Camille Naredo

A groundbreaking ceremony for a Catholic church in Pag-asa Island, March 28, 2026. Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News

A groundbreaking ceremony for a Catholic church in Pag-asa Island, March 28, 2026.

Article (news)

Pag-asa Island

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1774698978657viber_image_2026-03-28_19-44-36-405.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="A groundbreaking ceremony for a Catholic church in Pag-asa Island, March 28, 2026. Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A groundbreaking ceremony for a Catholic church in Pag-asa Island, March 28, 2026. <em>Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio first visited Pag-asa Island in 2012, as the Philippines was preparing to file its arbitration case against China.</p><p>Fourteen years later, on Saturday, Carpio returned to the Philippine-occupied feature in the Kalayaan Island Group—and immediately noted the improvements.</p><p>&quot;Ang daming bago dito. It looks a lot better now,&quot; Carpio told reporters on Pag-asa Island.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s been a long time, more than a decade. I&#x27;m happy they repaired the runway because when we came here, the plane we were taking had to suddenly stop. Otherwise, it will go over because it was eroded,&quot; he added.</p><p>A decade after the Philippines secured its landmark victory in the 2016 South China Sea Arbitration Award, Carpio said the country continues to push for broader international support in asserting its rights in the West Philippine Sea.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/10/afp-says-operations-in-west-philippine-sea-to-continue-amid-rising-oil-prices-1358">READ: AFP says operations in West Philippine Sea to continue amid rising oil prices</a></div><p>&quot;Right now, we are doing everything we can to get the world behind it. We maximize the benefits. We are enlarging our security arrangements with other countries,&quot; Carpio said.</p><p>&quot;The arbitral award has generated support from all over the world. Only China has no ally. I don&#x27;t know of any country that agrees that China owns the South China Sea,&quot; he added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>FIRST CATHOLIC CHURCH ON PAG-ASA ISLAND</strong><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1774699018206viber_image_2026-03-28_19-45-32-777.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Puerto Princesa Bishop Socrates Mesiona presides over a Mass at Pag-asa Island, March 28, 2026. Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Puerto Princesa Bishop Socrates Mesiona presides over a Mass at Pag-asa Island, March 28, 2026. <em>Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></strong></div><p>Carpio attended the groundbreaking ceremony for a Catholic church on Pag-asa Island, along with Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, Puerto Princesa Bishop Socrates Mesiona, and local officials from Kalayaan and Palawan.</p><p>Mesiona also held Mass on the island -- the first time that a bishop has presided over a Mass there.</p><p>According to Bishop Mesiona, the church will help address the spiritual needs of government personnel and residents.</p><p>&quot;Ang mahalaga dito ay mayroon silang lugar kung saan makatakbo sila para sa sama-samang panalangin. Doon nila hingin ang kanilang mga hinaing at pasasalamat sa Diyos. Ang simbahang ito ay magiging sagisag ng kanilang pagiging isang komunidad, isang sambayanan,&quot; the bishop said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/3/21/kalayaan-town-to-launch-patriotic-tours-to-pag-asa-island-in-april-1026">READ: Kalayaan town to launch ‘patriotic tours’ to Pag-asa Island in April</a></div><p>He expressed hope construction can begin soon, noting the outpouring of support from the faithful, even as logistical challenges remain.</p><p>&quot;Nakakataba ng puso dahil kahit nagstart kami from zero in terms of funding, nang inilabas ang balak na ito, maraming nag-reach out sa akin at willing tumulong,&quot; Bishop Mesiona said.</p><p>He went on, &quot;Marami pang dapat gawin, like organizing the people, catechizing the people.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>REAFFIRMING PHILIPPINE PRESENCE, RIGHTS IN WPS</strong></div><p>Tarriela said the increasing number of visits by government officials and key figures to Pag-asa Island reflects the country&#x27;s firm stance in asserting its rights in the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>&quot;This also goes to show ang commitment ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos na paigtingin ang ating presensya sa West Philippine Sea,&quot; he told reporters.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/26/ph-navy-ship-averts-collision-with-chinese-warship-near-pag-asa-2340">READ: PH Navy ship averts collision with Chinese warship near Pag-asa</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/27/-intentional-afp-says-near-collision-with-navy-ship-an-escalation-by-china-1259">READ: AFP says near-collision with Navy ship an escalation by China</a></div><p>Following the event, the PCG conducted a maritime domain awareness (MDA) flight with guests onboard.</p><p>From the air, Subi Reef—also known as Zamora Reef—was seen as a large artificial island built by China.</p><p>The PCG Cessna Caravan also passed over Mischief Reef or Panganiban Reef, now one of Beijing&#x27;s largest air and naval bases in the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>Pilots reported detecting a Chinese aircraft tracking the Philippine plane on radar, which later disappeared.</p><p>During the flight, Chinese forces from the sophisticated military base released flares and issued repeated radio challenges to the PCG aircraft.</p><p>Carpio stressed that Mischief Reef falls within the Philippines&#x27; exclusive economic zone (EEZ).</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s now as big as Mandaluyong City in terms of land area. But that is totally within our EEZ under the arbitral award, so only the Philippines can put up an artificial island within its EEZ,&quot; he stressed.</p><p>The flight also passed over Ayungin Shoal, where the BRP Sierra Madre remains grounded as the country&#x27;s naval outpost in the area.</p>

<p>"Ang mahalaga dito ay mayroon silang lugar kung saan makatakbo sila para sa sama-samang panalangin. Doon nila hingin ang kanilang mga hinaing at pasasalamat sa Diyos."</p>

"Ang mahalaga dito ay mayroon silang lugar kung saan makatakbo sila para sa sama-samang panalangin. Doon nila hingin ang kanilang mga hinaing at pasasalamat sa Diyos."

Pag-asa Church groundbreaking highlights PH presence, rights in West PH Sea

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Pag-asa Church groundbreaking highlights PH presence, rights in West PH Sea

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 28, 2026 07:59 PM PHT

Read More:

Philippine Coast Guard

groundbreaking

Catholic Church

Justice Antonio Carpio

Bishop Socrates Mesiona

Pag-asa Island

West Philippine Sea

Mischief Reef

Subi Reef

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