Camille Naredo

Philippine Air Force Airman 2nd Class Clyde Kent Enriquez and public school teacher Lucky Gaea Marie Bolante, together with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. in Pag-asa Island, July 12, 2026. Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1783865440364HNBcPGnb0AAMW38.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Philippine Air Force Airman 2nd Class Clyde Kent Enriquez and public school teacher Lucky Gaea Marie Bolante, together with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. in Pag-asa Island, July 12, 2026. Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News"/>Philippine Air Force Airman 2nd Class Clyde Kent Enriquez and public school teacher Lucky Gaea Marie Bolante, together with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. in Pag-asa Island, July 12, 2026. Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA -- When public school teacher Lucky Gaea Marie Bolante and Philippine Air Force Airman 2nd Class Clyde Kent Enriquez exchange wedding vows this December, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. may be standing beside them—not as a government official, but as one of their wedding sponsors.The couple’s story began on Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea. Bolante, who had just been assigned to teach on the island, said finding love was the last thing on her mind.“Wala po talaga akong balak mag-boyfriend, [kaya lang] makulit,” she said, laughing.Enriquez, who has been deployed to Pag-asa several times since 2022, recalled meeting Bolante shortly after she arrived. “Sa deployment ko last year, dito na ako. Siya, kakaakyat pa lang bilang teacher. Nagkita lang [kami] sa daan,” he said.Asked what first caught his attention, Enriquez answered jokingly: “Pagiging strikta niya. Strikta kasi tumingin eh kaso malabo raw mata.” <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/4/9/philippines-unveils-new-coast-guard-command-in-pag-asa-island-1328">Philippines unveils new coast guard command in Pag-asa Island </a> </div>For Enriquez, the island’s name carries a fitting meaning.“Ang Pag-asa, ito talaga nagbibigay ng kalayaan sa atin—kalayaang magmahal,” he said. The couple’s love story has unfolded on an island long associated with territorial disputes but increasingly defined by something else: a growing Filipino community.That transformation was underscored on Sunday as Teodoro visited Pag-asa Island to lead the ceremonial turnover of gift packs to residents in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the landmark 2016 Arbitral Award that invalidated China’s sweeping nine-dash—now ten-dash—line claim in the South China Sea. Joining Teodoro were Western Command (WESCOM) Commander Vice Admiral Alan Javier and Kalayaan, Palawan Mayor Beltzasar Alindogan.<div> </div><div>FROM SECURITY TO HABITATION<img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1783865536767HNAFGdzaoAATy7E.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. leads the ceremonial handover of gift packs to residents of Pag-asa Island during the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award, July 12, 2026. Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News"/>Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. leads the ceremonial handover of gift packs to residents of Pag-asa Island during the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award, July 12, 2026. Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News</div>For Teodoro, the significance of Pag-asa today goes beyond military presence. “It is extremely significant para number one, hindi lang symbolic ito na nagraise tayo ng flag. Ito ay pag-instill ng commitment ng lahat ng taumbayan para sa paglalago na ang national government ay makatulong, katuwang ang local government dito,” the defense chief told reporters in an interview.“It’s also significant, hindi lang dito, but in the farthest reaches ng ating kapuluan,” he added. According to Teodoro, the government’s focus has evolved from purely securing the island to helping its civilian community flourish.“Other than a purely security perspective, nakikita natin na it’s really a habitation perspective already,” he said. <div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/2/24/-walang-jurisdiction-ang-china-dito-risa-reasserts-philippines-claim-to-pag-asa-island-0639">&#x27;Walang jurisdiction ang China dito&#x27;: Risa reasserts Philippines&#x27; claim to Pag-Asa island</a></div>About 500 residents now live on Pag-asa Island, including around 120 students from elementary to senior high school.As the community continues to grow, Teodoro said the national government’s next challenge is ensuring that residents have access to essential services. “There are health needs, sanitation needs, water needs,” he noted.To help address these concerns, Teodoro directed the WESCOM to establish Task Force Pag-asa, which will coordinate efforts among national government agencies to improve services and accelerate development on the island. He also directed the Western Command to dedicate personnel to help synchronize government initiatives and improve access to Pag-asa.