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Pag-asa Islanders wish for peace and aid as BFAR delivers some Christmas cheer
PAG-ASA ISLAND, West Philippine Sea — If there is one wish that Pag-asa Island coordinator Ronnie Cojamco would like to come true this Christmas, it is for the Chinese to stop harassing Filipinos in the West Philippine Sea.
Cojamco has been living on the island since 1999 and as years go by, Chinese aggression in the contested waters has only escalated.
“Wish po namin sa China, tigilan na nila pangha-harass. Alam naman nila at alam ng buong mundo na ang lugar na ito ay sa Pilipino,” Cojamco said.
(Our wish is for China to stop the harassment. They know and the rest of the world knows that this place belongs to the Filipinos.)
Teacher Joeyann Palmes said even civilian vessels were being chased by Chinese craft.
“Wish ko sana hindi na kami haharangin pag nagta-travel po kami, hahabulin, ganun,” she said.
(My wish is that they stop blocking us when we're trying to travel, chasing us, like that.)
Cajamco and Palmes were both present during the gift-giving activity of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources at the island’s covered court Wednesday afternoon.
The residents, especially the children, gladly received gifts from agency representatives.
Aside from enjoying a delicious meal of chicken, spaghetti, and burgers, they also received bags, school supplies, and toys.
All units, military and civilian components deployed on the island also received noche buena food packs.
“Ang isla pong ito ay hindi lamang simbolo ng pag-asa. Ito rin ay simbolo ng katapangan at katatagan na nagsilbing inspirasyon at halimbawa sa bawat isa sa atin,” said BFAR Chief of Operations Maritime Concerns Krishna Martinez.
(This island is not just a symbol of hope, but a symbol of bravery and fortitude that serves as an inspiration and an example to every one of us.)
Pag-Asa Integrated School principal Yiftach Belmonte accepted donations of instructional materials and sports equipment and expressed the school's wishes for Christmas.
“Ang wish po namin sa DepEd ay matulungan po kami na mabigyan ng karagdagang classrooms. Karagdagang instructional materials para sa aming mga students po,” Belmonte said.
(Our request to the Department of Education is that it help give us more classrooms and more instructional materials for the students.)
Some residents also wished for a stable internet connection, while Grade 7 student Jelyn Cojamco's wish is to spend Christmas with her family in mainland Palawan. — BM, GMA Integrated News
