10th Anniversary of the West Philippine Sea Arbitration Ruling Commemorated with Music in the Philippines

Music groups from the Cordillera region organized a meaningful event in Baguio City to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 12 July 2016 West Philippine Sea (WPS) arbitration ruling. The advocacy activity, titled "Unifying Filipinos Through Music: Rock Waves", was held at Malcolm Square. This comprehensive event aimed to enhance the country's determination and national awareness regarding maritime rights. Organized by the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the event took place with broad participation. Various cultural activities were brought together to increase public interest and support for the maritime boundary dispute.

The event started with an organization called "Bike for Fun", led by Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong. This tour, in which local cyclists actively participated, was part of efforts to create social awareness regarding the West Philippine Sea. In his opening speech, Mayor Magalong praised the organizers for involving the youth in this meaningful event. He also made a call to action, urging citizens to remember the critical importance of the historic victory achieved in the West Philippine Sea case. Magalong emphasized that defending the nation's maritime rights is not merely a territorial issue; it is also a fundamental defense of Filipino identity.

The most striking part of the commemoration program was the "Battle of the Bands" music competition, where six different youth groups from various provinces of Cordillera took the stage. The bands performed their original musical compositions to support the Philippines' rights in the West Philippine Sea. All the original pieces performed in the competition received great appreciation. San-aaki Band from Benguet province became the champion of the competition, receiving a plaque and a cash prize of 30,000 Philippine Pesos. Genblend Band, who came in second, won a plaque and 20,000 Pesos, while Tarakids Band, who came in third, won a trophy and 10,000 Pesos; participants who did not place in the competition were also given a consolation prize of 2,000 Pesos.

In addition to the music competition, the event hosted various interactive areas that allowed the public to demonstrate their support for the West Philippine Sea. Baguio residents created a "wall of commitment" where they expressed their dedication to the cause. Furthermore, a photo exhibition, games, photo booths, and stands of various uniformed services offered services to visitors at the event area. Through these events, the Filipino people found the opportunity to show that they stand in national unity and solidarity against the usurpation of their rights. The organization once again demonstrated the power of music and art in conveying social messages.

At the core of this widely attended commemoration event lies the historic arbitration ruling made on 12 July 2016 under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). While this landmark ruling brought a historic victory for the Philippines, it invalidated China's expansive "nine-dash line" claims over the South China Sea. The ruling confirmed the Philippines' sovereign rights within its 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone and declared the harassment of Filipino fishermen by China and the construction of artificial islands illegal. Despite this victory in international law, tensions in the region continue, while the Filipino people and non-governmental organizations strive to keep the importance of this ruling on the global agenda at every opportunity.