Parola Island, a feature in the Kalayaan Island Group that is occupied by the Philippines. Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- Just two kilometers away from Parola Island, one of the nine Philippine-occupied features in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), is Pugad Island, a feature occupied by Vietnam.

Both islands are located inside the Philippines' 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

There are different versions of the story on how Vietnam seized the island from the Philippines in the 1970s, but an official of the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) said that troops from both countries stationed here have coexisted peacefully ever since.

"Pwede pong mag-exist without any tensions," Colonel Joel Bonavente, Commander of the Naval Task Force 42, told reporters on board the BRP Andres Bonifacio on Wednesday.

Bonavente added that Filipino and Vietnamese soldiers assigned to Parola and Pugad, respectively, even get together annually for friendly games, cultural shows, and exchange of ideas and views, with the two sides taking turns visiting each other's occupied features.

"We have a cooperation with Vietnam. We are continuously cooperating and coordinating with them. We have also a regular staff-to-staff talk with their Navy," Bonavente said.

He went on, "Every year, nagro-rotate po tayo. We visit their islands and they also visit our islands."

Parola Island was the Armed Forces of the Philippines' (AFP) second stop in its "symbolic" maritime patrol in the West Philippine Sea conducted just days before Philippine Independence Day.

The first was Pag-asa Island, the largest feature occupied by the country at 37 hectares.

ABS-CBN News was among the selected media outlets who joined the maritime patrol.

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DEVELOPED PUGAD ISLANDPugad Island, a feature occupied by Vietnam. Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News

In terms of developing the occupied features, it is noticeable that Vietnam has done a lot more to modernize Pugad Island.

From aboard the BRP Andres Bonifacio, a harbor, dome-like structures and several buildings can be seen on the island.

There was also the presence of a Vietnamese warship.

"Nandito sila dahil magkalapit lang ang kabilang isla na Vietnam ang nag-ooccupy," said Captain Ellain Rose Collado, Public Affairs Officer of the Naval Western Command.

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FIGHTING BOREDOM

But there are also efforts to develop Philippine-occupied features, such as Parola Island, according to Bonavente.

"Meron naman. From time to time, we are improving our facilities dito and how to improve the way of life ng mga sundalo," the official noted.

Philippine-occupied features in the KIG have satellite internet to allow troops to communicate with their families.

There are also television sets and sports equipment to help them fight boredom.

"They are highly trained, well-motivated and well-sustained. May mga internet naman sila sa detachments nila and other sports activities na pwede nilang gawin everyday sa pagstation sa island features. Hindi po sila mabobore sa kanilang stations," Bonavente said.

He continued, "Bilang sundalo, mapalayo ka sa family mo. Basic naman iyon. But alam naman nila ang sakripisyo ng sundalo na madeploy sa malayo. Kung malayo ka sa family mo, a simple wifi signal, a simple entertainment ay malaking bagay na."

In January last year, AFP chief of staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. said the government is focusing on improving Philippine-occupied features in the West Philippine Sea to make them more "livable and habitable" for Filipino soldiers.

Aside from Pag-asa Island and Parola Island, the country also occupies Ayungin Shoal, Lawak Island, Kota Island, Likas Island, Panata Island, Patag Island and Rizal Reef.

"Ang kasundaluhan natin, specifically ang Philippine Navy and Philippine Marines, ay nandito to protect our territory. Overlapping ang ibang islands and these island features we have to protect and defend for the future of our country," Bonavente said.