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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Church groundbreaking asserts PH sovereignty on Pag-asa Island, says PCG

Church groundbreaking asserts PH sovereignty on Pag-asa Island, says PCG

Published Mar 28, 2026 05:17 pm
Local officials break ground for a Catholic Church set to be constructed on Pag-asa Island in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) on March 28, 2027. Attendees include (L-R) Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea; former Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio; Bishop Socrates Mesiona, of the Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa City; Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) Executive Director Teodoro Jose Matta; and a representative of the local government unit of Kalayaan, Palawan. (Photo: PCG)
Local officials break ground for a Catholic Church set to be constructed on Pag-asa Island in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) on March 28, 2027. Attendees include (L-R) Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea; former Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio; Bishop Socrates Mesiona, of the Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa City; Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) Executive Director Teodoro Jose Matta; and a representative of the local government unit of Kalayaan, Palawan. (Photo: PCG)
Amid the persistent shadow of Chinese maritime presence, a new symbol of Filipino resilience is taking root in the sand of the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG).
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said that local officials and ranking dignitaries gathered on Pag-asa (Thitu) Island, a remote outpost in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Saturday, March 28, for the ceremonial groundbreaking of the first Roman Catholic Church to be constructed on the island.
“The primary objective of constructing this Roman Catholic Church on Pag-asa Island is to fulfill and nurture the spiritual needs of our local residents,” said Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for WPS.
Tarriela emphasized that the chapel provides a sacred space where faith can flourish “amid the threatening Chinese presence in the West Philippine Sea.”
He noted that the structure is far more than an architectural edifice as it stands as a “powerful symbol of hope, resilience, and unity.”
The ceremony featured retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, a key figure in preparing the Philippines’ historic arbitration case against China's sweeping claims in the South China Sea.
His visit marked his first return to the island since 2012, when the government was preparing its arbitration case against Beijing.
The 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration eventually invalidated China's “nine-dash line” claim in the South China Sea, including features located within the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone of Manila.
Also present were Bishop Socrates Mesiona, of the Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa, Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) Executive Director Teodoro Jose Matta, and representatives from the local government unit of the municipality of Kalayaan.
“This endeavor underscores a profound truth: that Pagasa Island is unequivocally worth fighting for and defending,” Tarriela stressed.
The timeline for the completion of the Catholic Church is yet to be finalized.
Read: PCG eyes construction of Catholic church on Pagasa Island; groundbreaking possible by end of March

Related Tags

PCG Pag-asa Island Catholic Church West Philippine Sea Kalayaan Island Group
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