“I instructed the Commander of WESCOM to dedicate some part of his forces into coordination and aggregation of accessibility to the island for the rest of the services na kailangang dalhin ng national government,” Teodoro said. He went on, “Access and facilities for access. Yun ang kailangang madaliin natin. Yun nga lang, ang kalaban natin dito panahon kasi seasonal ang pasok. We have to find ways and means to fast-track during times na pupwede.”<div> </div><div>THE FIRST TEN YEARS </div>Teodoro described the arbitral victory as still being in its early years.“Bata pa ang Arbitral Win. For the first ten years, napasinungalingan ang mga ginigiit ng China. Naging isolated ang China sa kanyang naratibo sa nine-dash line, he said.Beyond its legal significance, Teodoro said the ruling also awakened greater public appreciation of the country’s maritime domain and strengthened Filipinos’ sense of patriotism. “Namulat ang ating mga kababayan sa importansya ng karagatan… hindi lang sa ngayon, kundi lalung-lalo na sa future generations of Filipinos,” the secretary said. “Nagdulot din ito ng national outpouring ng patriotism sa pamamagitan ng ating territorial sovereignty and sovereign integrity.”Looking ahead, Teodoro stressed that the Philippines cannot afford to slow down.<div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/2/19/philippines-to-improve-port-airstrip-in-kalayaan-island-group-0816">Philippines to improve port, airstrip in Kalayaan Island Group </a> </div>“For the first ten years from where we started to where we are now, marami na ang nangyari—hindi lang sa militar, kundi sa awareness, sa edukasyon. However, for the next ten years, we have to double time kasi mas mabilis ang gustong manira ng ating teritoryo at sovereign rights natin,” he emphasized. He said the country must continue strengthening its defense capabilities and credible deterrence while pursuing reforms within the defense establishment.Teodoro also underscored the importance of industrial and economic resilience to reduce dependence on countries that may have “interests hostile to the Philippines.” With the presidential elections approaching in 2028, the defense chief expressed hope that succeeding administrations would continue protecting the country’s sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea.He acknowledged that future leaders may differ in strategy, but said the West Philippine Sea issue itself should remain above partisan politics.“Napakalaki ng expectation ng ating mga kababayan at ito ay sinabi nila na ito ay political issue. Because it is a public issue eh. Lahat naman ng issue sa publiko ay political—huwag lang gawing partisan political issue na nagsasalungatan ang view natin dito sa West Philippine Sea,” Teodoro noted. “Maaaring magkaroon tayo ng differences sa kung paano isasakatuparan ang entitlements natin, pero may fine line ‘yan eh: Kung isasakatuparan mo na may benepisyo na igigive up mo naman, iba na ‘yon. Partisan na iyon, katraydoran pa,” he added.“So, let’s keep the issue a public issue, but let’s keep it for the Philippines, and let there be no debate kung sino ang may-ari nito,” the defense chief further said.

When public school teacher Lucky Gaea Marie Bolante and Philippine Air Force Airman 2nd Class Clyde Kent Enriquez exchange wedding vows this December, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. may be standing beside them—not as a government official, but as one of their wedding sponsors.

When public school teacher Lucky Gaea Marie Bolante and Philippine Air Force Airman 2nd Class Clyde Kent Enriquez exchange wedding vows this December, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. may be standing beside them—not as a government official, but as one of their wedding sponsors.

On Pag-asa Island, a love story mirrors a growing community

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On Pag-asa Island, a love story mirrors a growing community

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 12, 2026 10:20 PM PHT

Read More:

Pag-asa Island

West Philippine Sea

Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.

Arbitral Award

Gibo Teodoro

Departmetn of National Defense

China

maritime conflict

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