisingly young marine scientist Dr. Deo Onda who said that our territories which include the extended continental shelf make up around 82 percent of our territories. This means 82 percent of the Philippines is under water.

Another pronouncement of his can make one sit up and ponder deeply when he said, “so there are
predictions saying that by 2050, there will be more plastics than fishes in the oceans right. I think seven out of the 10 most river polluters in the world are found in the Philippines, and Pasig River actually being on top of that list. Our own studies have actually shown that in Manila Bay you'd find around 40,000 pieces of plastics per square kilometer. And because of the wind, the current, and again, the connectivity
of the oceans, many of these actually will go to South China Sea (West Philippine Sea).”

A lot of the discussion also focused on what comprises the West Philippine Sea, our claim on it and its resources. Justice Francis Jardeleza explained that there is no such thing as a nine-dash line, including discussions on UNCLOS and its invention, the Exclusive Economic Zone.

There were snippets of interviews regarding the plight of many of our fishermen whose only source of livelihood is being attacked on so many fronts like illegal fishing, pollution, overfishing and of course, the threat of Chinese intrusion into our waters.

Some of them may have accepted their fate but many more try to find solutions including appeals to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. One particular female fisher gave a heart-rending assertion that, in no
uncertain terms, the West Philippine Sea is ours.

Emotional and informative, that’s The Way Forward. Catch its next two episodes on CNN Philippines every Wednesday at 8:30 pm when it tackles other facets of the blue economy including its connection to national security.