Camille Naredo

Volunteer Filipino artists work on their respective murals along the Camp Aguinaldo High School perimeter wall on Boni Serrano Avenue, Quezon City, as part of the WPS Mural Festival on April 9, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Volunteer Filipino artists work on their respective murals along the Camp Aguinaldo High School perimeter wall on Boni Serrano Avenue, Quezon City, as part of the WPS Mural Festival on April 9, 2026. The project aims to highlight the beauty of the Philippines and the importance of protecting the West Philippine Sea. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

WEST PH SEA MURAL FESTIVAL

Allison Co

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178313575340520260409-wps-mural-festival-camp-aguinaldo-MT5.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Volunteer Filipino artists work on their respective murals along the Camp Aguinaldo High School perimeter wall on Boni Serrano Avenue, Quezon City, as part of the WPS Mural Festival on April 9, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News"/>Volunteer Filipino artists work on their respective murals along the Camp Aguinaldo High School perimeter wall on Boni Serrano Avenue, Quezon City, as part of the WPS Mural Festival on April 9, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Saturday reaffirmed the significance of the 2016 arbitral ruling as the landmark decision approaches its 10th anniversary. It also encouraged more local government units to declare July 12 as &quot;West Philippine Sea Victory Day.&quot;&quot;As protectors of our sovereignty, the AFP strongly encourages other LGUs across our archipelago to follow this nationalistic example. Let us unite as one nation in safeguarding our maritime heritage,&quot; WPS RADM Roy Trinidad said in a statement on Friday, July 3.The call came after the local governments of Cebu City and Labrador, Pangasinan officially passed resolutions commemorating the occasion.&quot;By institutionalizing this historic milestone, these local government units have reinforced our country&#x27;s legal and moral triumph in the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal Award. This commendable action not only honors the courage of our maritime frontliners but also ignites a deeper sense of national pride and unity among our citizens,&quot; Trinidad added. Earlier, in a statement issued on June 29, Defense Secretary Gilberto &#x27;Gibo&#x27; Teodoro Jr. also expressed support for Cebu City&#x27;s resolution.&quot;We laud the [resolution]… The 2016 Arbitral Award was indeed a victory which our country should embrace and fight to enforce. Hindi tayo magpapasiil,&quot; he said.In July 2016, a UN-backed arbitral tribunal <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/07/12/16/read-arbitral-courts-ruling-on-philippines-vs-china" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ruled in favor of the Philippines in its case against China</a> over the West Philippine Sea, rejecting Beijing&#x27;s nine-dash line claim. The ruling affirmed the Philippines&#x27; sovereign rights within its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone. Beyond local governments, the National Maritime Council (NMC) on Friday also called on the country&#x27;s youth to uphold and protect the arbitral victory.&quot;Mahabaang laban ito. Even in our lifetime we may not see the resolution of it, but our youth, the generations following us will inherit kaya dapat maunawaan ng kabataan kung ano ang kahalagahan ng West Philippine Sea,&quot; NMC Undersecretary Alexander Lopez said in a state-run interview.<div><a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/3/gov-t-says-west-philippine-sea-fight-will-span-generations-urges-youth-to-uphold-arbitral-victory-1517">READ: Gov&#x27;t says West PH Sea fight will span generations, urges youth to uphold arbitral victory</a></div>The renewed calls come as the Philippines continues to assert its maritime rights in the West Philippine Sea. During a recent Philippine-United States maritime exercise held last week, four Chinese vessels were monitored about <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="(http://abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/29/4-chinese-vessels-follow-ph-us-maritime-exercise-near-bajo-de-masinloc-0732)">50 nautical miles from Bajo de Masinloc</a>.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Saturday reaffirmed the significance of the 2016 arbitral ruling as the landmark decision approaches its 10th anniversary.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Saturday reaffirmed the significance of the 2016 arbitral ruling as the landmark decision approaches its 10th anniversary.

Ahead of arbitral ruling anniversary, AFP urges wider observance of 'WPS Victory Day'

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Ahead of arbitral ruling anniversary, AFP urges wider observance of 'WPS Victory Day'

Allison Co,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 04, 2026 11:38 AM PHT

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West Philippine Sea

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